Raspberry Cherry Water: Recipe & How to Make It

Raspberry cherry water is water infused with raspberries and pitted cherries, ready in 2 hours 10 minutes and yielding about 1 liter (4¼ cups). It’s one of many berry infused water recipes you can make without a blender or added sweetener.

What is raspberry cherry water?

Raspberry cherry water is a chilled fruit infusion: the fruit rests in water long enough to lend it a mild flavor and color. Unlike a blended drink, it can be strained before serving, leaving most of the fruit solids behind.

The flavor is subtle rather than juice-like. Raspberries bring a tart, fragrant note, while cherries add a rounder fruit flavor. The result depends on the ripeness and variety of the fruit you use.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 1 liter (4¼ cups), use:

Water: 1 liter (4¼ cups)
Raspberries: 75 grams (about ⅔ cup)
Pitted cherries: 75 grams (about ½ cup)

This uses about 150 grams of fruit per liter of water. The cup measurements are approximate because fruit size varies; weighing the fruit gives you a more consistent ratio.

Fresh or unsweetened frozen fruit works. Sweet cherries make a mellower infusion, while sour cherries add more tartness. If using fresh cherries, remove the pits before measuring the fruit.

How do you make raspberry cherry water?

Prep time: 10 minutes
Chilling time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 liter (4¼ cups)

Wash your hands and rinse the fresh raspberries and cherries under cool running water.
Pit the cherries, discard the pits, and cut the cherries in half. Leave the raspberries whole or gently break them apart for a stronger flavor.
Add the fruit to a clean pitcher and pour in the water.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger infusion, leave it in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours.
Stir gently and serve chilled. Strain out the fruit first if you prefer a clearer drink.

For another combination or ratio, try the AI infused water generator.

Why do raspberry and cherry pair well?

Raspberries give raspberry cherry water a bright, slightly tart taste; cherries balance it with a deeper fruit flavor. Breaking the raspberries or cutting the cherries exposes more of their flesh to the water, making the infusion more noticeable.

The main benefit of raspberry cherry water is hydration. Raspberries and cherries contain nutrients, but the amount that transfers into steeped water is uncertain and should not be assumed to equal the amount in the whole fruit. Infused water is generally very low in calories when the fruit is steeped rather than squeezed or blended.

The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste. Raspberry cherry water supports hydration; it does not provide a special detox effect. For the individual fruit flavors, see raspberry infused water and cherry infused water.

How should you store raspberry cherry water?

Keep raspberry cherry water covered in the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard it after 2 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy, or sour-smelling. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours.

You can strain the fruit out after infusing or leave it in while you serve the drink. Use a clean utensil when removing fruit, and discard the pits rather than putting them in the pitcher.

How can you vary raspberry cherry water?

Make it more tart or more mellow

Use more raspberries for a brighter flavor, or more cherries for a rounder one. Keep the total fruit quantity close to the recipe amount so the infusion remains balanced.

Add bubbles

Pour the chilled infusion into glasses and top with cold sparkling water. The extra water will make the fruit flavor a little milder.

Use frozen fruit

Replace the fresh fruit with the same amount of unsweetened frozen fruit. Add it to the pitcher and refrigerate as directed; the softened fruit may make the water cloudier.