What can I use instead of white sugar in the syrup?

Nothing if you want to maintain the color changing effect of this drink. You can use cane sugar or beet sugar, but all other sweeteners have a natural color to them, which will change the color of your syrup. This will change the color of the entire drink and you won’t get the blue-to-purple effect that makes unicorn lemonade so fun.

Where do I get butterfly pea flowers?

I buy mine online, but you can find them at many health food stores and specialty stores. (Look by the teas or dried herb section.) Just be sure to buy 100% butterfly pea flowers, not a blend or tea mixture. Those will have other herbs and flowers in them which will impact both the taste and color of your syrup.

Does Unicorn Lemonade have alcohol in it?

No. This drink is not a unicorn cocktail. It contains no alcohol. It is designed to be served to children and anyone who enjoys a fun lemonade drink.

Is this like the Starbucks Unicorn Drink?

Nope. This lemonade has nothing to do with Starbucks or its famous unicorn frappuccino. This isn't a cotton candy flavored drink. It is lemonade and tastes like it.

Can I use food coloring instead of butterfly pea flowers to make the syrup blue?

Not if you want the color changing effects. Adding lemon juice to syrup that's been dyed blue with traditional food coloring will not cause the color to dramatically change the way it does with butterfly pea flower. Which is why this recipe calls for butterfly pea flowers for these colorful drinks.

Unicorn Drink for Kids (Color-Changing Lemonade)

Color-Changing Unicorn Lemonade

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5 from 2 reviews

This deceptively simple and very fun unicorn lemonade drink is easy to make at home. Perfect for kids and fun-loving adults alike!

Author: Katy McAvoy
Prep Time: 5 min
Syrup Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Total Time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Mocktails
Method: Stir
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

3/4 cup sugar
1 cup hot water
12-14 butterfly pea flowers OR 1/8 tsp butterfly pea flower powder
6 oz fresh lemon juice
Pink and/or purple decorating sugar (garnish)
Edible glitter (optional garnish)

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Instructions

Make the Syrup

Make a weak simple syrup by combining 1 cup hot water with 3/4 cup sugar.

Stir until the sugar has dissolved.

Add 12-14 butterfly pea flowers OR ⅛ teaspoon of butterfly pea flower powder to create a blue syrup.

Let the flowers steep for 5-7 minutes before straining them out of the syrup.

Cool your blue simple syrup completely before using.

Prep Your Glass

Pour sugar(s) into a shallow dish. Stir to combine if using multiple colors.

Rim glasses by running a slice of lemon around the top of the glass or dip the glass in a little water.

Dip the rim in the colored sugar.

Fill the glass completely with ice cubes.

Make the Drink

Carefully pour 4 ounces of the blue syrup into a prepared glass.

Slowly pour 1.5 oz lemon juice on top of the ice.

Note: You must pour the lemon juice slowly and directly over an ice cube. This will keep it from immediately mixing in with the blue syrup.

Dust with edible glitter, if using.

Present with a spoon or straw and instructions to stir well before sipping!

Butterfly Pea Flowers

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Notes

This recipe makes more syrup than you will need for 4 drinks. Store your blue syrup in a glass, airtight container the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 6 oz
Calories: 155
Sugar: 38.5 g
Sodium: 3.2 mg
Fat: 0.1 g
Carbohydrates: 40.4 g
Fiber: 0.1 g
Protein: 0.1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Color-Changing Unicorn Lemonade

Ingredients

Instructions

Equipment

Notes

Nutrition