As the summer months come and go, be sure to pick and freeze your raspberries at their peak of freshness. Then, you can whip up a batch (or two or three) of this deliciously refreshing raspberry juice summer drink recipe anytime you want. With plenty of variations, you’ll have no problem using up your summer bounty of berries.
Why I Love This Recipe
As the summer sun reaches its peak, our raspberry bushes are in full swing, providing a bountiful harvest of these delicious, tart berries. Every summer, you’ll find me busy making homemade jams and jellies and delicious baked goods like these raspberry lemon cream cheese muffins.
Raspberries are also a great addition to for smoothies, but sometimes I don’t want something quite as rich. That’s where summertime drink recipes like this raspberry juice come in.
This fruit juice is perfectly sweet but not too sweet, with simple add-ins like mint and lime and no juicer required! Just like these herbal drinks, elixirs, shrubs & cocktail/mocktails, it’ll cool you down on a hot summer day and curb your craving for something sweet.
If you don’t have raspberry bushes growing in your yard yet, let this be your encouragement to plant raspberry bushes and learn how to prune raspberry plants each year for a bountiful harvest.
Why Raspberries?
Raspberries are a powerhouse of nutrients. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and they’re one of my favorite berries to eat straight off the bush. Here are a few reasons why you should incorporate raspberries into your meals:
- High in Fiber: Raspberries are an excellent source of dietary fiber, which is essential for digestive health. (Source)
- Rich in Vitamins: They are packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, and several B vitamins. (Source)
- Antioxidant Powerhouse: Raspberries contain a high level of antioxidants, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation. (Source)
Freezing Raspberries for Future Use
One of my favorite ways to ensure I have raspberries available year-round is by both freezing and freeze-drying them. Freezing raspberries is incredibly easy and helps preserve their nutrients and flavor for later use. Here’s how I do it:
Step-by-Step Guide to Freezing Raspberries
- Pick Your Berries: Choose ripe, unblemished raspberries.
- Rinse and Dry: Gently rinse the raspberries in cool water and pat them dry with a paper towel, or leave them to sit on the counter for a few hours to dry completely.
- Freeze: Arrange berries in a single layer on a cookie tray and freeze until frozen solid. I’ve found that there’s no need to lay them out on wax paper or a sheet first, and they don’t stick together.
- Bag and Freeze: Transfer frozen berries into a Ziploc bag or other freezer-proof container.
- Label and Store: Label the bag with the contents and date and store it in the freezer until ready to use. Frozen raspberries can last up to a year.
These frozen raspberries are perfect for smoothies, baking, or thawing to use in various recipes.
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Fresh Raspberry Juice Recipe
Now, let’s get to the main event: making fresh raspberry juice. This refreshing drink is not only incredibly delicious but also easy to prepare. Here’s the fresh juice recipe:
Supplies Needed
- Blender – I love my Blentec and have had it for over ten years now. A Vitamix or other high-powered blender will work.
Ingredients Needed
- Fresh Raspberries – Fresh or frozen raspberries work for this recipe. Just know that if you use frozen raspberries you can omit the ice cubes and may need to increase the amount of water to reach your desired consistency.
- Ice Cubes – Use more or less depending on how “slushy” you want your juice. Omit the ice cubes if using frozen raspberries.
- Sweetener – I like to use honey or maple syrup for this recipe. You could also use Stevia or Monkfruit Sweetener if you want a sugar-free option. Or homemade simple syrup or mint simple syrup for a fun twist.
- Water – This helps achieve the juice-like texture. We’re not making a true raspberry juice since we’re skipping the straining portion. Add water slowly, increasing until your preferred consistency is reached.
Step-by-Step Directions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Gather fresh raspberries, ice cubes, sweetener of choice, and water.
- Blend: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until liquefied.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste your raspberry juice and adjust sweetener, if needed. Add more water for a thinner consistency or more ice or frozen raspberries for a thicker consistency.
- Serve: Pour the juice into glasses. For an extra touch of flavor, add a sprig of mint and a squeeze of lime to each glass. If you prefer, you can blend the mint and lime juice directly into the juice.
Tips for the Perfect Raspberry Juice
- Adjust Sweetness: Raspberries can be tart, so adjust the sweetness to your liking. Honey is a natural sweetener, but you can also experiment with other options like maple syrup or stevia.
- Minty Fresh: While my kids prefer their juice without fresh mint, I love the refreshing hint it adds. You can either add a sprig of mint to the glass for a garnish or blend it directly into the juice.
- Lemon Balm: While I was out harvesting my raspberries, I grabbed a couple sprigs of lemon balm and added that to my raspberry juice. It made for a delightful citrus flavor!
- Raspberry Lemonade Recipe: Swap the water in this recipe for lemon juice and increase the sweetener (to taste) to make a mocktail raspberry lemonade.
- Raspberry Float: Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a fun spin on a float!
- Strain: There’s always the option to strain this recipe for a smoother, seed-free version. Simply take a fine mesh strainer and allow the juice to strain through.
I love easy recipes, and this fresh raspberry juice is a simple, delicious, and healthy way to enjoy the bounty of summer. Whether you’re looking to cool down on a hot day or want to explore new ways to use your raspberry harvest, this refreshing summer drink that’s naturally gluten-free is a fantastic choice.
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- How to Make Fresh Grape Juice
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- Blackberry Jam Recipe
- Make Homemade Jams & Jellies Like a Pro
Fresh Raspberry Juice Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 2 cups raspberries fresh or frozen
- 4 ice cubes omit if using frozen raspberries
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup water adjust if using frozen raspberries
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Gather fresh raspberries, ice cubes, sweetener of choice, and water.
- Blend: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until liquefied.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste your raspberry juice and adjust sweetener, if needed. Add more water for a thinner consistency or more ice or frozen raspberries for a thicker consistency.
- Serve: Pour the juice into glasses. For an extra touch of flavor, add a sprig of mint and a squeeze of lime to each glass. If you prefer, you can blend the mint and lime juice directly into the juice.
Notes
- Adjust Sweetness: Raspberries can be tart, so adjust the sweetness to your liking. Honey is a natural sweetener, but you can also experiment with other options like maple syrup or stevia.
- Minty Fresh: While my kids prefer their juice without mint, I love the refreshing hint it adds. You can either add a sprig of mint to the glass or blend it directly into the juice.
- Lemon Balm: While I was out harvesting my raspberries, I grabbed a couple sprigs of lemon balm and added that to my raspberry juice. It made for a delightful citrus flavor!
This is delicious!