No Strings Attached Recipe

Make the Lemon-Maple Syrup

In a heatproof container, combine hot water and maple syrup and stir until fully dissolved. Add the fresh lemon juice and stir to combine. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature (about 10–15 minutes). This creates a bright, balanced sweetener that blends cleanly with lemonade and soda.

Prepare Pitcher

In a 2-quart pitcher, add the lemonade and the cooled lemon-maple syrup. Stir thoroughly to combine both liquids.

Add Fruit and Ice

Add the lemon slices and mint leaves (if using) to the pitcher. Add the cubed ice and gently stir once to chill the mixture without overly diluting it.

Top with Soda

Just before serving, pour the club soda or sparkling water into the pitcher and gently fold to combine. Tasting note: add soda last to preserve carbonation and to adjust final sweetness/brightness.

If rimming glasses, wet the rim of each glass with a lemon wedge and dip into maple sugar or coarse sugar. Fill each glass with ice, pour the lemonade mixture, making sure to include a lemon slice and mint sprig per glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel on the rim. Serve immediately.