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You know what really depressed me this past weekend? My mother-in-law told me that she could already tell the days were getting shorter. Wha. . what now? Summer JUST started! I waited months and months for that snow to melt and now that summer is finally here, I'm hanging on to every last moment of warmth and daylight!
I'm posting this SUPER fun Cotton Candy Lemonade recipe today in honor of summer and to get my spirits right back up to where they were on that first 75 degree day of the season. I don't know about you, but lemonade makes me think of summer. In fact, summer time is the only time I drink lemonade!!
Have you ever seen Cotton Candy Lemonade before? I do know they serve it at Disney World. Why wouldn't they? Refreshing homemade lemonade sweetened by a fluff of cotton candy? I'm in. Especially if I've been waiting in lines all day in the sweltering heat. Still a little uncertain about the flavor combination?
You shouldn't be! It's wonderful, it's delicious, and it's oh so much fun! Plus, the lemonade recipe I'm sharing today is adapted from The Pioneer Woman's Homemade Lemonade Recipe. You can't go wrong with Ree. She is AMAZING!
I put a bunch of lemon slices onto a wooden skewer and left a little room at top to plop on my cotton candy (refer to the photo at the top of the post to see what I mean). It's so very important that the cotton candy doesn't touch the lemonade upon serving the drink. The lucky recipient of the lemonade should be the one to drop it in.
Let's be honest here. As much as I do love Ree, the star of the show in this recipe, isn't really the lemonade. It's the cotton candy, people. This drink is ALMOST as much fun as a ride at Disney World. In fact, it was so enjoyable when I made mine that I may or may not have put half a bag of cotton candy in one of the glasses of lemonade just to watch it dissolve and change colors. Can you see the pink and blue in there?
Want to see this fun in action? Check it out on Google+!
This is just the ultimate fun drink. I can't say it enough. Kids will be beside themselves and in awe of the way the lemonade just sucks up all that sugar. The cotton candy gives the lemonade just the perfect sweetness. The color change is just the visual entertainment.
So if you're looking for a fun drink that will be the talk of the party, this lemonade will get them ooohing and ahhhing like you wouldn't believe. It's so much fun to drink, but even more fun to serve!! You have to try this!
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Cotton Candy Lemonade
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 7 cups water (divided)
- 12 whole lemons (juiced)
- Ice cubes
- Cotton candy (about a fist-size portion to garnish each drink)
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Heat 2 cups sugar with 3 cups of water in a saucepan on the stove until dissolved and set in the fridge to cool.
- Pour the lemon juice into a large punch bowl. Pour in ¾ of the syrup, then top off the bowl with ice. Pour the remaining 4 cups of water in and taste. If you'd like it a bit sweeter, add more syrup, if it needs to be diluted, add more water.
- Add some lemon slices and about a fist-size dollop of cotton candy to each drink just before serving.
- Serve immediately!
Notes
- Customize Sweetness: Taste your lemonade mixture before serving and adjust the sweetness to your liking. The sweetness of lemons can vary, so you may need to add more of the prepared sugar syrup if you prefer a sweeter drink. Conversely, if the lemonade is too sweet, you can dilute it with additional water. This flexibility ensures that you can tailor the sweetness level to suit your taste preferences.
- Prepare Sugar Syrup in Advance: To save time when making the lemonade, prepare the sugar syrup ahead of time and chill it in the refrigerator until needed. This allows the syrup to cool completely, ensuring that it won't dilute the lemonade when added. Plus, having the syrup ready means you can quickly mix up a batch of lemonade whenever you desire without waiting for the sugar to dissolve.
- Serve with Flair: Presentation is key when serving Cotton Candy Lemonade. Just before serving, add a generous dollop of cotton candy to each glass for a whimsical and eye-catching garnish. The cotton candy will dissolve into the lemonade, infusing it with a subtle sweetness and adding a fun element to the drink. Pair the lemonade with a slice of lemon on the rim of the glass for an extra touch of elegance.
Nutrition
LOOKING FOR MORE SUMMER RECIPES?
Cat
Oh wow! What beautiful colors! Thank you for sharing this recipe. This looks perfect for my co-worker's baby shower. I was wondering how many cups this yields, though. I believe we will have about 15 people at the shower!
Sara
I would think you should make about two batches. Hope your guests love it!
Sydney @ Tastefullyfrugal
My SIL was just telling me about this amazing Cotton Candy Lemonade she had at the Spaghetti Factory... we hardly ever go there so I'm excited that I found a recipe for it!! Stopped by from the Tickle my Tastebuds Link Party. Pinning so I don't lose 🙂
Sara
I had no idea the Spaghetti Factory serves it! We don't have any Spaghetti Factories close to my house but maybe you can impress your SIL by serving some the next time she's over. Even if you don't want to make the lemonade from scratch, the cotton candy will still have the same sweetness effect regardless of what type of lemonade you use!
Steph
When I first saw this I thought O_o, but it looks like it would actually work. I'm so curious now, that I defiantly want to try this 😀 Pinning now! Thanks for Linking up at My Favorite Things Saturday!
Sara
You'll be surprised at how good it really is. The cotton candy just gives the lemonade the perfect dash of sweetness. Perfect for a hot summer day!
Melinda @Home.Made.Interest
Stopping by from Create Link Inspire Link Party. Yum, the sweetness of the cotton candy mixed with the lemonade sounds delicious! So pretty too! Thanks for sharing. Pinning
Sara
Thanks so much for your pin, Melinda! And of course for stopping by!
Carrie Groneman
Oh manzo, did you come up with a winner! My kids, particularly my oldest love cotton candy, and with the 4th we will be trying this one for sure. I featured it on my fb page - awesome!!! Thanks for linking up at Wonderful Wed Blog Hop. Carrie, A Mother's Shadow
Sara
Thanks for your share, Carrie! Hope you enjoy the lemonade!
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas
Visiting from Moonlight and Mason Jars Link Party. I love this idea of combining candy floss with lemonade, it's brilliant. I co-host Sweet and Savoury Sunday and would love for you to stop by and share this and other recipes with us when the party goes live on Sunday night. Have a great day! Pinned.
Sara
Thanks, Laura! I will try and stop by!
Jennifer Johnson
This is brilliant! Cotton Candy in my drink yes please!!
Sara
You can never go wrong with cotton candy, Jennifer!
Anne
I only eat cotton candy around the 4th of july, but this sounds like a great recipe to try a few more times of the year, or use up the rest that I get from the carnival and can't make myself eat. I'm glad I found your post through the Moonlight & Mason Jars link party.
Sara
Glad it sounds good to you, Anne! I buy cotton candy year round at our dollar store. My kids both have fall birthdays and it's always a favorite treat any time of year!