Now that summer is approaching, I wanted to create a drink recipe for you guys that you could make for those hot days that was refreshing and cooling for the body. I always have loved the flavor of lavender in lemonades, it works so well & really adds a fresh element. I’ve seen so many recipes for lavender lemonade out there, but wanted to put my own spin on it. Since watermelon is in season now, and is sold virtually anywhere, I decided to combine the two for the most unique and delicious flavor combination. This lemonade is super simple to make, and also makes a great cocktail as well if mixed with vodka or gin. Let me teach you how to make it! 
We need to start by making the lavender syrup. This is what is going to sweeten your lemonade and give it that beautiful lavender flavor. For this, simply add your sugar and filtered water into a sauce pan along with your dried lavender. Bring this mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, and cook for about 10 minutes whisking frequently. Once your sugar has fully dissolved, strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the lavender pieces, and set aside to cool. I recommend putting this in the fridge otherwise it will take a while to cool down. 
Next we’ll need to get our lemon juice ready. You should definitely be squeezing your own lemons for this recipe, trust me it is well worth the extra effort. Using jarred lemon juice just won’t give the same fresh lemon flavor that we want. For this, take about 6-8 lemons, half them, and squeeze out the juice! You only need one cup of this, so just keep juicing until you get one cups worth! 
Once you have your lemon juice prepped and your syrup cooling, we can go ahead and make the actual lemonade base! This again is super simple, grab your watermelon (we bought already chopped watermelon, but you could by a whole one and just chop it up into cubes) and add it to the blender along with your lemon juice. Blend on high for about a minute until completely smooth! Strain this mixture into a measuring cup, and then set aside until you’re ready to assemble your lemonade. 
To make the lemonade, add your syrup into a pitcher along with your base of watermelon & lemon juice, then stir to combine. Once thats ready, take your sparkling water (we used ‘pure’ la croix), measure out 4 cups, and add it to the pitcher. Make sure to stir this really well, and also be careful because it will foam up a bit! Once you have this ready, you’re good to go! Serve this lemonade over ice, and with some fresh lemon slices or lavender flowers as a garnish. You can also serve these with vodka or gin to make the most delicious cocktails as well! 
Sparkling Watermelon Lavender Lemonade
This sparkling lemonade with relaxing lavender, and refreshing watermelon is the perfect drink to cool you down on hot summer days. You can also add vodka or gin to this to make the perfect cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic cane sugar
- 1 cup filtered water
- 1 tbsp dried lavender (food grade)
- 1 cup lemon juice (6-8 lemons)
- 1 cup watermelon
- 4 cups sparkling water
Instructions
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Make the syrup by adding filtered water, sugar, and lavender into a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for about 10 minutes, whisking frequently, until the sugar is dissolved. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and set aside in the fridge to cool down.
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Juice your lemons, and add the juice into a blender along with your watermelon. Blend this until smooth, and strain through another fine mesh sieve into a pitcher.
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Add your cooled lavender syrup into the lemon / watermelon juice mixture, and then add your four cups of sparkling water & stir well. Serve over ice with an extra lemon slice or fresh lavender flowers as a garnish.
