If you’ve ever experienced the magic of Red Robin’s signature Freckled Lemonade, you know why this strawberry-speckled refresher has become legendary among restaurant beverages. This delightful drink perfectly balances tangy citrus with sweet berry flavors, creating the ultimate non-alcoholic treat that pairs beautifully with burgers, fries, or any casual meal. Now you can recreate this beloved favorite at home for just a fraction of the restaurant price.
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Why This Recipe Works
The secret to this copycat recipe lies in its simplicity. By combining homemade lemonade or quality store-bought lemonade with real strawberries and their natural syrup, you achieve the perfect balance of sweet and tart that makes the original addictive. The “freckles” come from the small bits of strawberry suspended throughout the drink, creating visual appeal and flavor bursts with every sip.
Ingredients
- Lemonade – Provides the tangy citrus base for the drink. For the best flavor, we recommend using our fresh lemonade recipe
- Frozen sliced strawberries with syrup – Creates the signature “freckled” appearance and adds natural sweetness
- Ice – Chills the drink to refreshing perfection
Optional Garnish:
Fresh strawberries – Adds an elegant finishing touch and extra berry flavor
How to Make Freckled Lemonade
- Prepare the Base: Place thawed strawberries and their syrup in the bottom of a tall highball glass. The syrup adds sweetness and helps distribute flavor.
- Add the Lemonade: Pour lemonade over the strawberries, leaving room for ice at the top.
- Mix Gently: Stir carefully to distribute the strawberry pieces and syrup throughout the lemonade without mashing the fruit.
- Add Ice: Fill the glass with ice cubes, allowing them to settle around the strawberry pieces.
- Garnish and Serve: Top with a fresh strawberry on the rim or dropped into the drink for an elegant finishing touch.
Storage & Make A-head Preparation
- Immediate Consumption: Best enjoyed fresh for optimal flavor and texture
- Short-Term Storage: Can be refrigerated for up to 2 hours, but stir before serving, as separation may occur
- Batch Preparation: Mix lemonade and strawberry base ahead, add ice just before serving
Easy Copycat Red Robin Freckled Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons frozen strawberries with syrup thawed
- 1 1/2 cups lemonade (Minute Maid recommended)
- ice
- fresh strawberries for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Place two tablespoons of the strawberries and syrup into the bottom of a tall highball glass. Add lemonade and stir the mixture together. Fill the glass with ice. Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired.
- Or you can use a shaker if you have one on hand. Pour the lemonade and frozen strawberries and syrup into the shaker then shake and pour over ice. Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Make a spiked Red Robin Speckled Lemonade?
Sometimes, you want a drink with a bit more of a punch. Red Robin uses Smirnoff Citrus vodka to give this drink an adult version of this drink. You should add 1 1/2 ounces to 2 ounces to your drink to turn it into an adult beverage.
Love lemon drinks and sweets? Try these recipes!
- Chick-fil-A Frozen Lemonade
- Lemon Lush Recipe
- Old-Fashioned Lemon Squares Recipe
- Italian Lemon Cream Cake
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade
Refreshing Drink Recipes
More Red Robin Copycat Recipes
Check out my easy drink recipes and the best fast food copycat recipes.
This is probably going to sound cranky, but to be a copycat recipe you might as well get it right. It’s frozen 4+1 strawberries (specific syrup ratio) and minute maid lemonade. That’s how we do it at red Robin. It needs to be made in a tornado glass. Not a highball. *Facepalm*
The grammar on this article is horrible.
Cheers!
Hey, with a name like Master Sandwich I would expect a firm response. Thank you for the proper ratio. Most people do not have tornado glasses. So I thought it was ok to share they could use a highball glass. Thank you for your help and insight.
Thanks I love It
Thanks for the Strawberry Lemonade Receipt…Your the Beat
I am glad you enjoyed the recipe.
How bout the Red Robin Poppin Purple Lemonade?
So yummy!
Thank you for your suggestion.
I love their lemonade. Can’t wait to try this.
you need to first mound the glass with ice, then add the defrosted strawberries with syrup on top, then the lemonade, then lemon wedge, I have served at red robin. This gives a nice look especially if you have the signature tornado glass which you can purchase for 3 dollars.
What about the Absolutely absolute freckled lemonade? What is the recipe of that?
I will have to give that one a try.
What kind of syrup do I use?
The syrup that comes in the frozen strawberries that come with the syrup.
I tried this with a jar of maraschino cherries great too! Or add some cherry juice to this recipe. Great shares!
Ooh, I LOVE Red Robin’s freckled lemonade! Thanks so much for this!
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Having waitressed at a Red Robin, I can say that this is *almost* correct – you actually put the ice in first, dump the strawberries on top of the ice, and then fill with lemonade. This give the drink a “freckled” look throughout, and also saves you from having to stir the strawberries to mix up the flavor.