Tangy and fruity, this beautiful homemade black raspberry lemonade is a perfect drink to quench your thirst! Not only beautiful to look at, it tastes as lovely as it looks with the rich fruity flavor of black raspberries in summertime.

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Homemade lemonade is simple and refreshing during the summertime. If you are looking for something different and a way that uses your black raspberries in the summertime, this homemade black raspberry lemonade is the perfect way!
The saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” is very true of how I came about this recipe.
Anyone with farming, homesteading or just regular life experience knows that sometimes the things you do just don’t go the way you anticipated. That was my black raspberry jelly last year. Well, it was more like black raspberry syrup – it didn’t set.
Normally, our family loves black raspberry jelly on regular or swedish pancakes. Nobody was using the black raspberry syrup.
I have always made my Homemade Lemonade with Blueberries or using other fruit that is in season, but I had an idea try using my black raspberry syrup with the lemonade. I mean, why not since I make lemonade every day in the summertime – I had nothing anything to lose.
The result: Beautiful purple, tangy lemonade with the fruity taste of black raspberries.
Before we get started, let me introduce the black raspberry to you if you are not familiar with it!
Are Blackberries the same as Black Raspberries?
I often hear people interchange these two fruits’ names, but they are very different. For the purpose of this homemade black raspberry lemonade recipe, knowing the difference between the fruits will be important!

Black raspberries are a much smaller, delicate fruit and primarily grow wild. Many times people refer to them as “black caps” because of the way they look. If I am picking very ripe berries in the summer, I almost have ready made jam in the bottom of my bucket…black raspberries squish VERY easily! This is most likely the reason I don’t see them in sold in stores by us.
Blackberries are a much larger fruit, and they can grow wild as well, but blackberry plants are easily cultivated and sold in stores for people to purchase.
If you are not familiar with black raspberries, here is a comparison between black raspberries and blackberries.
Where can I find black raspberries?
We live between a Zone 4-5, and they can grow wild or tame in Zones 4-8. I look for plants to ripen mid-late July. If you are foraging for black raspberries, I find the best patches seem to be on the edge of the woods where they enjoy both sun and shade. I prepare for foraging by wearing a long sleeve shirt, pants, shoes, hat and bug spray. (Remember, black raspberries have thorns on their canes!) Granted, I will go all in to find all the black raspberries I can to make my black raspberry cake, or black raspberry syrup now for this lemonade! If you are not going too deep into the woods, you could get by with a short sleeve shirt.
If you don’t have black raspberries in your area that grow wild, there is a cultivated black raspberry plant called the Jewel black raspberry you can grow.

Once you have the black raspberries, let’s make the black raspberry syrup we need!
What you will need to make black raspberry syrup
How to make black raspberry syrup step by step
- In a saucepan, add 3 cups of black raspberries and a 1/4 cup of water.
- Stirring often over medium high heat, bring the black raspberries and water to a boil.
- Continue to boil 1-2 minutes before straining the black raspberries so you just get the juice and no seeds (you may need to stir it around to help all the juice come out).
- Once you have the black raspberry juice, return to the saucepan and add in 1/4 cup of sugar or honey.
- Bring the black raspberries and sugar to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently, for a minute or two.
- Remove the saucepan from the burner, and pour your syrup into a liquid measuring cup or jar.
Once you are finished with your black raspberry syrup, save out 3/4 cup to to make your Homemade Black Raspberry Lemonade.
If making the black raspberry syrup ahead of time, please be sure to refrigerate your black raspberry syrup until using.
What you will need for homemade lemonade
How to make homemade black raspberry lemonade step by step
Combine the sugar (you can also use honey or another sweetener of your choice) with lemon juice, pinch or salt and a cup of warm water.
Mix all the ingredients together to dissolve the sugar and salt.

Add the black raspberry syrup to the homemade lemonade concentrate. Stir with the mixing spoon until fully incorporated.
Add 5-6 more cups of cold water to make a two quart pitcher of lemonade, and mix.
Complete your homemade black raspberry lemonade with a few ice cubes and enjoy!

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you!

Homemade Black Raspberry Lemonade
Tangy and fruity, this beautiful homemade black raspberry lemonade is a perfect drink to quench your thirst!
Ingredients
Black Raspberry Syrup
- 3 c. black raspberries
- 1/4 c. sugar
- 1/4 c. water
Homemade Black Raspberry Lemonade
- 1/2 c. lemon juice
- 1/2 c. sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 c. warm water
- 3/4 c. black raspberry syrup
- 5-6 c. cold water
Instructions
Black Raspberry Syrup
- In a saucepan, add the 3 cups of black raspberries and the 1/4 cup of water.
- Stirring often over medium high heat, bring the black raspberries and water to a boil.
- Continue to boil for 1-2 minutes before straining the black raspberries so you just get the juice and no seeds (you may need to stir it around to help all the juice come out).
- Once you have the black raspberry juice, return to the saucepan and add in 1/4 cup of sugar or honey.
- Bring the black raspberries and sugar to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently, for a minute or two.
- Remove the saucepan from the burner, and pour your syrup into a liquid measuring cup or jar. Save out 3/4 cup of the black raspberry syrup to make your lemonade.
Homemade Black Raspberry Lemonade
- Combine the sugar, lemon juice, salt and 1 cup of warm water.
- Mix all the ingredients together to dissolve the sugar and salt.
- Add the 3/4 cup black raspberry syrup to your lemon juice mixture. Stir with a mixing spoon until fully incorporated.
- Add 5-6 more cups of cold water to make a two quart pitcher of lemonade, and mix.
- Complete your homemade black raspberry lemonade with a few ice cubes and enjoy!
Notes
1. If making the black raspberry syrup ahead of time, refrigerate until using in the lemonade.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 178Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 59mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 4gSugar: 40gProtein: 1g
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