Spiked Jolly Rancher Lemonade Recipe
Make Spiked Jolly Rancher Lemonade Recipe in just 45m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Jolly Rancher Simple Syrup
Lemonade Base
Cocktail & Garnish
Method
Jolly Rancher Simple Syrup
- 1
Prepare candy
Unwrap 12 Jolly Rancher candies and divide them roughly evenly by color if using multiple flavors. Using more candies increases sweetness and color intensity.
- 2
Make syrup
In a small saucepan combine 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves (about 2–3 minutes).
- 3
Melt candies
Add the unwrapped Jolly Ranchers to the simmering sugar syrup. Reduce heat to low and stir frequently until candies are fully melted and the syrup is smooth and evenly colored (about 4–6 minutes). If candy pieces remain, smash gently with the back of a spoon and continue stirring.
- 4
Strain and cool
Remove syrup from heat. For a perfectly clear syrup, strain through a fine mesh sieve or a cheesecloth into a heatproof container to remove any undissolved bits. Let the syrup cool to room temperature (about 15–20 minutes). Refrigerate if not using immediately; syrup will thicken slightly as it cools.
Lemonade Base
- 5
Juice lemons
Roll lemons on the counter to loosen juices, then cut and juice until you have 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 6 large lemons). Strain seeds and major pulp if desired.
- 6
Combine base
In a large pitcher, combine the 1 cup fresh lemon juice and 3 cups cold water. Add the cooled Jolly Rancher simple syrup to taste: start by adding 1/2 cup syrup, stir and taste, then increase up to the full 1 cup syrup depending on desired sweetness and color intensity. Stir until combined.
- 7
Chill
Add 4 cups of ice to the pitcher or chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes so flavors meld.
Cocktail Assembly & Garnish
- 8
Mix cocktails
To serve as spiked lemonade, fill each serving glass with ice. For each 8-oz serving (about 1 cup), pour 2.5 fl oz (about 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon) vodka; for easier math with the recipe quantities, add 1 cup (8 fl oz) vodka to the whole pitcher and stir. After adding vodka, taste and adjust: if you prefer a lighter drink, stir in up to 1 cup club soda to the pitcher for fizz and to stretch servings.
- 9
Serve
Pour the spiked Jolly Rancher lemonade over ice into glasses. Garnish each glass with a lemon slice, a sprig of fresh mint, and 1 whole Jolly Rancher candy skewered on a cocktail pick or placed on the rim.
- 10
Storage
Store any leftover non-carbonated spiked lemonade in the refrigerator covered for up to 48 hours. If you added club soda, consume within a few hours to retain carbonation. Keep extra Jolly syrup refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.