Cherry Lemon Limeade
The perfect beverage for a hot day, or just because!
Today I want to talk to you about beverages. I love smoothies and slushes so much. One, because I struggle with water. I want flavor! And two because they are a great way to sneak some extra healthy into the diet. My kids happily down a serving of spinach that is mixed with fruit and coconut milk, but if I put it directly on the plate they are not as willing. So let’s talk about this beverage…
How awesome does this cherry lemon-limeade look?
My family was walking home from church, and we have to walk by this yard that is gorgeous. Seriously, gorgeous. The people that live there take excellent care of their yard, and are constantly out planting, weeding, trimming, hedging, etc. Think coy ponds and exotic flowers. In the front yard there is this huge cherry tree. We walk past it often, and I noticed the cherries were getting ripe, and no one was picking them.
I casually asked if they planned to, and they said, “no!” They weren’t planning to put the cherries up this year. I was flabbergasted. What? How could you not? She mentioned they would snag a few for lunch each day, but that was the extent. She then proceeded to pick a handful and hand them to me.
My kids were soooo excited! They picked a bunch too, and then begged me to make something yummy with them. Pie cherries these were not. Bing cherries though. Yum! And healthy.
Let’s talk about how healthy cherries are for a minute. They are high in antioxidants. They have a high water content so great for hydration. They help reduce the risk of cancer, inflammatory problems, and heart disease. Cherries are super high in Vitamin C! And they also have potassium, beta-carotene, Vitamin A, and so much more. Basically they help you get skinny and healthy. Who doesn’t want that? They boost energy levels, and metabolism. I love them. And this drink was an ideal way to use them. But of course, they can be used in pie, as a compote for duck or something else savory and wonderful. Dried on top of salads. As fruit leather. Need I go on?
But for now, this drink is my favorite way to use them.This drink involves water, ice, lemons (Whole), lime juice, and of course, cherries!
I used my Vitamix blender, which is pretty powerful, and annihilates the lemons, so I can put them in whole, but if your blender is not as powerful, feel free to juice the lemons first. Also, you can add some sugar to this to sweeten it up a bit. I found that my cherries were pretty sweet, and I used meyer lemons, which are naturally sweet as well, so just a Tablespoon or so of sugar was all I needed. But you may find you want/need a little more.
A great variation on this recipe is to add in half a cup of sweetened condensed milk. It sweetens it up and makes it a little creamier, like a Brazilian lemonade.
So there you have it, an awesome beverage that you make in the blender with fresh ingredients. Cherries are awesome, and part of Day 25’s mini challenge. Or at least they can be.
The health challenge is rapidly coming to an end. Only 3 days left. Thanks to all who participated. Be sure to follow Eazy Peazy in some way so that you can stay up to date on the happenings, and get access to the recipes I develop!
Day 25 Mini- Challenge: Get some Vitamin C today.
Our bodies need at least 90 mg of Vitamin C per day and the best way to get this is by eating at least five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Cherries are a great source for this needed vitamin, but you can also enjoy things like oranges and guavas! And don’t forget only 3 days left of my easy challenge for tweaking your diet and lifestyle for greater health!
Be sure to check out these other fun beverages too:
Cherry Lemon-Limeade
Ingredients
- 6 cups of ice
- 3-4 cups of water
- juice from 3 fresh limes about a cup
- 2 lemons quartered and not peeled
- 1 cup pitted cherries
- Sugar to taste
Instructions
- Fill your blender 3/4 the way with ice (About 6 cups for me)
- Fill it half way up with water (about 3 cups for me)
- Add in your lime juice and lemons
- Blender until a slush
- Add in cherries and pulse for about 30 seconds
- Taste
- Add sugar to get desired sweetness
- Blend for about a minute
- Serve immediately
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Sami says
This looks so delicious and refreshing! Can’t wait to try it
Kristen says
This looks SO good! I Found it on Foodie Friends Friday! I struggle with the whole drinking 8 glasses of water because I prefer taste as well! I have all of the ingredients already (yay) and I cannot wait to try it! Thank you for posting this!
taylorgilmore says
We’re hooked on smoothies and slushes around here as well. I will definitely be making this one! It looks sooo good.
On a side note, I can’t imagine having a cherry tree in my yard and not picking the fruit. Such a waste.
Rachael says
Thanks! Smoothies are our go to breakfast in the summer!
Rebecca Swenor says
This looks good and it almost looks like a slushy. I will have to try this. Thanks for sharing.
Rachael says
It is a slushy. You can use less ice and more water if you don’t like it slushy. We just like to beat the heat with ice! Thanks for stopping by.
Touristmeetstraveler says
I’ve had normal lemonade, but I’ve never had cherry lemonade; I need to try this!
Rachael says
Hope you do! Thanks for stopping by.
Rena McDaniel-The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver says
Now this looks like the drink for me! I love cherry and I love lemonade but never together. Thanks so much for sharing this I can’t wait to make it!
Rachael says
Hope you love it!
katrina g says
I love, love, love cherry limeades. this looks so good. thank you for sharing.
Hilary @ The RNY Life says
This looks really good. Could you use something along the lines of Stevia instead of regular sugar? I can’t have regular sugar.
Rachael says
Yes, you can totally use any sweetener you would like!
jonathanmcmullen says
It’s amazing how the right glass can make a drink look 100 times better, Not that it doesn’t look good, because it does, but the glass just gives it that oompf!
Rachael says
Totally, love my blog props, bought way too many over the weekend! haha Thanks for stopping by
franckxethee says
The cherry lemon lime slushy looks really tasty and I’m sure the sweetness of cherry would combine well with the sweet and sour taste of lemon and lime.
Rachael says
Thanks! And thank you for stopping by. I hope you try it. If you do, let me know what you think.
Katherine Rose Coronel- Rivera says
This drink looks very refreshing. I would love to try the combination of cherry and lime. I love semi sour and sweet drinks.
Rachael says
Then you will love it. You can control how sweet it is with how much sweetener you add and what lemons you use. Enjoy!
LaTonya (Detroit Mom) says
It’s 90′ and humid if only I could have one of those right now. I’ll definitely make me one this week, Thanks for the cool recipe
Rachael says
Your welcome! Good luck with that humidity.
John Lopez says
Oh, this looks so refreshing, especially on a hot summer day.
Rachael says
It is! Thanks for stopping by.
Jhady says
Free cherries yay!! This is very healthy and delicious, it make me want to sip just by looking at the photos.
Rachael says
Oh thank you! I am a sucker for free produce 🙂
Rosey says
I love cherries, and I think I had heard they were great for you too. I forgot about that though, until I read your post. 🙂
Rachael says
They are awesome for you! And yummy. Win-win.
Leira Bhagwani Pagaspas says
I would love to try this.. I hope a restaurant in Manila will serve this soon.
Maria Constanza Oller Martin says
I love to make lemonade with the whole lemons,sorta lazy but taste wonderful my family loves the sorta bitter taste on it, I need to try the mix with cherry
Rachael says
I think that makes it a Brazilian lemonade, at least if I am remembering correctly, apparently they cornered the market on leaving peel on!
huntfortheverybest says
refreshing fun drink!