Tag Archives: lemonade

Elderflower Lemonade (bezinka limonáda)

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Ruthanne

Elderflower syrup and mint add a refreshing twist to this fresh-squeezed lemonade!

Last spring I was in the Czech Republic at the headquarters of the mission organization I work for, Josiah Venture. We were waiting for over 140 college interns to arrive and we all went out for dinner at this adorable little restaurant. The menu was entirely in Czech and someone ordered me a lemonade and when I got it and took my first drink I LOVED (loved.loved.loved) it! It took me awhile to figure out what it was I loved so much, and the secret ingredient was: Elderflower syrup! This is commonly made in central Europe to add to beverages and desserts- but I’d never heard of it or tasted it before.

Since I don’t have Elderflower growing in Indiana, I went to my trusty Amazon and discovered that Monin makes this syrup- and it is delicious (find it here). I spent the winter adding it to hot green tea (amazing!) and now that it is spring I gave the lemonade a try- and nailed it! Seriously….you have got to try this! It’s indescribably good.

Here is how we put it together (EASY!!!!!!) Printable recipe here.

INGREDIENTS: (to make one liter, or about 34 ounces):

2 medium lemons
8-10 mint leaves, slightly crushed (give them a squeeze before you add them!)
3 to 4 slices of lime, halved.
2/3 to 1 cup of Elderflower syrup
Club soda and ice

DIRECTIONS:

Juice lemons and add juice to 1 liter carafe (note: in my photos I used a half-liter size, which is fun to drink right out of with a long straw!)
Place mint leaves, lime slices, and syrup in carafe.
Fill with ice to about 2/3 full.
Add club soda until filled- stir well and serve in individual glasses.

My thoughts: Well, in case you didn’t catch this earlier in the post: I LOVE THIS BEVERAGE!!!!! If you like your lemonade sweet add a little more syrup. If you like it tart, add less. Add some different fruits if you like- I think some sweet raspberries might be good crushed into this too. Yum. You really need to try this!!! 🙂 ~r

I enjoyed mine on my back porch- right out of the 1/2 liter carafe 🙂

One of my favorite parts of travel is discovering new international recipes to try. Here are a few from the past: (click on a photo to see the recipe!)

Sunshine Lemonade Cookies

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Ruthanne

These soft cut-out cookies have lemonade in the mix for a sweet lemon cookie you will love!

If you have been a fan of Easybaked for very long, you know that I love lemon-themed desserts! I’ve used lemonade in cupcakes and cakes– but these cut-out cookies are a new experiment- and I adore them! These cookies just melt in your mouth- and that tart lemon flavor is wonderful.

You can cut these into any shape you want, and decorate at whatever level of creativity and effort you choose. I wanted happy sunshine cookies for a summer party- so I used a Smiley Face Emoji Chocolate Mold and yellow, blue and orange Wilton’s Candy Melts to decorate my cookies. They make me smile!

Here is how I made them: (printable cookie recipe here)

INGREDIENTS: (makes about 24 cookies)

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
3 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
One packet (0.23 oz) of unsweetened lemonade powder (I used Kool Aid brand)
2 bags of Wilton Candy Melts in blue (or in whatever colors you want to decorate in!)
1 bag of Wilton Candy Melts in yellow
1/4 bag of Wilton Candy Melts in orange

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.
Add eggs, vanilla and lemonade powder and mix well.
Add all dry ingredients and mix until able to knead into a firm ball of dough (add additional flour if necessary).
Roll out on a floured counter with a flour coated rolling pin to desired thickness (I made them about 1/4 inch thick))
Cut into whatever shape you want- I used a 3.5-inch round cookie cutter.
Place on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet.
Bake at 350F degrees for 8-10 minutes and slide off the cookie sheet (leaving on parchment paper) to cool.
Melt 3/4 of yellow candy melts (in microwave, 30-second increments, stirring in between until smooth) and use a small zip-top bag to pipe this into each smiley face mold cavity. Freeze for 4-5 minutes and remove from mold. Set aside.
Melt blue candy melts and pipe around the edges of each circle.
Melt remaining yellow and orange candy melts and place in small zip-top bags to be ready to decorate. Keep them warm in a towel.
Flood cookie to edges with blue candy melts and immediately pipe circles of orange and yellow around the cookie’s center.
Use a toothpick or skewer to pull lines through the melted chocolate and then tap on table to remove lines.
Place a smiley face in the center.

Repeat with remaining cookies, keeping candy melts warm in towels as you go.
Once they are hardened—Enjoy!

My thoughts: These are delicious. Decorating them this way takes a little time, but you could certainly make these cookies and decorate with a buttercream and some sprinkles if you want easy! The cookies are so worth trying- they got rave reviews 🙂 Happy summer to you!!!! ~r

Other lemon treats here on Easybaked (click on a photo to see the recipe):

7 Comments

Posted in Candy, Cookies and tagged fun summer cookies, lemon cookies, lemon cut-out cookies, lemonade, lemonade cookies, lemonade cut-out cookies, summer cookies, summer dessert recipe, summer party cookies, summer party recipe, sunshine cookies, white chocolate, Wiltons candy Melts. Bookmark the permalink.

