Sparkling Blood Orange Lemonade

As the temperatures rise and the days grow longer, this refreshing Sparkling Blood Orange Lemonade is the perfect way to welcome warmer days.

This recipe highlights the tangy sweetness of blood oranges with a tinge of tart lemon juice for a sparkling lemonade that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

Why You’ll Love Sparkling Blood Orange Lemonade

Superfood status and major health benefits aside, here’s why I think you’ll love this blood orange recipe. 

• It’s quick and easy to make.
• It’s delicious. Truly, so good! And, good for you.
• This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, nut free and contains no artificial ingredients and no added sugar.
• Unlike pre-made/store-bought bottled juices and lemonades, this recipe is free of preservatives and unnecessary additives. 

Ingredients + Substitutions

This list is short and sweet. Here’s what you’ll need to make Sparkling Blood Orange Lemonade.

• Blood oranges—Can’t find blood oranges? Try Cara Cara oranges. The lemonade will taste more like a sparkling orange juice, but still chock full of nutrients, including vitamin C and antioxidants.
• Lemons—Try Meyer lemons for a naturally sweeter lemonade.
• Raw, unfiltered honey—Feel free to swap the honey for agave nectar. You can also use monk fruit sweetener or stevia.
• Sparkling water—Not big on bubbles? Use still water for a (non-sparkling) Blood Orange Lemonade
• Fresh mint—An optional garnish, which can be swapped with a spring of fresh rosemary.

How to Make Sparkling Blood Orange Lemonade

Step 1. Juice the blood oranges and lemons.

Start by juicing the blood oranges and lemons. You can do this one of several ways: citrus juicer, hand juicer, blender or slow juicer. If you use a blender, peel the blood oranges and lemons first. It’s not necessary to peel the blood oranges if you’re using a slow or cold-press juicer.

You can expect to extract about 8 ounces of juice from the 2 pounds of blood oranges called for in this recipe. However, the exact amount can vary depending on such factors as the size and juiciness of the oranges, as well as the efficiency of your juicing method.

Step 2. Strain the juice.

Pour the juice through a fine mesh strainer and into a large pitcher. You can skip the straining if you used a juicer.

Step 3. Mix the juice and make it sparkle.

Add the honey and stir until it is fully dissolved in the blood orange and lemon juice. Mix in the still water and sparkling water. This is not an overly sweet lemonade recipe, so taste and adjust according to your preferences.

Step 4. Enjoy!

Garnish with fresh mint and serve chilled over ice.

This Sparkling Blood Orange Lemonade recipe makes about 72 ounces. It’s important that you store the juice properly if you don’t intend to drink it immediately. More details below.

Make Ahead + Storage

Juicing the blood oranges and lemons a day in advance may be helpful if you’re entertaining guests or taking the juice to a gathering. In this case, store the fresh juice in a mason jar or airtight container. Mix the remaining ingredients immediately before serving.

Helpful Tips

Everyone’s taste buds are different. Here are a few tips for making this Sparkling Blood Orange Lemonade perfect for your palate.

• For a sweeter lemonade — Increase the amount of honey, or use one of my favorite tips: add pineapple juice one tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired sweetness. The pineapple is subtle if you don’t add too much, but the difference in sweetness is rather stark.

• If your juice tastes too tangy or tart — Increase the honey or add a sugar alternative, such as monk fruit or stevia. Taste and adjust according to your preferences.

• For extra flavor – Muddle a few sprigs of fresh mint and rosemary.

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