Strawberry Martini (3-Ingredients)

Name: Strawberry Martini
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 5-6 strawberries; ½ oz simple syrup; 2 oz vodka (or gin or tequila); ice

This Strawberry Martini is a fun and fruity vodka cocktail made with 3 simple ingredients. Enjoy it as a refreshing summer treat or for nights with friends!

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strawberry martini on a gold coaster next to fresh berries and a bottle of liquor.

Strawberry tops martini

Fun nights with friends always call for this easy Strawberry Martini. Not only is it pretty in pink and berrylicious, but it’s a simple cocktail that everyone is sure to enjoy.

You’ll find that, unlike a spirit-forward classic martini, this version is refreshing, fruity, and sweet. Every sip goes down easy! The best part is you can put it together in 5 minutes using three easy ingredients:

Vodka, Gin or Tequila
Strawberries
Simple syrup

You don’t have to stop at these three. While this strawberry vodka martini is irresistible all on its own, you can mix and match the flavors and ingredients any way you like. It’s a fun and versatile recipe!

Do you have more fresh summer strawberries than you know what to do with? Sip on your strawberry cocktails while you use up any extra berries in a Strawberry Rhubarb Galette and Homemade Strawberry Pop-Tarts.

a bottle of vodka next to a small glass measuring cup and strawberries.

What’s in a strawberry vodka martini?

You won’t believe it but this simple cocktail is made with only three ingredients. They all pair perfectly together and produce a cocktail that’s deliciously fruity! Here’s what you need:

Strawberries – Fresh strawberries are almost always available in major grocery stores in North America year-round but I recommend using seasonal strawberries for the very best results. The best strawberries peak around June and will have bright red flesh and vibrant green tops.
Simple syrup – You can make simple syrup at home by simmering a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water together. The slight sweetness brings balance to martinis, margaritas, ice coffee, and more. Just keep the batch in a bottle in your fridge for up to a month and use it wherever you like!
Vodka – A classic martini is made with gin and vermouth but since this recipe focuses on sweet berries and refreshing flavors, vodka is the better choice here. Feel free to use gin if that’s what you have at home.

How to make simple syrup

Save some time by making homemade simple syrup days or even weeks ahead of time. Here’s how it’s done:

Simmer on the stove: Pour the sugar and water into a saucepan. Bring it up to a simmer until the sugar dissolves.
Let it cool: Take the pot off the stove and let the syrup cool before using it in your martini or bottling it for later.

a strawberry margarita on top of a gold coaster and surrounded by strawberries.

How to make a strawberry martini

Now that your syrup is ready, you can move on to the martinis. They take almost no time to put together and there’s no muddling, stirring, or special equipment needed:

Add to a cocktail shaker: Add 5-6 strawberry tops, simple syrup, and vodka to a cocktail shaker or mason jar filled halfway with ice.
Shake with ice: Seal the lid on top and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
Strain and serve: Strain the strawberry cocktail into a chilled martini glass, garnish with a fresh strawberry, and enjoy!

overhead view of 2 strawberry martinis and fresh strawberries.

Customize your cocktail

This cocktail recipe is meant to be fun which means you can experiment with it any way you like! Here are a few of my favorite customization ideas to help get you started:

Strawberry simple syrup – Add even more fresh berry flavors by adding 1 cup of fresh strawberries to the simmering simple syrup. Strain out the solids and store the strawberry syrup for later.
Muddle the strawberries – Muddling the fresh strawberries in the cocktail shaker before adding the ice, vodka, and syrup will enhance the strawberry flavor and pink color. Double strain the cocktail into a martini glass after shaking, then serve.
Sparkling strawberry martini – Make the martini as normal but top each glass with sparkling water, club soda, or prosecco.
Basil strawberry martini – Shake the cocktail with fresh basil leaves for an herbaceous note.
Lemon strawberry martini – Add ½ ounce of lemon juice to the cocktail shaker to make the cocktail extra bright.
Use different berries – Substitute the strawberries for blackberries, raspberries, cherries, or blueberries.

close up on a strawberry martini sitting on a gold coaster.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use frozen strawberries?

Absolutely! Let them thaw before adding them to the cocktail shaker.

How long does simple syrup last?

Homemade simple syrup will last for about 1 month when stored in an airtight jar in the fridge.

Why do you have to shake the martini?

Shaken martinis are light and airy, deliciously diluted, and have a stronger berry flavor. If you were to stir the strawberry martini instead, it wouldn’t be properly diluted and the strawberry flavor wouldn’t be as pronounced.

Looking for more sweet and fruity cocktail recipes?

Did you try this fresh Strawberry Martini? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below and giving this recipe a rating! Don’t forget to take a picture tag me on Instagram or use #lenaskitchenblog to be featured in my stories! I love seeing what you come up with!