Brazilian Lemonade a.k.a. The Mini Vacation

ByMichaela Kenkel Updated on

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Close your eyes. Take a Sip of this Brazilian Lemonade. A creamy coconut lime cocktail that will have you feeling like you’re on a mini vacation.  

Where I learned to make these Mini Vacation a.k.a. Brazilian Lemonade Cocktails

I just adore my friend Betsy.  I know you have all heard me speak of her before.
 
Betsy is that friend that is pretty much good at anything. She can sew, she can paint, make jewelry,
cook … you name it she can do it.
 
But one other thing I know Betsy does well is VACATION.
 
 
 
Our families have vacationed together at the lake in the summer, and many winters in the past we have gone with our husbands somewhere warm in the cold winter months.
 
One fall evening, the hubs and I stopped over for a visit, she said it was time to start thinking about “where to” for our winter trip.
 
That was when she first poured us a drink and called it “the Mini-Vacation.”
 
 

Did you see my glass??
“Yoo Hoo…Cabana Boy!!”
 
 
 
One of my most favorite photos of all time.  I have this one displayed here in my office, and it always makes me smile. 
This is Betsy, me, and Rhonda on a winter vacation to Cancun in 2010.
 
 
The funny thing about these Brazilian Lemonades? No lemons.  I mean, sure I suppose you could use lemons instead of limes. You know the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make cocktails!” (or something like that) but I have always made them the way Betsy taught me, with limes. 
 

History of the Brazilian Lemonade

So technically a true Brazilian Lemonade, or a Limonada Suíça, isn’t even a cocktail.  If you order one in Brazil, you’ll get the creamy lime drink, minus the coconut rum. So feel free to do that if you’d like.  

Some recipes call for only a few Tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk.  Some recipes use the whole can. The later are our kind of people, people.  

You see, when you make these cocktails (mocktails) you will be blending the entire lime.  Yep, the whole thing, peel and all. 

That means things can get bitter quickly.  Between the peel and the pith (that white spongy liner between the peel and the citrus fruit itself), this drink needs that sweetness.  

 

What are the ingredients in a Brazilian Lemonade Cocktail?

You only need 5 ingredients to make a whole pitcher of these beauties!  Fresh limes, granulated sugar, sweetened condensed milk and water.
 
 
 
 
Trim the ends off of well washed juicy limes. Slice them.  Dissolve sugar into water, and pour into a blender.  Add in limes.
 
Using the pulse setting,  blend the sugar water and limes together for about 10 seconds. 
 
Pour through a mesh strainer into a 2 quart pitcher. Stir in sweetened condensed milk. 
 
To prepare the cocktails, fill a glass with ice, add in some coconut rum, and stir in the Brazilian Lemonade.
 
 
 
 
Garnish the glasses with a lime and a cocktail umbrella.Close your eyes and imagine yourself in one of those Corona beer commercials
on a beach…someplace beautiful.Take a deep breath in. Exhale. 

Repeat as necessary.

 

 
 

Love them? Pin them!

 
 Brazilian Lemonade a.k.a. The Mini Vacation Cocktails are going to call your name sooner or later – don’t forget where you found this great recipe! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go, so you can find it easily!
 
 
 
Grown Up Orange Julius purple background
 

Cocktails that make you feel like you’re on vacation

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s how to make the best of life, right at home.  Travel has been pretty much non-existent.

Parties? Friends? Outings? Yea, those went by the wayside, too.  

Take out, Netflix, game night, and Zoom happy hours took the place of all of that. I have quite a few cocktail recipes to enjoy right here on my blog.  But I thought I would share some of my favorites that can help you vacation, even if it’s only in your mind. 

 

Vacation Tasting Cocktail Recipes:

 
 
 
 
Let’s make some Brazilian Lemonades!  M.
 

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Overhead of Mini Vacation - aka Brazilian Lemonade Cocktails garnished with limes and cocktail umbrellas
4.85 from 13 votes
Print Recipe

Brazilian Lemonade Cocktail a.k.a. The Mini Vacation

Close your eyes. Take a Sip of this Brazilian Lemonade. A creamy coconut lime cocktail that will have you feeling like you’re on a mini vacation.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: brazilian
Keyword: blended, Brazilian Lemonade, cocktail, coconut rum, creamy coconut, fresh limes, Malibu rum, Mini Vacation, tropical cocktails
Servings: 1 Pitcher
Calories: 105kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 large limes washed thoroughly, with ends cut off, and cut into thin slices.
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 cups cold water
  • 1 14 ounce can fat free sweetened condensed milk (can use full fat)
  • Coconut Rum to taste (Malibu Rum)

Instructions

  • Mix water and sugar, pour half of the this into your blender, add half of the limes. (yes the whole thing, skin and all!) Blend completely.
  • Place a wire strainer (got to have small holes here!) over your pitcher that you will be serving the drinks in. Pour the mixture over the strainer and catch all of the pulp. 
  • Discard the pulp.  
  • Repeat with the other half of the limes and sugar water.
  • To the lime and sugar water mix, add the sweetened condensed milk and stir. Chill until you're ready to mix up the cocktails, or drink as is as a mocktail, without the rum.
  • Add rum to your glass of ice, pour drink mixture over and stir.
  • Garnish with a lime slice and a cocktail umbrella if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g

This Mini Vacation Cocktail Recipe (a.k.a. Brazilian Lemonade Cocktails) were first shared on October 15, 2011. They have been updated to improve user experience and re-shared on September 18, 2020.

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15 Comments

  6. The feeling of being in a mini vacation is really awesome! And this Brazilian Lemonade is perfect! I love that you used Coconut Rum. I can’t wait to try this.

    Reply

  7. Sounds like you have an amazing friend! With everything that’s going on, I want to feel like I’m on a vacation, haha! Definitely making one this weekend.

    Reply

  11. Absolutely understand why she called it a vacation in a glass – I love lime and coconut together, sounds good to me!

    Reply

  12. Looking amazing! We have a drink in Jamaica called Sexy Juice which is similar only it’s made with pineapple juice instead.

    Reply

  13. I had some extra limes so this recipe was perfect to finish them. So so refreshing and so delicious. This drink makes me feel like I’m in the middle of a tropical vacation. 🙂

    Reply

  14. I’m loving this refreshing twist on traditional lemonade! The addition of cachaça and lime sounds amazing. Perfect for a summer evening or a quick escape from the daily grind.

    Reply
4.85 from 13 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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