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This copycat recipe for Sonic’s Cherry Limeade is a must have drink to help beat the heat this summer! It’s fizzy, light, non-alcoholic and refreshing. Made with lemon-lime soda (Sprite), grenadine, ice and garnished with lime slices and maraschino cherries. It’s the most delicious way to cool off all summer long. While you’re making cold drinks, try another favorite from Sonic, Ocean Water!
Why You’ll Love My Favorite Copycat Recipe
If you have never had a Cherry Limeade from Sonic Drive-in before (or experienced happy hour there), then you are totally missing out. It is at the top of my list for favorite drinks. It is made with lemon-lime soda (Sprite or 7-UP), lime juice, ice and grenadine (made from pomegranates). Garnish with a slice of lime or two and a maraschino cherry.
Ingredients Needed For Sonic Cherry Limeade
Here’s everything you need to make the perfect drink to sip on a hot day!
- Lemon-lime soda: Use Sprite or 7-UP, diet if you prefer. I used Sprite Zero.
- Fresh lime juice: Adds a tart and refreshing lime flavor.
- Grenadine: This cherry syrup brings the sweet cherry flavor.
- Maraschino cherries: From a jar of maraschino cherries, for garnish.
- Fresh Lime wedges: For extra lime zest and garnish.
- Ice: Pebble ice (for the full Sonic experience) or crushed ice for best results.
Variations
- Diet Cherry Limeade: Use diet lemon-lime soda for a lower calorie, diet friendly version.
- Cherry Lemonade: Swap lime juice with lemon juice.
- Alcoholic Twist: Add a splash of vodka for a grown-up version.
- Simple Syrup: Substitute grenadine with simple syrup and maraschino cherry juice.
How to Make Sonic Cherry Limeade
Making this Cherry Limeade is really simple, but full recipe details and measurements are found below in the printable recipe card.
1. Combine Ingredients
Combine lemon-lime soda, grenadine and lime juice together into a large pitcher.
2. Pour + Serve
Pour into glasses over ice (I prefer pebble ice). Garnish with a lime wedge or two and cherries, if desired.
Storing Leftover Sonic Cherry Limeade
Store leftover drink in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Be aware that the carbonation in the soda will diminish over time. You can also use the leftovers to make a slushy or popsicles.
Make It Ahead of Time
Like most drinks, it’s best when consumed quickly after mixing up, but can be made up to a day ahead of time and kept in the fridge.
Love Cherry Limeade? Try These Other Summery Drinks:
Looking for more favorite drink recipes? Here are some of my favorite drink recipes for those hot summer days when you need something refreshing and delicious.
- Blackberry Lemonade
- Non Alcoholic Pina Coladas
- Strawberry Limeade
- Non-Alcoholic Moscow Mule (Ginger Beer Mocktail)
- Mojito Mocktails
- Homemade Fruit Punch
- Frozen Lemonade
- Aperol Spritz
This Sonic Cherry Limeade copycat recipe is a simple recipe that brings the taste of your favorite Sonic drink right to your kitchen. Whether you’re enjoying it by the pool, serving it at a BBQ, or simply craving a refreshing drink, this easy cherry limeade recipe is the perfect way to cool down. The recipe card is below! Have a great day, friends! 🙂
If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
Sonic Cherry Limeade
Ingredients
- 2 liter bottle of Sprite or 7-up, I used diet
- 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup grenadine
- maraschino cherries
- lime wedges optional
- ice optional
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients into a large pitcher and serve cold. Garnish with lime wedges and cherries, if desired.
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[…] Diet Coke from the fourth of July party), and went to work.I found the perfect recipe over at Lauren’s Latest.You’ll need Sprite (or Sprite Zero), Limes, Grenadine, and if you want, maraschino cherries. […]
Can you use bottled lime juice?
I love strawberry! Any ideas how to make it?
Any other sonic recipes on here? Love Cherry Limeade!!!
Never had a thing at Sonic thatI did not like!!!
Going to studying your spot my first visit so excited to see what else you have. Thank You!!!
Try these corn dogs: https://laurenslatest.com/mini-corn-dogs-a-sonic-knock-off-perhaps/
I had this drink once at a resort in Mexico,
they called it a flamingo. Could you maybe send me the recipe far a single serving?
[…] con una gustosa limonata alle ciliegie di Laurance’s Latest che con il ghiaccio e il profumo di lime promette di rinfrescare anche le feste più […]
[…] then like 7 more} because in college I was introduced to Sonic? I was a sucker for their corn dogs, cherry limeades and onion rings. I was never really a big fan of onion rings before Sonic. And then I moved 0.7 […]
[…] Cherry Limeade {I’ll be making this in vats for our party} […]
Does the grenadine give it a cherry flavor?
Yup…well sort of! It’s what they use at Sonic so it’s what I use.
I actually added a little bit of the maraschino cherry syrup to it, about 1 tablespoon and it made it almost identical!
I’m a Strawberry lover and my husband love Cherry Limeade I seem to have all the ingredents so I sure will give it a whirl….I have just started drinking cherry limeade cause of my husband and it’s good but I still prefer strawberry limeade with blue coconut in it and Sonic is my faortie place to go and get them every time I go into town I always drop a cherry limedae for my husband before I come home…..Thank you so much for sharing this with us….I will be making it from now summer or not we will be drinking it…
[…] laurenslatest.com via Erika on […]
What aisle is grenadine on at the grocery store?
Hey Amanda,
I searched all over Walmart for grenadine but they finally said they didn’t have it. I ended up finding it for about $3.50 at the liquor store next door. You should be able to find it towards the mixed drinks section.
Just tried this recipe and LOVED it! Would even be great with some alcohol. 🙂
If I were to spike this awesome tasting drink, what would you recommend? Any suggestions?
I worked at sonic for 4 years through high school and college and this is spot on!
I’ve never been to Sonic, but these look DElish – so refreshing and flavorful. Will definitely try this sometime this summer!
Just made it and it’s Awesome! Perfect for first weekend of summer! Thanks.
delish my favorite drink and thats a very perfect model you have there
This drink looks lovely! Great recipe. I need to get to a Sonic before they all close!
And yes, your little model is super cute!
Hello, your followers will want the onion recipe too, even if you don’t! Course, you call the shots…
Now my kids miss their cousin! 1ol! Looks absolutely delish, I’m totally going to make it. Lots.
What a beautiful young lady drinking my favorite drink. 🙂
Lo! I’m so happy you posted this! I have been trying to duplicate it forever without much success. Now that we have the corn dog recipe and the diet cherry limeade recipe – we just need you to duplicate the onion ring recipe. Challenge accepted???
I don’t know if I’ll have onions…..lol!
Would you believe I’ve only ever been to Sonic once in my life? We don’t have them around here so the only time I went was on a business trip to Arkansas. And I didn’t know! I didn’t know I was supposed to get the tots and not the fries, and I definitely didn’t know I was supposed to get the Cherry Limeade. Next time!
So simple, yet so delicious! Can’t wait to try this.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!