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Cherry Limeade is a sweet, tangy and refreshing taste of summer. Made with Lemon-Lime soda, fresh lime juice and maraschino cherry juice, this super simple drink recipe is easy-to-follow and perfect for any occasion.

This Sonic Copycat Cherry Limeade recipe is an easy and refreshing beverage, the perfect blend of sweet cherries and sour limes, balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. It’s a great way to cool down on a hot summer day, or any day when you need a refreshing treat.

Red beverage with limes and cherries in a tall glass.
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe

  • Simple Ingredients – You can find all of these ingredients at your local grocery store, and you might even have them in your kitchen right now.
  • Make a Lot or a Little – This recipe is for a large batch, perfect for a party. But you can easily scale it down to make just one glass.
  • Sonic Copycat – Do you love Sonic? Skip the drive-thru and make one of their most popular

Ingredients

  • Fresh lime juice
  • Maraschino cherry juice
  • Maraschino cherries
  • Sprite – or any lemon-lime soda
  • Ice – Pick up some sonic nugget ice if you have it nearby.
  • Garnishes – Lime slices and additional maraschino cherries

How to Make Cherry Limeade

See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions

Limes and lime juice in a large pitcher.

Fill a pitcher or a glass with ice. Add limes and lime juice.

Ice, limes and cherries in a large pitcher.

Add cherries and cherry juice.

Pouring Sprite from a bottle into a large pitcher of cherries and limes.

Pour in Sprite and stir.

Glasses with cherry lime drink.

Pour over ice and garnish with cherries, limes and a straw.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

It’s best to make this cherry limeade recipe fresh for the best flavor and fizziness. However, you can prepare the cherry limeade mixture in advance and keep it refrigerated, but add the Sprite and ice just before serving to maintain the carbonation and freshness.

Do I have to use Sprite?

No, you can use any lemon-lime soda available to you, like 7Up, or a low-calorie option.

How long does will it last in the refrigerator?

Homemade Cherry Lime drink can last in the refrigerator for up to a week, however the carbonation will not last more than a day.


Can I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh lime juice?

Fresh lime juice is recommended for the best flavor in this recipe. However, if fresh limes are not available, you can use bottled lime juice. Just make sure it is 100% lime juice without any added sweeteners or preservatives.


Can I use frozen cherries instead of maraschino cherries?

Maraschino cherries are used in this recipe for their distinct flavor and bright red color. If you prefer to use frozen cherries, you can thaw them and use them as a substitute, but the flavor may be different than maraschino cherries.




Can I adjust the sweetness of the cherry limeade?

Yes, you can adjust the sweetness to your preference. If you like a sweeter drink, you can add more maraschino cherry juice or cherries. For a less sweet option, you can reduce the amount of maraschino cherry juice or cherries. You could also opt for a Diet soda.

Red beverage with cherries and limes in a tall glass.

Expert Tips

  1. Always chill before serving to enhance the refreshing taste.
  2. You can add fresh mint leaves for an extra pop of freshness.
  3. For a lower sugar version, try using a diet soda.
  4. Make sure to wash the limes thoroughly before use.
  5. For a grown-up version, add a splash of your favorite spirit like vodka or gin for an adult twist. Please drink responsibly and only if you are of legal drinking age.

More Drink Recipes

Recipe

Homemade Cherry Limeade Recipe

5
Cherry Limeade is a sweet, tangy and refreshing taste of summer. Made with Lemon-Lime soda, fresh lime juice and maraschino cherry juice.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup maraschino cherry juice
  • 1 cup maraschino cherries drained
  • 4 cups Sprite or any lemon-lime soda
  • Ice cubes
  • Lime slices and additional maraschino cherries for garnish optional
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Instructions
 

  • Fill a large pitcher half full of ice.
  • Add the lime juice, and lime wedges to the pitcher.
  • Add the cherry juice and cherries to the pitcher.
  • Pour the sprite over the lime juice, cherry juice and cherries and stir until evenly distributed.
  • Pour over ice and garnish with additional lime wedges and cherries if desired.

Notes

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 31mgPotassium: 151mgFiber: 2gSugar: 53gVitamin A: 42IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.

Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.

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Comments

  1. laura@imnotatrophywife.com says:

    Kristin- This looks great! the first thing I thought of was this would be a great day for those nasty summer colds or sore throats that follow finals week! Would you link this to Friday Favorites going on now! So pretty in the jar too! laura

  2. Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy says:

    Kristin, this looks AMAZING!! I grew up in Mesa, AZ where there were Sonic’s everywhere and then I moved to LA and there are NO Sonic’s in my area (crying!) so this is perfect! I can’t wait to try it! Pinned!

  3. Christine from Cook the Story says:

    Bring on the dog days of summer… this is the answer!