Lemon Spezi

Meggan Hill

• Updated

5 from 9 votes

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This easy drink recipe is like an Arnold Palmer but better! My refreshing, fizzy Lemon Spezi recipe is about to become your go-to summer mocktail.

Two lemon spezis.


 

An Arnold Palmer with iced tea and lemonade is one of the best ways to chill out on a warm summer day. But after taking a sip on this classic German drink recipe that swaps in Coca-Cola for the tea, I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy the easy alcohol-free mixed drink any other way.

Equal parts cola and lemonade served over ice. I know it might sound a bit odd, but trust me (actually, trust the Germans!). Prepare to meet your new favorite mocktail recipe.

Table of Contents

  1. Recipe ingredients
  2. Ingredient notes
  3. Step by step instructions
  4. Recipe tips and variations
  5. Recipe FAQs
  6. Lemon Spezi Recipe

Recipe ingredients

Labeled lemon spezi ingredients.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Lemonade: Fresh is best (I’ll walk you through how to make homemade lemonade), but you can absolutely substitute store-bought lemonade from the bottle or carton. Or start with 12 ounces of frozen lemonade concentrate made according to package instructions.

Step by step instructions

  1. Fill 2 glasses with ice. Pour 6 ounces lemonade into each glass.
Lemonade being poured over a glass of ice.
  1. Divide the Coca-Cola evenly among both glasses and garnish with lemon wedges.
Coke being poured into a half filled glass of lemonade and ice.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: My Lemon Spezi recipe makes two 12-ounce servings of the non-alcoholic drink. Multiply as needed to whet all whistles; each batch takes 1 minute.
  • Switch up your citrus: It Coca-Cola with Lime is one of your favorite sodas, trade in limeade and fresh lime wedges.
  • Oktoberfest: A Lemon Spezi is a fine addition to an Oktoberfest Menu. What else should you serve? Start with Pork Schnitzel or Chicken Schnitzel, a cripsy, crumb-coated, pan-fried cutlet or Rouladen. Spaetzle make a delicious side dish along with German Potato Salad. Serve with big Soft Pretzels and homemade Mustard. Finish the meal with crunchy Lebkuchen or a Black Forest Cake and serve with plenty of German beer.
Two lemon spezis.

Recipe FAQs

Wait, doesn’t the original Lemon Spezi call for Orange Fanta?

You’re correct! This is my variation on the theme, so don’t feel limited to cola. Orange soda, lemon-lime soda, or grapefruit soda would be ultra-refreshing served over ice and with an equal amount of lemonade. You are more than welcome to use diet soda if you like.

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Coke being poured into a half filled glass of lemonade and ice.

Lemon Spezi

By Meggan Hill
This easy drink recipe is like an Arnold Palmer but better! My refreshing, fizzy Lemon Spezi recipe is about to become your go-to summer mocktail.
Prep Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 minute
Servings 2 servings
Course Drinks
Cuisine German
Calories 154
5 from 9 votes
ReviewPrint

Ingredients 

  • 12 ounces lemonade
  • 1 (12 ounce) can Coca-Cola
  • Lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions 

  • Fill 2 glasses with ice. Pour 6 ounces lemonade into each glass. Divide the Coca-Cola evenly among both glasses and garnish with lemon wedges.

Notes

  1. Lemonade: Fresh is best (I’ll walk you through how to make homemade lemonade), but you can absolutely substitute store-bought lemonade from the bottle or carton. Or start with 12 ounces of frozen lemonade concentrate made according to package instructions.
  2. Yield: My Lemon Spezi recipe makes two 12-ounce servings of the non-alcoholic drink. Multiply as needed to whet all whistles; each batch takes 1 minute.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 154kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSodium: 18mgPotassium: 4mgSugar: 37gCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. I first tried spezi as a little boy visiting my moms home town of Munich and almost 50 years later, though I drink little soda, I still make myself one from time to time. I still love it to this day and it brings back great memories.5 stars

    Reply

  2. I first tried a spezi as a little boy visiting my moms home town of Munich and almost 50 years later, though I drink little soda, I still make myself one every now and then. I love it and it brings back some great memories5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Dave, this is so amazing! I love it. I love that people actually drink it there (I heard from my relatives in Neufarhn that they do, but you never know when family is just trying to be nice). Thank you so much for the great story. -Meggan