Sometimes, when I ask my husband to pick up “a bunch limes” from the store on his way home, he picks up thirty-four. THIRTY-FOUR, y’all. On those days, if it’s too early in the season to make watermelon limeades and I’m already stocked up on chicken tortilla soup, I make this super easy cherry limeade recipe. Here’s how:
Step 1: Explain to kids that we’re going to make a cherry limeade like the ones at Sonic, only with real food ingredients.
Step 2: Explain what Sonic is.
Step 3. Throw all the ingredients into a blender (I use this one) and serve up this sweet and tangy limeade over ice.
One quick note: Most limeade recipes call for blending the cherries and then straining the liquid. I prefer not to do that because I want my kids to get the benefit of the whole fruit, and fortunately in this recipe there aren’t any weird texture issues with leaving the cherries in. This recipe creates a smooth, thick syrup consistency that you can adjust by adding water (or ice) to your preference.
Cherry Limeade Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cherries (pitted)
- ¾ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup maple syrup (or raw honey)
- water (to dilute if desired. I prefer to pour mine undiluted over ice and sip slowly. The ice melts a little and mixes with the limeade, which makes it just right for me.)
- extra cherries or limes (optional - for garnish)
Instructions
- Place the cherries, lime juice, and maple syrup/honey in a blender (I use a high-powered Vitamix) and blend until very smooth. Taste and see if it is the concentration you prefer - my husband prefers his diluted with a bit of water and I like mine straight. Pour over ice, garnish with cherries/lime if desired, and serve.
Nutrition
Hi Heather! Thanks for the recipe. Do you think I could ferment this into soda with some whey? I bet it would be good! I’m right into fermented foods these days so I’d love to try it
I’m sure there is a way, but it would take some experimentation to figure it out. If you’re looking for a probiotic-rich soda, I’d probably start with this water kefir recipe and then flavor with some lime/cherry juice after the first ferment.
Do you use frozen or fresh cherries?!?! I looks delicious!
I used fresh but frozen would work, too 🙂
If I use frozen cherries, would it be good to leave out a bit of the ice if I don’t thaw the cherries first?
Sour cherries or sweet cherries? Just wondering?
Sweet!
My favorite refreshment! I hope you had a great Mother’s Day Heather!
Seeing the pics and thinking of cherry limeade makes my mouth water! Thanks and Happy Mother’s Day.
Yum!!
how do you make the watermelon one?
Here it is: https://mommypotamus.com/watermelon-limeade-recipe/
Thanks for the recipe. Hope you had a great mothers day!!
Do you have an easy way of pitting cherries? I’d like to make this some time.
You can use a straw! Just push it through the cherries and the pit pops right out. You can find you tube videos on it if you need the visual. (I know I’m a visual learner!)
Would lemons work instead of limes you think? We’ve got lemons not limes.
I used lemons and it is delicious
I just made it. The kids loved it!! I made it with lemon juice because I have a tree full ??Thanks!
Very Tasty and refreshing!