Electric Lemonade
This bright blue electric lemonade is tart, lightly sweet, and bubbly, with vodka and blue curaçao for its signature color. It tastes like a grown-up lemonade stand drink and comes together in about 15 minutes.
- Total time
- 12 min
- Yield
- 2 cocktails
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 10mCook 2mAmericanDrinks
Electric lemonade is a colorful cocktail made with fresh lemon juice, vodka, and blue curaçao, an orange-flavored liqueur that gives the drink its neon-blue look. It is simple, fun, and easy to scale for a small gathering.
This version starts with a quick simple syrup, which is just sugar dissolved in water. It helps the lemonade taste smooth instead of gritty, and you can make it ahead if you like.
The drink is shaken with ice, then topped with sparkling water for a crisp finish. Use lemon-lime soda instead if you want a sweeter, softer party-style drink.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
9 items · 2 cocktails
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, from about 3 to 4 lemons
- 3 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces blue curaçao liqueur
- 1 cup ice, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup chilled sparkling water or club soda
- Lemon wheels, for garnish, optional
- Maraschino cherries, for garnish, optional
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Make the syrup
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the liquid looks clear, about 2 minutes. This is simple syrup.
2. Cool the syrup
Pour the syrup into a heatproof measuring cup or small jar. Let it cool for at least 5 minutes. If you are in a hurry, set the container in a bowl of ice water and stir now and then.
3. Juice the lemons
Cut the lemons in half and squeeze them until you have 1/2 cup juice. Strain out seeds and large bits of pulp if you want a smoother drink.
4. Fill the shaker
Add the cooled syrup, lemon juice, vodka, blue curaçao, and 1 cup ice to a cocktail shaker. If you do not have a shaker, use a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
5. Shake until cold
Seal the shaker and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds. The outside should feel very cold. Shaking chills the drink fast and slightly dilutes it so the cocktail tastes balanced.
6. Strain over ice
Fill two tall glasses with fresh ice. Strain the blue lemonade mixture evenly into the glasses.
7. Add bubbles
Top each glass with about 1/4 cup chilled sparkling water or club soda. Stir gently once or twice so you keep most of the fizz.
8. Garnish and serve
Add a lemon wheel and a cherry if you like. Serve right away while the drink is cold and bubbly.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make-ahead: Prepare the simple syrup and squeeze the lemon juice up to 2 days ahead. Store them separately in covered containers in the refrigerator.
- Batch option: For 8 cocktails, use 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 2 cups lemon juice, 12 ounces vodka, and 8 ounces blue curaçao. Chill the mixture without ice, then pour over ice and top each glass with sparkling water just before serving.
- Sweeter swap: Replace the sparkling water with lemon-lime soda. The drink will be sweeter, so you may want to reduce the simple syrup by 1 to 2 tablespoons per batch of 2 drinks.
- Less sweet version: Start with only 3 tablespoons of the simple syrup, shake, taste, and add more if needed.
- No cocktail shaker: A clean mason jar with a lid works well. Hold the lid firmly while shaking.
- Storage: Once mixed with ice and sparkling water, electric lemonade is best served right away. Leftovers will lose fizz and taste watered down.
Cook's note
Blue curaçao brands vary in sweetness and alcohol level, so taste the shaken mixture before adding bubbles. If it tastes too sharp, add a splash more syrup. If it tastes too sweet, add more lemon juice or sparkling water.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
What is blue curaçao?
Blue curaçao is an orange-flavored liqueur. It is usually made with citrus flavoring and blue coloring. In this recipe, it adds both the electric blue color and a mild orange note.
Can I make electric lemonade without alcohol?
Yes. Skip the vodka and blue curaçao. Use 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup simple syrup, 1/2 to 3/4 cup sparkling water, and a few drops of blue food coloring. Add a splash of orange juice or orange syrup if you want the citrus flavor of curaçao.
Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh lemon juice tastes brighter and less harsh, so it is recommended. Bottled lemon juice will work in a pinch, but you may need a little extra syrup to soften the flavor.
Why is my drink not bright blue?
Fresh lemon juice is pale yellow, so it can make the drink look blue-green depending on your blue curaçao brand. For a brighter blue, use a deeply colored curaçao and avoid adding extra lemon juice after mixing.
Can I serve this in a pitcher?
Yes. Mix the syrup, lemon juice, vodka, and blue curaçao in a pitcher and chill it. Do not add ice or sparkling water until serving, or the drink will become flat and diluted.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
2 cocktails
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium2 mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate37 g
- 13%
- Dietary Fiber0 g
- 0%
- Total Sugars35 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium4 mg
- 0%
- Iron0 mg
- 0%
- Potassium63 mg
- 1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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