Brazilian Lemonade Lemonade with condensed milk is not your ordinary lemonade. This tangy, creamy and refreshing drink is perfect for cooling off when the weather gets warmer, but it’s also delicious enough to enjoy all year round!
Brazilian Lemonade is a popular drink in Brazil and Brazilian steakhouses in the U.S. I first discovered this drink here in a Brazilian steakhouse and loved it the moment I took my first sip. It has the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness, and goes great with grilled meats and vegetables.
The best part? You only need 4 ingredients to make this! This super simple recipe takes about 5 minutes max to prepare. It’s quick and easy, so it’s a huge success! 🙌
Isn’t Brazilian lemonade technically limeade?
That’s right! There are no lemons in this recipe. Just limes. So why is this recipe lemonadeProbably because in Portuguese (and Spanish) the words for lime and lemon are the same.
We call it Lemonade because it’s a lovely surprise for your guests. Instead of the classic lemonade look they’re expecting, they’ll get this vibrant, creamy green drink. 💚
Recipe Ingredients
- lime – This “lemonade” gets its citrus flavor from fresh, ripe limes, but if lemons are all you have available, make a great lemonade with condensed milk.
- sugar – The sugar counteracts the acidity of the citrus and makes this drink deliciously sweet. 🫶🏿
- Sweetened condensed milk This is what makes Brazilian lemonade truly special: it adds a unique and delightfully sweet and creamy flavor to the drink.
- water – Serve with water and ice to balance the drink so it isn’t too sour or too sweet! 🧊
How to make Brazilian lemonade
- scrub Cut the lime into about 8 wedges.
- blend – Add lime, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, water, and ice to a blender. Pulse 7-10 times (over-pulsing will extract too much pulp and make the drink bitter). (Photos 1-2)
- distortion Strain through a fine strainer into a pitcher, discarding the skins and cores. (Photo 3)
- serve – Pour into a chilled glass with ice. Enjoy. (Photo 4)
Recipe Variations
- Don’t like sweetened condensed milk? Want to cut back on the sugar? Try our Brazilian Lemonade with coconut milk. The full-fat version is the best.
- If you like, you can use a different sweetener instead of sugar — stevia works well, but be aware that this type of sweetener can change the taste of your lemonade.
- No lime? Make it with orange and it tastes like an orange creamsicle. 🤤
- Brazilian Lemonade Cocktail: You can never go wrong with a little alcohol. Add some coconut rum or cachaça to create a surprisingly alcoholic Brazilian Lemonade.
Tips and Tricks
- Do not overmix the ingredients in the blender, as this will result in a bitter taste. You do not need to blend the lime wedges thoroughly, as you will be straining out the zest.
- For a special treat, serve Brazilian Lemonade in a chilled glass.
- Hate the ice watering down your lemonade? Freeze your Brazilian lemonade in ice cube trays and use ice instead of regular ice to keep your drink cold.
Preliminary steps
This can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored in the fridge in a pitcher with a lid. Stir well before serving.
How to serve and store
Serve Brazilian Lemonade in chilled glasses over ice. Any remaining portion can be stored in a pitcher with a lid in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Yes, you can freeze it in portions in plastic freezer bags or jars. The pressure may cause the glass to crack.
What goes well with Brazilian lemonade?
Try Brazilian Lemonade as the finishing touch to any Brazilian meal. Feijoada and Collard greens and RiceFor dessert Brigadeiro or Sour passion fruit pudding cake.😋
Refreshing Drink Recipes to Try
- Pineapple Lemonade
- Mango Lemonade
- Passion Fruit Margarita
- Passion Fruit Juice
- Mango juice
See how it’s made
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”frLIwzC6″ upload-date=”2020-03-28T14:32:41.000Z” name=”Brazilian Lemonade” description=”Brazilian Lemonade – Not your average lemonade this Brazilian lemonade is Creamy, tangy and Refreshing, the perfect way to refresh and cool down this summer and all you need is four ingredients! ” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]
This blog post was published in May 2017 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos and videos.
Readers’ reactions