Naturally Sweet Sparkling Raspberry Lemon Spritz

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

• Yield: 4 servings (about 240 ml / 8 fl oz each)
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes

Quick Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (about 170 g) fresh raspberries
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 45 ml), from 1 large lemon
• 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
• 2–3 tbsp honey or maple syrup, to taste
• 3 cups (720 ml) chilled sparkling water (seltzer or club soda)
• Ice cubes for serving
• Optional: extra raspberries, lemon slices, and mint sprigs for garnish

Do This

• 1. Chill 4 glasses and your sparkling water in the refrigerator.
• 2. Rinse raspberries. Zest and juice the lemon.
• 3. In a bowl, lightly mash raspberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, and honey/maple with a fork until juicy but still a bit chunky.
• 4. Taste and adjust sweetness or lemon as needed.
• 5. Fill each chilled glass halfway with ice. Spoon 3–4 tbsp of the raspberry-lemon mixture into each glass.
• 6. Slowly top each glass with about 3/4 cup (180 ml) chilled sparkling water. Gently stir once to combine.
• 7. Garnish with extra raspberries, a lemon slice, and a mint sprig if using. Serve right away while very fizzy.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Light, refreshing, and naturally sweetened with fruit and a touch of honey or maple syrup.
• Beautiful ruby color with real crushed raspberries and bright lemon zest for a grown-up homemade soda vibe.
• No special equipment or syrups required; ready in about 10 minutes.
• Easy to customize: make it sweeter, more tart, or turn it into a cocktail with a splash of your favorite spirit.

Grocery List

• Produce: Fresh raspberries, 1–2 lemons, fresh mint (optional)
• Dairy: None
• Pantry: Honey or maple syrup, sparkling water (seltzer or club soda), ice cubes, fine sea salt (optional)

Full Ingredients

For the Raspberry-Lemon Base

• 1 1/2 cups (about 170 g) fresh raspberries, rinsed and patted dry
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 45 ml), from 1 large juicy lemon
• 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest (from the same lemon)
• 2–3 tbsp honey or maple syrup, to taste
• 1 small pinch fine sea salt (optional, but helps brighten the flavors)

To Build the Spritz

• 3 cups (720 ml) very cold sparkling water (seltzer or club soda), chilled to about 40°F / 4°C
• Plenty of ice cubes

Optional Garnishes

• Extra fresh raspberries
• Thin lemon slices or wedges
• Thin strips of lemon zest (lemon twists)
• Fresh mint sprigs or small basil leaves

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Chill the glasses and sparkling water

Place 4 heat-safe drinking glasses (such as highball glasses, stemless wine glasses, or sturdy tumblers) in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 10 minutes. Make sure your sparkling water is also well-chilled; store it in the coldest part of your fridge. Very cold glasses and sparkling water keep the spritz bubbly and refreshing, and mean you will not need as much ice, which prevents dilution.

Step 2: Prep the lemons and raspberries

Rinse the raspberries under cool running water and gently pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. Set aside.

Thoroughly wash and dry the lemon, since you will use the zest. Using a fine grater or microplane, grate just the bright yellow outer layer of the peel until you have about 1 teaspoon of zest. Avoid the white pith, which tastes bitter. Then cut the lemon in half and squeeze it to get 3 tablespoons (about 45 ml) of juice. Strain out any seeds.

Step 3: Make the crushed raspberry-lemon base

In a medium bowl or a large measuring jug, combine the raspberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup, and a small pinch of fine sea salt if using. Using a fork, potato masher, or the back of a spoon, gently mash the raspberries until they release plenty of juice and break down into a loose, pulpy mixture. Aim for a mix of juicy liquid and small berry pieces, not a completely smooth puree.

Taste the mixture. If you prefer a sweeter spritz, add up to 1 additional tablespoon of honey or maple syrup, a little at a time, stirring well after each addition until it tastes right to you. Keep in mind that once diluted with sparkling water, the sweetness will be softer, so it is fine if the base tastes slightly more intense now.

