Snow may be on the ground – but dreams of sipping summer lemonade on the porch are fresh in our heads! This sparkling pomegranate lemonade is a great compromise, bringing some winter flare to your favorite summertime drink. It’s a great option for your next birthday part celebration, Easter, or just to enjoy with the family at home.
How to make sparkling pomegranate lemonade
This recipe is SO easy! Just mix together fresh squeezed lemon juice, pomegranate juice, sparkling grape juice, and sparkling water. That’s it!
PS – am I the only person that did not realize you should squeeze fresh lemons into a separate bowl first (if you’re not using a citrus squeezer)?! For years I’d squeeze them right into the bigger pitchers and then struggle to get the seeds out. Finally (in embarrassingly recent history, haha!) I realized you should squeeze them into a separate bowl first, then you can easily get any seeds out before dumping into your pitcher. Mind. Blown. 😉
Is this a healthy lemonade?
I think that depends on your definition of healthy. What I love about this pomegranate lemonade is that all the sugar is naturally occurring – it comes from the lemon, pomegranate, and grape juice. There is no added sugar in this recipe, unlike many other versions.
Because you’ll add a little sparkling water too, you’ll get a drink that’s lower in sugar compared to a cup of straight up juice. This recipe contains about 17 grams of sugar per serving compared to some of the commercial lemonade products that are closer to 25 grams per serving.
And this recipe contains extra antioxidants, thanks to the pomegranate juice. Pomegranate is a natural source of many powerful phytochemicals that may have anti-inflammatory properties, may play a role in cancer prevention, and may also have potential heart health benefits. (If you’re curious to learn more about these, be sure to check out this article on Healthline about pomegranate benefits).
That said, it certainly still has sugar, and drinks don’t have the fiber like whole fruits do to help balance that out. I wouldn’t recommend you sip on it all day long, but I think this is the kind of drink that’s perfect for a party, celebration, or a little treat to enjoy with the kiddos.
What else can you do with pomegranate juice?
If you have extra pomegranate juice leftover after making this recipe, here are some great ideas on ways to use it up:
- Make slow roasted lamb shoulder with pomegranate apricot glaze. We have been getting lamb lately in our meat share, so I’m always looking for new creative ways to cook it. I bet the sweetness of the pomegranate and apricots pairs well with the savory lamb.
- Whip up this pomegranate balsamic vinaigrette to go on your salad! It’s a nice way to change things up if you’re always reaching for Italian or Ranch dressings.
- Try this pomegranate and cranberry smoothie, which also features Greek yogurt for added protein. It’s a great option for a post-workout recovery snack.
- Enjoy a pomegranate granita! A granita is the official term, but you probably know it by the name “Italian ice” – a semi-frozen dessert made with juices.
- Upgrade your PB&J by making a homemade pomegranate jelly! This is totally up next on my list to try. We love homemade jams, jellies, and butters but have never experimented with a pomegranate based one.
- Impress your guests with an easy yet beautiful dessert – a pomegranate panna cotta! Great for any winter dinner parties.
Want to buy pomegranate lemonade in-stores instead?
If you’d rather skip the hassle of making it yourself, here are a few store-bought options that are available, along with their calories and sugar per 8 ounce serving:
- Turkey Hill Pomegranate Lemonade – 107 calories, 26 g sugar
- Newman’s Own Pomegranate Lemonade – 110 calories, 26 g sugar
- Humm Pomegranate Lemonade Kombucha – 52 calories, 8 g sugar
- Arrowhead Pomegranate Lemonade Flavored Sparkling Water – 0 calories, 0 g sugar
But we think you’ll love our version, so be sure to give it a try! If you do like the recipe, please feel free to leave a rating in the comments.
Sparkling Pomegranate Lemonade
Whether you want a sweet treat to sip on at home or you need a drink to serve at a party – this sparkling pomegranate lemonade is perfect!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3- 4 lemons)
- 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
- 3 cups cold sparkling water
- 2 cups sparkling white grape juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- If you don't have any sparkling water but you have the rest of the ingredients, you can just substitute plain cold water. It will simply be less bubbly.
- This is best consumed the day you make it, or the liquid tends to go flat and not taste as good. If you want to make it for the week, try a non-sparkling version with regular water and regular grape juice.
Nutrition analysis (per cup):
73 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 8 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 0.5 g protein, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 2%, Calcium: 1%, Iron: 1%
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