Although summer is really considered the ‘lemonade season’, I like to drink it all year long. And it really makes sense too, seeing as winter is when we really utilize a lot of citrus around here. I always have it around, brightening up my home. I keep lemons around at all times, specifically, because they’re freshly squeezed juice is a great natural remedy during cold and flu season.
This year I’m really squeezing every drop(haha) of use I can from Meyer lemons, which are available for such a short time. Which is unfortunate, seeing as they have such a lovely sweet flavor and are a little less tart then they’re regular, all-season counterparts. Meyer lemons are almost like a cross between a lemon and a clementine. The skin is so smooth, lacking large pores(which is the key thing to look for when picking out citrus) and they have such a vibrant color. Yellow, but a little orange-ish too.
This drink is reminiscent of a lemonade that used to be on store shelves, but only for a short time. I believe it was called an ‘island’ lemonade, which didn’t really make sense. Maybe that’s why it was pulled. Regardless, I loved it. It was flavored with cinnamon and vanilla which may sound a little different, but it has come to be one of my favorite flavors in a lemonade.
Cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans, along with their seeds, are steeped in a Meyer lemon simple syrup. Water is added and the drink is refrigerated for up to a week. Though delicious a few hours after being made, this lemonade really starts to shine around day 3 or 4. I found that 4 days after it being refrigerated the cinnamon really started to impart its spicy flavor while the vanilla added warm, soft notes to the mixture.
If you can’t find Meyer lemons, regular will do just fine. Check the sweetness of the simple syrup before you refrigerate it, as you may need a little more sugar to counter the more sour flavor of regular lemons.
- 2 C. Meyer Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 C. Sugar
- 2 C. Water
- 1 Vanilla bean, split
- 6 Cinnamon Sticks
- Additional water
- Place the meyer lemon juice, sugar, water, vanilla bean, and cinnamon sticks in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Turn off the heat as soon as the mixture reaches a boil and let sit in the pan until cool, 2-3 hours. This will give it time for the vanilla and cinnamon to flavor the lemonade.
- Pour the syrup into a pitcher(along with the cinnamon sticks and vanilla) and add water until the desired flavor intensity is reached.
- Chill.
This would be the perfect drink to add some sunshine to my life as I sit through this massive East Coast blizzard.
Oh no, Lynn! You do need this! We haven’t had snow here for ages and I’m wondering if it’s really even winter anymore =)
What a beautiful and delicious looking lemonade. I just love how this is inspired by winter flavours too.. I have to try out the recipe!
Thank you Thalia! I hope you try it! It’s one of my favorite drinks!
I love Meyer lemons too and I have a big basket of them right now. I like this idea of a vanilla cinnamon lemonade!
Thanks Felechia! Sounds like this would be a good use for all those lemons 😉
These photos are absolutely gorgeous! I wonder if coconut sugar or honey would be a good substitute for regular sugar?
Thank you Lauren! I haven’t tried it with coconut sugar, but honey would definitely work though you’d have to lower the amount =)
Lemon and vanilla – sounds delish! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Tiare!
Yum! I love the idea of using meyer lemons and adding winter spices to winterize lemonade 🙂
Thanks Maya! Hope you get to try it out!
Am soooo glad and happy to have found your blog, it’s gorgeous place where I can spend hours and hours of my time. I love the winter lemonade and would love to have this and get my fill of vitamin C.
Thank you so much, Simi! I could say the same for your blog, your photography is beautiful!
This lemonade looks so lovely! Love the combination of vanilla and lemon!
Thank you Erin!
Aside from the fact that this drink sounds amazing, I am in awe of the beautiful photography in this post. Totally pinning this to my inspiration board on Pinterest! <3
Thank you so much, Anna! I appreciate that! =)
These pictures are so gorgeous! I kind of wish technology existed that would allow me to reach into my computer screen and grab one of those lemonades…
Thanks so much, Tina! I wish you could reach in and grab one too!
I love your blog and your photography! Your recipes are spot on as well. We’ve been chugging down mint limeade all winter. I too don’t believe in the whole lemonade is for summer thing!
Thank you so much, Anjana! Ohhh…mint limeade sounds so good! I’m glad you feel the same way about lemonade 😉
This lemonade sounds so refreshing. I actually have some meyer lemons in the fridge, I might make this
Thanks Rochelle, it is! I hope you do make it, it is one of my favorites!
Loving everything about this!
Thank you Serena!
I’m drinking all kinds of lemon drinks this winter to keep me from the wintertime blues and I’d like a glass of this! I wish you lived closer – we’ve got a meyer lemon tree in our backyard.
Are you serious?! Man, I wish I lived closer too! A Meyer lemon tree in your backyard. You lucky duck!
Oh my gosh, this is calling my name. I just adore Meyer Lemons. Can’t get enough of them. I’ve been snatching them up left and right! I’m super intrigued by the addition of vanilla and cinnamon in a lemonade. Can’t wait to try it out!