If you're wanting something fun yet super simple to have on hand for your summer barbecues, look no further. Brazilian limeade cocktails are my must-have drink on a hot day!
All you need are juicy limes, a can of sweetened condensed milk, your favorite rum, and plenty of ice. Not only is it quick and easy to make, but my recipe is guaranteed to be a refreshing drink -- creamy, sweet and tangy and never bitter!
There’s just something about Memorial Day cookouts that feels like the green light for summer.
The grill’s going, burgers are front and center, my husband’s smoked brisket smells like absolute heaven, and my favorite grilled corn slathered in cilantro lime butter?! Don’t even get me started. Grilling season is the best!
Easy Brazilian Limeade Cocktail for the Summer
This Limonada Suiça recipe (that's what it's called in Brazil: Swiss Lemonade) is so simple, and the only equipment you really need is a vegetable peeler and a blender!
I know most brazilian limeade recipes call for blending the limes whole, but that also will increase the risk of your drink becoming bitter if you're not careful! So this recipe was developed specifically so we would never end up having a sad batch of limeade at the cookout.
A Little about Brazilian Limeade
Brazilian limeade, or limonada suíça (called Swiss lemonade in english), is a creamy, tart, and incredibly refreshing drink that’s a staple in Brazilian cuisine.
It’s made with limes— rind, flesh of the lime and all—blended up with water and sweetened condensed milk for a smooth, citrusy flavor that’s both sweet and tangy.
And if you’ve ever wondered why it's also called Brazilian lemonade or limeade, that’s because limão is the word for both lemons and limes in Portuguese, which can get a little confusing in English.
Normally, it’s served as a non-alcoholic drink, but a splash of rum takes it from refreshing to summertime cocktail perfection.
Bitterness? Not in this House!
If you've ever made brazilian limeade before and had it be bitter, it's because of the whole lime being blended up. It's delicious...until that white pith gets involved!
The pith is the white part of the peel on citrus fruit and omg, it's bitter. Much like burnt garlic, once the bitterness of the pith is in a dish or drink it ruins everything.
Many recipes want you to know the exact time to stop pulsing the limeade in the blender, somewhere around 15 seconds or 20-30 seconds, and hopefully it didn't make the drink bitter. I just omitted the risk in general by peeling the zest and using the juice.
The 5 Ingredients Needed
- Whole Limes - we're using the lime zest and the lime juice for flavor and tartness, though you can scoop the flesh out as well. I found that peeling the limes with a vegetable peeler worked well for getting this done quick.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - not evaporated milk, you want that thick, super sweet canned condensed milk. It gives us that creamy texture and also reacts with the ice that makes it super frothy, which I love.
- Rum - if you can find it, grab Brazilian cachaça. It's made of sugar cane like rum, but really packs a punch (and Brazilians will insist on using it!).
- Water and Ice
How to Make Brazilian Limeade
Step 1 | Wash the fresh limes thoroughly. Then squeeze the limes and peel the green skins off with as little white as possible. The skin has the oils that have that lime flavor and the juice is tangy, so they're both needed.
Step 2 | Add the lime, water, ice cubes, sweetened condensed milk and rum to the blender pitcher. Blend really well until the lime zest is basically microscopically small and the drink is frothy and creamy. Strain the limeade to get out any chunks of lime zest.
Step 3 | Pour the limeade in your glass over ice (or without ice, which is how I prefer it, especially with the foamy top).
Chef Tips
- Use Fresh Limes: Fresh limes make all the difference here. Look for limes that are firm, heavy for their size, and have a shiny skin. The zest gives a nice aromatic punch, while fresh lime juice is more complex and sweet
- Don’t Over-Zest: When zesting the limes, be sure to only zest the green outer skin and avoid the white pith underneath, as it can make your drink taste bitter. A fine microplane works best for a delicate zest, but a vegetable peeler makes for quicker work.
- Don’t Skip Straining: After blending, be sure to strain the mixture to remove the pulp and zest bits for a smoother drink.
- Make It Ahead: You can prepare the limeade (without the rum or ice) ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight. Just pour it back into the blender and add the ice and rum when you're ready to serve.
Equipment I Used
More Refreshing Summer Drink Recipes Perfect for Parties
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Creamy Brazilian Limeade Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 fresh limes, juice and zest
- 4 cups cold water
- 8 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup white rum
- 1 cup crushed ice
- lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Use a vegetable peeler or zester to zest the limes, making sure to avoid the bitter white pith. Then, cut the limes in half and juice them, removing any seeds.6 fresh limes
- In a blender, combine the lime zest, lime juice, rum, sweetened condensed milk, ice, and cold water. Blend for about 30 seconds until everything is well combined. (IF YOU DON'T WANT IT FROTHY, LEAVE OUT THE ICE UNTIL SERVING IN GLASSES)6 fresh limes, 4 cups cold water, 8 oz sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup crushed ice, 1 cup white rum
- Pour the blended mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher to remove the zest and any pulp, leaving behind a smooth limeade cocktail.
- Pour the brazilian limeade cocktail into glasses, over ice, if not used in the cocktail itself. Garnish the glasses with lime wedges on cocktail picks.lime wedges
- Serve cold and enjoy, friend!
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