Brazilian Lemonade with condensed milk is not your average lemonade, my friend. This tangy, creamy, refreshing drink is a dreamy way to cool down when the weather warms up. But it’s delicious enough to serve all year long!
Brazilian lemonade is a popular beverage in Brazil and Brazilian steakhouses here in the States. That’s where I first discovered it, and it was love at first sip. The perfectly tart sweetness complements grilled meats and veggies like nobody’s business.
The best part? You only need four ingredients to make it! This super simple recipe comes together in about 5 minutes tops. Quick and easy for the win! 🙌
Isn’t Brazilian Lemonade Technically Limeade?
Why yes! Yes, it is! There are no lemons in this recipe, only limes. So, why is it called lemonade? Likely, it’s because in Portuguese (and Spanish), the word for lime and lemon is the same.
I like calling it lemonade because your guests get a beautiful surprise. This vibrant, creamy green drink shows up instead of the classic lemonade look they were expecting. 💚
Recipe Ingredients
- Limes – This “lemonade” gets its citrusy kick from fresh, ripe limes. But hey, if all you have are lemons, make lemonade with condensed milk for pure heaven.
- Sugar – Sugar cuts the acid of the citrus and makes this drink nice and sweet. 🫶🏿
- Sweetened Condensed Milk really makes Brazilian lemonade special. It adds a unique and delightful sweet creaminess to the drink.
- Water – To prevent the beverage from being overly tart or sweet, we balance it with water and some ice for serving! 🧊
How to Make Brazilian Lemonade
- Scrub the limes, then cut them into about 8 wedges.
- Blend – Add limes, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, water, and ice to a blender. Pulse 7-10 times (too much pulsing will extract too much of the pith and make it bitter). (Photos 1-2)
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher to remove rinds and pith. (Photo 3)
- Serve – Pour into a chilled glass over ice. Enjoy!!! (Photo 4)
Recipe Variations
- Don’t like sweetened condensed milk? Want to cut back on the sugar? Try Brazilian lemonade with coconut milk. The full-fat version tastes best.
- You can use an alternative sweetener in place of sugar if needed. Stevia works well, but just know that this kind of sweetener can alter the taste of the lemonade.
- No limes? Make this with oranges, and it tastes like an orange creamsicle. 🤤
- Brazilian lemonade cocktail. You can’t go wrong with adding a little alcohol. A splash of coconut rum or cachaça makes an amazing, boozy Brazilian lemonade.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t pulse the ingredients in the blender too much. If you do, it will take on a bitter taste. Remember, you’ll strain out the rinds, so there’s no need to completely process the lime wedges.
- For a special touch, serve Brazilian lemonade in chilled glasses.
- Don’t want ice to water down the lemonade? Freeze some Brazilian lemonade in an ice tray and use the cubes to keep the drinks cold instead of regular ice.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Make this 1-2 days ahead of time, and keep it in your fridge in a pitcher with a lid. Give it a stir before serving.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve Brazilian lemonade over ice in chilled glasses. Store leftovers in the fridge in a pitcher with a lid for 3-5 days. Yes, you can freeze it in serving-size portions in a plastic freezer bag or jar. Glass might break from the pressure.
What Goes With Brazilian Lemonade
Use Brazilian lemonade as a finishing touch for a Brazil-themed meal with dishes like feijoada with collard greens and rice. For dessert, try brigadeiro or tangy passion fruit pudding cake. 😋
More Refreshing Drink Recipes to Try
Watch How to Make It
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This blog post was originally published in May 2017 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video
Brazilian Lemonade (Limeade)
Ingredients
- 2 limes
- 3 cups (700ml) water
- ⅓ cup (60g) sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons (45-60ml) condensed milk
- 2 cups ice cubes plus more for serving
Instructions
- Scrub the limes, then cut them into about 8 wedges.
- Add limes, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, water, and ice to a blender.
- Pulse 7-10 times (too much pulsing will extract too much of the pith and make it bitter).
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher to remove rinds and pith.
- Pour into a chilled glass over ice. Enjoy!!!
Tips & Notes:
- Don’t pulse the ingredients in the blender too much. If you do, it will take on a bitter taste. Remember, you’ll strain out the rinds, so there’s no need to completely process the lime wedges.
- For a special touch, serve Brazilian lemonade in chilled glasses.
- Don’t want ice to water down the lemonade? Freeze some Brazilian lemonade in an ice tray and use the cubes to keep the drinks cold instead of regular ice.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
Annette says
I was wondering if I can use just lemon juice and regular lactose free milk?
Imma says
I’m sure it would be fine. The flavor and texture might be slightly different, and it won’t be as sweet. But that’s not a bad thing.:wink:
KC says
I juice the limes and zest the peels avoiding the seeds, pulp, and white fiber (bitter)…..my version has extra lime kick!
Imma says
oh great to hear that. Thank you for your feedback 🙂
Amanda says
Do you de-seed the limes?
Imma says
You can remove the seeds before blending if they have them. I never have because the limes I get are seedless.
Leslie says
Can I use lemons instead? Really NOT a fan of lime.
ImmaculateBites says
Yes you sure can.
Sam Engle says
Love love LOVE this but do I have to make it with the ice? Since I’m pouring it over ice and I have a smaller blender I was wondering if I could skip out on it? Lol
Immaculate Bites says
Hi Sam! You can skip out on it but I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t say how the condensed milk could blend well if you just pour it over ice. Let me know how it turns out, if you try it that way 🙂 Enjoy!