Step 4: Choose your texture (rustic or smoother)

Decide how you like your homemade soda: with lots of berry bits, or a bit smoother. For a rustic, fruit-forward spritz, simply leave the mixture as it is and give it a good stir before using. You will get lovely crushed raspberries floating in each glass.

For a smoother drink with fewer seeds, set a fine-mesh strainer over a clean bowl or jug. Pour the raspberry mixture into the strainer and use a spoon or spatula to press and stir, extracting as much juice as possible. Discard the seeds and pulp left behind, or save a spoonful or two for topping each glass later. You will end up with a vivid ruby-red raspberry-lemon concentrate.

Step 5: Assemble the spritzes

Remove the chilled glasses from the refrigerator or freezer. Fill each glass about halfway with ice cubes. Give your raspberry-lemon base a quick stir.

Spoon approximately 3–4 tablespoons of the base into each glass (use the smaller amount for a lighter flavor, the larger for a bolder one). Now, holding the glass at a slight angle, gently pour about 3/4 cup (180 ml) of very cold sparkling water into each glass. Pouring slowly and at an angle helps preserve the bubbles and keeps the drink lively.

Using a long spoon, give each glass just one or two gentle stirs from the bottom up to lightly combine the base and sparkling water without knocking out too much fizz.

Step 6: Garnish and serve immediately

If you reserved any crushed raspberries, spoon a small amount on top of each drink for extra color and texture. Garnish with a fresh raspberry or two, a thin lemon slice or wedge nestled along the side of the glass, and a mint sprig if you like a hint of herbal freshness.

Serve the spritzes right away while the drinks are very cold and sparkling. As the ice slowly melts, the flavors will soften a bit, making the drink even more thirst-quenching.

Pro Tips

• Use very cold ingredients: Keep the sparkling water, glasses, and even the raspberries chilled. Cold ingredients hold carbonation better and create a more refreshing spritz.
• Adjust sweetness to taste: The sweetness will be milder once diluted with sparkling water. Let the raspberry base taste slightly more intense than you think you want; it balances out in the finished drink.
• Do not over-stir: Stirring too vigorously will knock out the bubbles. Gently stir just enough to blend the base and sparkling water.
• Pick the right glass: Tall, narrow glasses showcase the bubbles and help them last longer, while slightly wider glasses emphasize aroma. Either works; choose what you like.
• Scale up for a crowd: Double or triple the raspberry-lemon base and keep it in a covered jar in the fridge. Assemble each drink to order with ice and sparkling water so every glass is bubbly.

Variations

• Herbal raspberry-lemon spritz: Add a small handful of fresh mint or basil leaves to the raspberries before mashing. Gently bruise the herbs with the fruit to release their oils, then proceed as directed. Strain if you prefer fewer herb bits.
• Cocktail version: Add 1–1 1/2 oz (30–45 ml) chilled vodka, gin, or white rum to each glass after the raspberry base and before adding sparkling water. Alternatively, top with dry prosecco instead of sparkling water for a sparkling wine spritz.
• Mixed-berry twist: Replace up to half of the raspberries with sliced strawberries or blackberries for a deeper berry flavor and slightly different color.

Storage & Make-Ahead

The raspberry-lemon base (strained or unstrained) can be made ahead and stored in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Give it a good stir before using, as the fruit and juice may naturally separate. Do not mix the base with sparkling water until just before serving, or the drink will lose its fizz.

Once assembled with sparkling water and ice, the spritz is best enjoyed immediately. If you need to prepare slightly ahead for guests, you can fill glasses with ice and raspberry base, then bring them to the table and top with sparkling water right as you serve.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate values for 1 of 4 servings, made with 2 1/2 tbsp honey total and unstrained raspberries:

Calories: ~70 kcal; Carbohydrates: ~18 g; Sugars: ~15 g; Fiber: ~3 g; Protein: ~1 g; Fat: 0 g; Sodium: negligible. Using maple syrup instead of honey will be similar nutritionally. Straining out the pulp will reduce the fiber slightly.