Blood Orange Lemonade is a sweet, refreshing winter lemonade that’s simple to prepare and delivers a cozy, warming flavor from a small secret addition.
This iced drink combines blood oranges, fresh lemons, water and a sweetener to create a richer, fruit-forward lemonade—think of it as an elevated pink lemonade. I often call it my winter lemonade because blood oranges are typically in season during the cooler months and their deeper flavor suits colder weather.
Ingredients
Blood Oranges. Use blood oranges for color and a slightly tart, floral flavor. Regular oranges work as a substitute, though the flavor and color will be different.
Honey. Honey adds natural sweetness and pairs nicely with the citrus. Substitute with your preferred sweetener if needed.
Lemons. Fresh lemon juice is recommended for the best bright acidity. Bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch but may introduce an off-flavor.
Cinnamon. A cinnamon stick steeped in hot water gives a subtle warm note. Ground cinnamon can be used instead, or swap for vanilla if you prefer.
Ice Cubes. Serve over ice. For less dilution, consider freezing lemonade or citrus into ice cubes before serving.
How to make it
Helpful tips for juicing citrus:
- Microwave each orange for about 10 seconds to soften it slightly—this makes juicing easier.
- Roll each fruit on the countertop while pressing down with your palm to loosen the juice.
Quick method:
Step 01. Boil the water with a cinnamon stick, then remove from heat and let the infusion cool for 10–15 minutes.
Step 02. Juice the blood oranges and lemons. Be careful: blood orange juice can stain clothing and surfaces.
Step 03. In a pitcher, combine the blood orange juice, lemon juice, cooled cinnamon water and honey. Stir until the honey dissolves.
Step 04. Chill the lemonade in the refrigerator for at least an hour, then serve over ice.
Yes. Use maple syrup, brown sugar syrup, a store-bought vegan honey or your preferred sweetener as alternatives to honey.
Blood oranges are usually available from December through April in many regions, though exact timing varies by location.
Blood oranges resemble navel oranges but tend to be slightly more tart and floral, sometimes with a hint of raspberry.
Expert Tips
- Swap the cinnamon stick for a splash of vanilla extract if you dislike cinnamon; vanilla complements the blood orange in a different way.
- For a sparkling version, replace half (or all) of the water with sparkling water. If using ground cinnamon, mix it into the juice before adding sparkling water to help it dissolve.
- If using cinnamon powder, add about 1/4 teaspoon and whisk well; no need to steep hot water when using powder.
Note: If you add sparkling water, serve right away or add it just before serving to keep the fizz.
More refreshing lemonades
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Earl Grey Iced Tea Lemonade
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Blueberry Lavender Mocktail
-
Brazilian Lemonade (Brazilian Limeade)
-
Coffee Lemonade (Sweet and Refreshing)
📖 Recipe
Blood Orange Lemonade (Winter Lemonade)
Tatiana Kamakura
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Ingredients
- 1 cup blood orange juice about 5 blood oranges
- ½ cup lemon juice about 3 lemons
- 4 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 tablespoon honey
- Ice cubes
Instructions
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Boil the water with the cinnamon stick, then remove from heat and allow it to cool for 10–15 minutes.
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Juice about 5 blood oranges until you have 1 cup of juice, removing any seeds.
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Juice about 3 lemons to yield ½ cup of lemon juice, discarding seeds.
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In a pitcher, combine the blood orange juice, lemon juice, cooled cinnamon water and honey. Stir until the honey dissolves.
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Chill the lemonade for about 1 hour. Serve over ice.
Notes
Freeze lemonade or citrus slices into ice cubes to avoid diluting the drink.
If adding sparkling water, do so just before serving to preserve the bubbles.
If using cinnamon powder, add about ¼ teaspoon and whisk thoroughly; no need to steep hot water when using powder.