Lemonade Cookies…with a twist!

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Ruthanne

Chewy lemonade cookies made with bits of strawberry licorice…a fun treat that every kid (or kid at heart) in your life will love!

Months ago I received a baking challenge from an 8 year old boy named Zao. His mom Erika works with me and he asked her, “Do you think Ruthanne could make cookies with red licorice in them?” Well, of course we can!

Now, as a little warning to you: the bits of licorice are yummy, but they are very chewy and you end up eating licorice after the cookie is all gone in your mouth. Remember bubble gum ice cream? It’s a little like that sort of dilemma. The taste combination is wonderful though and if you can get past the consistency you will love these!

For those of you not-so-brave folks out there….the cookies are soooooo yummy without the licorice too! I made two batches– one with and one without the licorice. I loved both varieties (and it gave me an excuse to eat TWO cookies instead of one!)

Here’s how to make them: (printer- friendly recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 packet (0.23oz.) Kool Aid Lemonade
Yellow food coloring gel
2 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup of chopped Twizzler Strawberry Licorice. (I just chopped them into chocolate chip-size bits using a sharp knife)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees
Using a mixer, beat together butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Add Lemonade powder and coloring gel (if needed) to create a nice yellow color. Mix well.
Blend in the dry ingredients, using clean hands to knead the dough together at the end.
Add chopped strawberry licorice bits at the very end and blend well (this step can be skipped if you aren’t feeling wild and crazy– you’ll just have yummy lemonade cookies!)
Roll rounded tablespoons of dough into balls and place on baking sheets that have been covered in parchment paper.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are set.
Slide parchment paper (with the cookies still on top) onto a cool counter and allow cookies to cool right on paper.

My thoughts: With or without the strawberry bits, these are great cookies. I think they balance perfectly between sweet and tart. I was surprised at how many people loved the idea of putting licorice bits into cookies. I think they would be great with a strawberry or raspberry icing on top. Yum….! Enjoy!

Enjoying his cookies– thanks for the recipe idea Zeo!

You might also enjoy:

11 Comments

Posted in Candy, Cookies and tagged baking, candy, cookies, cookies for kids, crazy cookie ideas, fun cookies, lemonade, lemonade cookies, recipe, red licorice, strawberry, strawberry lemonade cookies, strwaberry licorice, taste combination, Twizzler licorice, unique cookies. Bookmark the permalink.

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes!!!!

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Ruthanne

Two years ago today, I started a blog. I had no idea it would blossom into what it is today, and no idea I would have so much fun with it! I’ve made such great new friends, learned so much about photography and design, and loved every second of the process.

In honor of our anniversary, I chose the recipe that is (by far!) the most visited on the site and re-made it in cupcake form. Strawberry Lemonade Cake is already on the Easybaked site twice:

Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake Strawberry Lemonade Birthday Cake

The Layer Cake is more like a torte, the lemonade mixture is more like a filling than a frosting.

The Birthday Cake has a lemonade frosting, and it is one of my very favorite frostings ever. It’s soooo creamy and light.

Both recipes top the list of my most popular recipes, together they have been viewed just over 435,000 times (as of today…!)

It seemed fitting that I feature everyone’s favorite recipe to celebrate two years with all of you~ so let me present: Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes:

These are easy to make (much easier than a layer cake, in my opinion) and just the yummiest treat. I loved the pink wrappers and the paper straws I found for these- I think they would be such a fun shower, picnic or birthday party treat!!

INGREDIENTS:

One box of strawberry cake mix (plus oil, water and eggs as directed on box)
2- 8oz. packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temp.)
1 packet (0.23oz.) of Kool-Aid Lemonade
Yellow food coloring (as desired for color)
1- 7oz. container Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
1/3 c. powdered sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip Topping
Confetti sprinkles and paper straws to decorate as desired

DIRECTIONS:

Make cake according to box and bake in 24 cupcake liners placed in cupcake tins, as directed. Cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese, lemonade and yellow food coloring until smooth.
Beat marshmallow creme and powdered sugar into cream cheese mixture and then fold in Cool Whip until completely smooth.
Spoon frosting into a zip top bag that has a piping tip inserted into one corner (I used a Wilton 1M star tip).
Pipe frosting on tops of each cupcake- you can be generous, as this recipe makes a lot of frosting and the frosting is so light and fluffy.
Decorate as desired.
Refrigerate and serve chilled.
Enjoy!!!!!

