Meet your Fourth of July refresher! When I found frozen mint lemonade on a menu in Fez, Morocco this spring, I couldn’t resist. I knew on first sip that I would have to recreate it for you.
This ice cold drink is the epitome of refreshing. It’s infused with fresh mint flavor and offers a light, balanced blend of tartness and sweetness. It’s also super easy to whip up in your blender.
If you’re wondering if this frozen treat tastes good with a splash of bourbon, a) I like you, and b) I can confirm that it does indeed. I think it would also be great with vodka or gin (Hendrick’s would be my top pick).
I’m home with my family for the holiday, so I’m going to keep this post short. If you’re looking for more recipes for Independence Day, check out my summer potluck roundup and July recipe picks!
Frozen Mint Lemonade
- Author:
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Drink
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
This frozen mint lemonade recipe is ultra refreshing and easy to whip up in a blender! This drink is called Limonana in the Middle East. Recipe yields 4 small servings, about 1 cup each.
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- ¾ cup cold water
- ¼ cup lightly packed packed fresh mint (about 4 grams), plus 4 small sprigs to use as garnish
- ¼ cup sugar (I used organic cane sugar)*
- 4 cups ice
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the lemon juice, water, mint and sugar. Blend until the sugar has completely dissolved into the liquid.
- Add the ice. Blend on low speed to break up the ice, then increase the speed and blend until you’ve reached a uniformly slushy texture. (If the mixture is too thick to blend, let it rest for 5 minutes, stir by hand, and try again.) Pour into glasses and place a sprig of mint in each. Serve immediately.
Notes
Recipe inspired by Cafe Clock in Fez, Morocco.
*Sweetener notes: You can use honey as the sweetener if you’d like. It will add a prominent honey flavor. I also tried maple syrup, but I didn’t love how it tasted. I prefer sugar since it’s more neutral and tastes like the drink that I enjoyed in Morocco.
Change it up: I imagine that this drink would also taste amazing with lime instead of lemon. You could omit the mint for a basic frozen lemonade. And, if you want to add a splash or two of vodka, gin or bourbon to your drink, I can vouch that it’s a good idea.
▸ Nutrition Information
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Sanford Baran
Hi Kate,
Love your column, your book (have already tried about a half a dozen of your recipes), and your delightful spirit. Great to receive the Cookie and Kate emails.
Best,
Sanford
Boulder, Colorado
Kate
Thank you, Sanford! I’m so glad you enjoy the blog and the book. Thanks for reading. :)
PL
Thank you so much for this recipe! I have a bunch of mint in my fridge and was wondering what else I can use it for besides making fresh spring rolls. I hope you are enjoying your long weekend!
★★★★★
Kate
This is perfect timing, then!
Leslie Walters
Yummy! Also, where did you get the sweet glasses you are serving the lemonade in?
Kate
Hey, Leslie! I got the glasses from Crate & Barrel. You should be able to find them here. :)
Marianne Berry
I just discovered this amazing refreshing drink! This is a national beverage in Colombia. It’s called Limonada de hierbabuena and it’s made with lime instead of lemons. The also serve Limonade de Coco. It’s so delicious!
Those 2 have become my favorite summer drinks!
Thank you for posting the recipe.
Congratulations on your cookbook. It is my favorite! Since I became vegan/vegetarian, your recipes make about 70% of all my cooking.
Kate
Oh, I’ll have to try the lime version of this, it sounds delicious. I’m glad you love the book so much, Marianne! Thanks for reading.
Gem
This looks absolutely delicious! And yes, as I was reading the beginning of the post, I was wondering how it would come out if I added some alcohol. :) I am going to pin this and try it out when the mint in my herb garden grows in!
Kate
You can count on me to give some boozy adaptations!
Christine
Cafe Clock! That was on my list of places to go when I was in Fez, but we didn’t make it. In all our planning, we didn’t realize that most things would be closed on Fridays and we only had a weekend there. It looks like it would have been good! This looks like such a lovely refreshing drink. So Moroccan, with the mint :)
Kate
Well, maybe you can have a little experience of Cafe Clock at home with this one!
henrietta polanzak
love your recipes and your spirit! I’m a dog lover and think your cookie is adorable!
Kate
Thank you, Henrietta! Cookie says hello. :)
James | Thyme to Mango
This sounds so refreshing, and I like the idea of using limes and a “splash” of bourbon in there :-)
Kate
It’s great, I hope you try it!
Rachael @ Rachael's Foodie Life
All I can think of right now is making these and adding bourbon for the perfect frozen mint lemonade julep
Kate
Exactly what I was thinking!
Julie
Bourbon? Hendricks? You may be my libations soul mate.
Kate
Cheers! :)
Andy
Love this with and without the bourbon! Thanks for another refreshing recipe!
Kate
That’s great to hear, thanks Andy!
Marisa Rechenberg
I just made it and it was a real splash! perfect drinking for a burger night :) thanks for sharing!
Kate
Sounds like a perfect combo! Thanks, Marisa!
Sherry
Love this recipe! And Cafe clock was my fave in Fez. Did you do their cooking class?
