Mint Lemonade Sparkler
Lemonade, it seems, ranges from being tart enough to make you pucker to super sweet, and everything in between. This lemonade is an old recipe of my mom’s that she picked up somewhere and has become a staple at our summertime gatherings ever since. The addition of orange juice concentrate to the mix mellows the tartness of the lemon juice and steeping mint in the citrus mixture makes it so very refreshing! I think it’s perfect. In fact I like it so much that we mixed up a huge batch to serve our wedding guests as they waited for the reception to start while we took pictures after the ceremony.
……Actually, I have no memory of preparing the lemonade that day, it just magically appeared after the ceremony as I had requested. Which means that on top of everything else she had to worry about that day, my Mom was also mixing lemonade for 150 guests to fulfill another whim of the bride. Now, 12 years later, I still think of that day every time I have a glass and it makes me smile. :) Thanks Mom (and your lovely friends who I’m sure helped)! :)
The beauty of this mint-infused lemonade is that it makes a lemonade mix from frozen orange juice concentrate and bottled lemon juice so there is no squeezing of lemons involved! This makes a lot of lemonade mix, so it works great for a crowd! Just combine the mix with equal parts water and you are ready to go! In my version seltzer water and spirits give it some extra sparkle, so it was right at home at our July 4th picnic over the weekend. 
To start, dissolve some sugar in water. Add all of your remaining ingredients and let it steep for 1-2 hours. Strain the mint and your mix is ready! Combine it with plain water as called for in the original recipe or substitute seltzer water to make it fizzy. A nice splash of triple sec and vodka make it a party! Be warned: you can’t even taste the vodka so drink with care!
- 5 cups water
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
- 1 1/2 cups bottled lemon juice, such as ReaLemon (look for it in the juice aisle)
- Seltzer water
- Triple sec
- Vodka
- 1. Add 2 cups of sugar to 5 cups water and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes and remove from heat.
- 2. Add thawed orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, and mint leaves. Allow to steep for 1-2 hours.
- 3. Strain mint leaves.
- 4. To make lemonade, combine one part lemonade mix to one part water.
- 1. Combine 4 cups lemonade mix with 4 cups seltzer water.
- 2. Add 1/2 cup triple sec and 1 1/2 cups vodka.
- 3. Serve over ice.
Megan
Yes! I’m very excited to drink a LOT of this :)
Jessica
Thank goodness for this post, I have been coveting that recipe for ages!!