Make Ahead

Lemonade Ice Cubes

by:
July 27, 2010
4
7 Ratings
Lemonade Ice Cubes
  • Makes 1 tray of ice cubes
Author Notes

A few weeks ago, we went to the wedding of some good friends out on Long Island. Despite a few drops of rain during the ceremony, everything came off without a hitch, and the pre-reception cocktail was a particular highlight: it was a refreshing Pimm’s cup, and bobbing within it were ice cubes that had berries embedded in them, almost like beautiful, rainbow-bright fossils in amber.

I told Amanda about the ice cubes that week, and we somehow got on the topic of her technique of making lemon ice cubes for lemonade (so that the ice doesn’t dilute, but rather reinforces the flavor of the drink). I thought: why not combine the two? So here is my almost embarrassingly simple recipe for lemonade ice cubes, studded with fresh berries. They have a hint of sweetness, but not so much as to make them sticky. Give them a go, and let me know what you think!
—Merrill Stubbs

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • Fresh berries of your choice
Directions
  1. Stir together ¼ cup hot water and the sugar until the sugar dissolves. Add 1 cup cold water and then the lemon juice, stirring to combine. Put a berry (or two if they’re small) into each hollow of an ice cube tray and then fill each halfway with lemonade. Put the tray in the freezer for an hour or two, until frozen. Fill the hollows completely with lemonade and freeze again until completely solid. Use to chill glasses of lemonade, or add to a Pimm's cup!
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10 Reviews

Rosemaryandthegoat
Rosemaryandthegoat April 2, 2013
These look beautiful. I'm making these in June for some of our beach "cocktail of the day" drinks I will be making.
 
JoNan S.
JoNan S. August 3, 2011
Can you do the same with limes? i love limeaide - but does it give the same cooling attributes as lemons.
 
JoNan S.
JoNan S. August 3, 2011
Can you do the same with lime juice? Do you get the same cooling attributes?
 
KateCooks
KateCooks June 23, 2011
They sound delightful! Is there a reason why you fill the cube half-way, freeze, and fill again? Can you just add all the lemonade at once?
 
Merrill S.
Merrill S. June 23, 2011
It helps to keep the berries in the center of the cubes -- if you pour in all the lemonade at once, they float to the top!
 
Abijosiah
Abijosiah June 22, 2011
In my local supermarket they sell ice cubes with fruit with the cubes individually wrapped - for about $8. I love making my own
 
Dominique F.
Dominique F. July 29, 2010
What a lovely idea!
 
Merrill S.
Merrill S. August 9, 2010
Thank you!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen July 27, 2010
Beautiful! What a great summer use of berries. After trying out my basil ice cubes a few weeks ago, I have since found that the leaves get a bit slimy when the cubes melt.
 
Merrill S.
Merrill S. August 9, 2010
Note to self...