Kate
I went there three times in a row because I just could not stomach any more stewed vegetables! I didn’t make it to a cooking class but it’s at the top of my list if I ever make it back. :)
Heather
Wow!!! Really wonderful addition to our picnic today – thank you!
Also – tremendous with a splash of bourbon.
Kate
Indeed! Thanks, Heather, glad you enjoyed it!
Karen
This looks delicious! May have to wait a few months to try it, as it is winter here in Melbourne, Australia. Although the addition of booze could sway me …
Kate
If an unseasonably warm day comes around…
What's Gaby Cooking
I could drink a dozen of these!
Kate
Clink clink clink! Cheers Gaby!
Lauren K
We made these (with vodka!) for the 4th and they were a big hit. Next time, I think I will try with rum + limes, which I think will be similar to a frozen mojito. I think if you’re adding alcohol, you may want to reduce the amount of water a bit. They could be a tad “icier” to hold up against drinking outside in a hot climate.
★★★★★
Kate
Oooh, love the idea of turning these into frozen mojitos. I will have to try that soon!
Sandra Lea
Will definitely be making this when the weekend rolls around. My mint is growing like crazy so I have to do something with it. There will be vodka in mine.
Kate
Enjoy, Sandra! I just planted some mint in a pot on my balcony yesterday. I hope it grows like crazy!
Hannah
This sounds amazing, Kate! Just what us Brit’s need in the heatwave we’re currently experiencing!
Kate
Thanks, Hannah! Enjoy!!
Maria
Oh my gosh!!! I was just thinking about tossing some mint leaves into lemonade and then I opened this recipe. It has been so hot (well, hot for Seattle) here that anything in slushy format, sounds amazing!!
Kate
Hope you love these lemonades! Stay cool up there! :)
Jenna
Your mention of adding vodka reminds me a bit of the chunky pineapple and mint caipirovskas (caipirinha made with vodka) that I had in Brazil last time I was there. This recipe is also a great reason to freeze lemon juice when the trees overflow with them like so many do here in CA in the winter. I wish I had done that this year!
Kate
Oh, that sounds amazing, Jenna! I’m going to have to do some research. :)
Rebekah Jaunty
Easy and delicious. I used bottled lemon juice, and it’s still good!
★★★★★
Kate
Good to know!
Debra
This sounds wonderful!! One question though, peppermint or spearmint?
Kate
Peppermint!
Kelley
I made this today to enjoy with a friend who stopped by. She loved it and I did, too! I’ll definitely make it again before summer’s over.
★★★★★
Kate
Great! I’m glad both of you enjoyed it, Kelley. Thanks!
Katie Harding
Eeeeh this looks amazing! Can’t wait to make them for my birthday in August! XX
★★★★★
Kate
:)
Kathrin
Made these for date-night at home the other day with some vodka and they were AMAZING. Next time Ill reduce the water a tad to make up for the additional liquid, but other than that they were perfect. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Kathrin!
Vicki Cohen
Hi Kate. Yes, I made this limonana. I also love this drink and was introduced to it on one of my many trips to Israel. I don’t know why I haven’t ever made it at home! made this drink on the 4th – it was just 4 of us — but all 4 of us agreed it was sooooo refreshing and perfect for a warm evening, sitting outside. One small adjustment, 1/4 c of fresh mint didn’t seem like enough. I used 1 cup lightly packed mint and it tasted like I remember it. anyway, thank you for reminding me what a wonderful drink this is! (I’m sure you know this: “nana” means “mint”)
Kate
Thanks, Vicki! Yes, feel free to adjust it to the level of mintiness you enjoy. :)
Erin | white plate blank slate
I’m heading to a friend’s beach house this weekend and now I know what we will be drinking! I’m definitely opting to add a little vodka… I can’t wait for Friday!
Kate
Awesome! Enjoy.
Nina
I found my new summer drink – thank you, Kate! I preferred this with bourbon, but my husband liked gin. I think we’ll have to make another batch and try it again.
Kate
Hooray! I love this for warm summer nights.
emily dickinson
thank you from a very HOT pregnant lady : ) this hits the spot!
★★★★★
Kate
Haha! You’re welcome, Emily! Hang in there. :)
Bonnie
Can this be frozen? Thinking of taking it to a picnic in a thermal jug – what do you think?
Kate
Yes, this is a frozen drink so would work nicely.
Stephannie
This was a delightful and refreshing drink to enjoy during a summer evening. It was so delicious that I did not miss having dessert, as this alone was enough. It paired perfectly with the “Strawberry, basil, & Balsamic Pizza.” Definitely making this again very soon. Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Stephannie!
Karen
I added the sugar to hot water first to blend. Great recipe!
★★★★★
Mark keserwany
I did this and it is amazing, i only doubled the amount of ice to get a more think smoothie
★★★★★
Kash
This looks amazing! I’ve read you can use whole lemons too with the skin on for more flavour, would you recommend it?
★★★★★
Kate
The zest would likely make it gritty. I’m happy you liked it as-is.