My thoughts: A tried-and-true recipe in a fun new format…what’s not to love about that?!? I’m incredibly thankful for all of YOU who visit, comment, “like”, rate and (most of all) MAKE the recipes I create! I had no idea how much I would love hearing from complete strangers that a recipe “made my husband’s birthday perfect” or “made all the kids at the party laugh”. When I hear how happy a recipe makes you and your family it literally makes my day…and fuels my desire to bake and share more! Here’s to another year of Easybaked recipes! Enjoy! ~r

06-13-14 Did you know, that this recipe is now available in a set of adorable note cards? With a picture of these cupcakes on the front, the recipe on the back, and lots of space inside to write a note, these are a PERFECT little gift! Why send just a card, when you can send the gift of a recipe as well?!? Click here for more information and to order.

Such a fun year….check out our photo gallery for these and other yummy treats!

39 Comments

Posted in Cupcakes and tagged baking, birthday dessert, confetti, cool whip, Cream Cheese, cupcake, dessert, fun cupcake, lemonade, marshmallow creme, paper straws, party dessert, recipe, shower dessert, strawberry, strawberry Lemonade cake, strawberry lemonade cupcake. Bookmark the permalink.

Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake!!

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Ruthanne

Moist strawberry cake layered with a rich lemonade cream filling. Introducing summer——on a plate!

INGREDIENTS:

One box of strawberry cake mix (plus oil, water and eggs as directed on box)
8oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temp.)
1 packet (0.23oz.) of Kool-Aid Lemonade
Yellow food coloring gel (as desired for color)
2cups Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
8 oz. Cool Whip Topping
Fresh strawberries to garnish.

DIRECTIONS:

Make cake according to box and bake in 2- 9 inch round cake pans as directed. Turn finished cakes over on cake racks and allow to cool completely.
Cream together cream cheese, lemonade and yellow food coloring until smooth.
Mix marshmallow creme in and then mix in Cool Whip until completely smooth. Refrigerate until cake is cooled and cut.
Cut each cake layer in half.
Alternating layers of cake with layers of filling, assemble cake. End with layer of filling.
Top with sliced strawberries.
Refrigerate and serve chilled.

My thoughts: YUM!!!!! I’m a little obsessed with the filling I used in those confetti cups a few weeks back. This lemonade filling is similar- but has more Cool Whip to make it light and fluffy. I’ve never made a strawberry cake mix before– it is SO GOOD! I love that this recipe uses a cake mix- it makes it a VERY easy and quick recipe that looks so fancy and fun! I think you could drizzle some white chocolate over this and make it over-the-top fancy. I really hope you enjoy this recipe— I’ve gotta have a piece –ready….set….GO!

Want to see more pictures of this cake done as a birthday cake? The filling is made just a little thicker so that the entire cake can be frosted. Just click here. Enjoy!

4-17-12: I love it when people try recipes I’ve posted and take pictures of the process- check out how “Don’t fight the Apple” made this recipe into yummy jar cakes to send to her boyfriend overseas! Great idea!!

4-23-12: Or check out the tips and beautiful photos taken at Jam Hands.

Try some other fun strawberry desserts at Easybaked~ just click on an image to be taken to the recipe!

241 Comments

Posted in Cakes and tagged cake, cool whip, Cream Cheese, dessert, fresh fruit, layer cake, lemonade, marshmallow, strawberry, torte. Bookmark the permalink.

Raspberry Lemonade Truffles

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Ruthanne

These soft and creamy lemonade truffles are accented with a sweet raspberry white chocolate. Truly a unique dessert that will have you thinking summer as soon as you taste one!

INGREDIENTS: (makes 30 truffles)

1 (8 oz.) bar of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temp)
1 packet (0.23 oz.) of Kool-Aid Lemonade mix (unsweetened)
5 cups powdered sugar (plus a little extra to coat your hands as you work with dough)
1 bag (12oz) Wilton White Candy Melts
1/4 teaspoon imitation raspberry flavoring
Red and yellow food coloring (enough to get the color you desire)

DIRECTIONS:

Cream together Philadelphia cream cheese and packet of lemonade.
Add yellow food coloring to desired shade of yellow.
Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, blending well between each one. After 4th cup, coat your hands in powdered sugar and mix in 5th cup with your hands until well blended.
Using sugar-covered hands, roll dough into 1 inch truffle balls and set on parchment paper.
Melt candy coating chips in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until smooth.
Add raspberry flavoring and red food coloring (to desired color) and mix well.
Spoon about 1/2 – 1 tsp. of chocolate onto parchment paper and then press a truffle on the top of it until the chocolate is visible around the edges. Finish the rest of the truffles this way.
Spoon remaining chocolate into a ziplock bag and clip the corner. Drizzle the chocolate over the truffles.
Allow topping to harden (about 5 minutes)
Peel off parchment paper and serve at room temperature or chilled.

Makes about 30 truffles.

My thoughts: Wow! These have been a huge hit with everyone in my life that’s tried them! They are an original creation for Real Women of Philadelphia. For all of you who love to cook and bake, you really should check this contest out– its a lot of fun and the sweetest people are a part of this community! I was longing for something to remind me that summer is coming (in spite of all the yucky weather lately!) Raspberry lemonade is such treat- and these truffles capture the essence of it to me. I hope you get a chance to try them– let me know what you think! :o)r-