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Spiked Basil Lemonade (Sugar-Free)

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Basil Lemonade RecipeIs there anything more refreshing on a hot summer day than a glass of ice cold lemonade? And is there anything more relaxing after a long week of work than a cocktail on Friday afternoon? What do you do if it’s a hot summer Friday afternoon after a long week of work? You combine the two, naturally!  Okay, so it’s not actually Friday yet but assuming that it has already been a long week for you, and it is hot where you are, this Spiked Basil Lemonade is your ticket to cool relaxation.  Just go home, squeeze some lemons, muddle some basil, add water, sweetener and a splash (or more) of vodka and you will thank me.

This recipe came about when a friend mentioned that she’d made some lemonade with Swerve, and suggested that I feature it on my blog.  Being a somewhat savvy blogger, I knew that fresh lemonade, as wonderful as it is, wouldn’t quite garner the attention that I’d like when I post a recipe.  So we kicked around some other ideas and Basil Lemonade came to mind.  I knew I’d seen some recipes for it recently but wasn’t quite certain where.  Then the idea of spiking it and making a cocktail came up and I was sold.  But I was still fairly certain I’d seen it posted on someone else’s blog.  I did a quick Google search and what should the top-ranked post be, but one from my lovely blogging friend, Karen of Tasty Trials.  I KNEW I’d seen it somewhere!  Her version looked lovely, so I merged the Swerve lemonade and hers and the result was phenomenal.  Basil adds such a lovely, summery flavour to lemonade.  Be careful, though.  These are so refreshing, it’s easy to knock back several before you know what you’re doing.  I don’t want to be the cause of drunken summer debauchery!

I am also excited to tell you that this recipe, along with my Chipotle Mango Margaritas, are being featured on the ABC News affiliate in New Orleans this morning.  More specifically, they are being featured by Molly Kimball of Get The Skinny.  Once the video link is up, I will link it here for all to see.  Molly is an RD who has written extensively on nutrition and has teamed up with Swerve to serve up a healthier take on sugary cocktails.  Her segments air Wednesday mornings at 6:20AM and 6:45AM on Good Morning New Orleans.  I don’t live anywhere near New Orleans but I am thrilled to be a part of the segment.  Or at least, that my cocktails will be a part of the segment!

Print
Spiked Basil Lemonade (Sugar-Free)
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

On a hot summer day, this low carb Spiked Basil Lemonade is your ticket to cool relaxation.

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Beverage
Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 1/3 to 2/3 cup Swerve Sweetener depending on how sweet you like it
  • 1 cup hot water
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 cups cold water
  • 1 cup premium vodka
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves
  • Ice
Instructions
  1. Mix Swerve and hot water together in a glass measuring cup, stirring to dissolve.
  2. Combine lemon juice, cold water, vodka and Swerve mixture in a large pitcher. Stir well.
  3. Tear basil leaves roughly, and place in the bottom of 4 tumbler glasses. Use a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to crush basil leaves until they release some of their juices.
  4. Add ice to glasses and divide lemonade mixture between them. Stir and enjoy.
Recipe Notes

Serves 4. Total carbs per serving is 3g.

Nutrition Facts
Spiked Basil Lemonade (Sugar-Free)
Amount Per Serving (1 cocktail)
Calories 12
% Daily Value*
Carbohydrates 3g1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

Reader Interactions

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Comments

  3. Yes yes and more yes! I love lemon and basil together. It is sooo good! I have this martini that I love to get at this one restaurant and it is lemon and basil together. Love this cocktail! Looks great!

    Reply

  4. Are you SURE that makes 4 servings? It looks like one to me…..one loooong, cool drink. 🙂 Ok, I’d be under the table after half a glass because I can’t hold liquor at all, but wow, it looks delicious. As we’re edging toward the 100 degree mark this week, I think this will receive serious consideration. Nothing like a good cocktail that carries no calories. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  8. It’s 105 here today. And I have ALL the ingredients! This is meant to be. Any idea if a big batch of the swerve/hot water can store well in the fridge like simple syrup does? I guess there is one way to find out! 🙂

    Reply

    • It probably will settle out. But that’s okay, you can always rewarm and mix it up again. Unlike sugar, erythritol just won’t stay in solution. When they fix that issue, I will cheer!

      Reply

  12. I’ve got a lemon tree and a basil plant… I’m on it!! We’ll be sipping this delightful cocktail at around 5:00pm tonight:)) Congratulations on your TV segment! I look forward to seeing the link!

    Reply

  15. This reminds me a lot of a restaurant I used to go to in Honolulu…they had ginger-mint lemonade, sans alcohol. I bet that would be delicious with the addition of vodka, too! Can’t wait to try this lemonade this weekend 🙂

    Reply

  17. I don’t think there is any better than a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day……well maybe the lemonade spiked would be pretty fantastic:-) I love your addition of basil, it sounds really refreshing:-) Hugs, Terra

    Reply

  21. I made this for 4th of July but instead of basil I used mint and Smirnoff fluffed vodka because those are what I had on hand. I have to say it went over VERY well. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  22. Love this recipe! Although so far, I’ve only made it with mint leaves, because that’s what I have the most in my backyard right now! Scrumptious! I also got 5 servings out of it in the glasses I used.

    Reply

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