There's nothing like a pitcher of homemade lemonade made with fresh lemons on a hot day. This classic summer drink is made with simple ingredients - lemon juice, sugar, and cold water - for a tangy, refreshing beverage that tastes so much better than store-bought.
Why I Love This Recipe
This lemonade is made the old-fashioned way - with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a quick homemade simple syrup. It's perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, and comes together in just 15 minutes. The result is a bright, refreshing drink that tastes way better than store-bought.
- Simple ingredients: You only need lemons, sugar, and water.
- Quick to make: Just 15 minutes and you're done.
- Perfect for summer: Cold, tangy, and refreshing.
- Make-ahead friendly: Chill in the fridge before serving.
- Crowd-pleaser: Great for BBQs, picnics, or backyard dinners.
It's also easy to double for parties, pour into jars for picnics, or keep in the fridge all week. Once you make lemonade this way, you'll never go back to powdered mixes again.
Looking for something light and fizzy? My Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade is made with real fruit and sparkling water for the ultimate summer refreshment.
Recipe Ingredients
- 8 cups water - Divided: 1 cup for the syrup, 7 cups for mixing
- 1 cup granulated sugar - For the homemade simple syrup
- 1½ cups fresh lemon juice - About 8 lemons, strained
- 2 cups ice cubes - To chill just before serving
Pro Tip: Use room-temperature lemons for easier juicing. Roll them on the counter first to release more juice.
Step-By-Step Instructions 👇👇
STEP 1: Make the Simple Syrup
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar over medium-low heat. Stir gently until the sugar is fully dissolved-this takes about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool slightly, then pour it into a large pitcher.
What Is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is just sugar dissolved in water. It blends evenly with cold drinks, giving your lemonade a smooth sweetness without any gritty texture.
STEP 2: Juice the Lemons
While the syrup is cooling, juice 8 fresh lemons until you have about 1½ cups of lemon juice.
Room-temperature lemons are easier to juice - roll them on the counter with your palm to loosen the juice before cutting.
Use a citrus juicer or squeeze by hand, then strain out seeds. Add the lemon juice to the pitcher and stir with the syrup.
STEP 3: Add Water and Chill
Pour in the remaining 7 cups of cold water and stir well. Transfer the pitcher to the fridge and chill until cold. Just before serving, add ice cubes and a few lemon slices for a beautiful presentation.
What Does It Taste Like?
This lemonade has that classic sweet-tart balance that hits perfectly on a warm day. The fresh lemon juice gives it a clean, crisp flavor, while the simple syrup adds just enough smooth sweetness without any grainy texture.
Serve it ice-cold and you'll taste why homemade lemonade never goes out of style - it's simple, bright, and the definition of summer in a glass.
Recipe Tips
- Lemon ratio: About 1 cup lemon juice for every 4 cups water.
- Balance the flavor: Start with the 1:1:3 ratio - one part lemon juice, one part sugar, three parts water. Adjust to taste.
- Add a pinch of salt: It reduces bitterness and boosts lemon flavor.
- Chill before ice: Ice too early can water it down.
- Always use fresh lemons: Bottled lemon juice won't give you the same bright flavor.
How to store
- Refrigerate: Store in a sealed pitcher for up to 1 week. Stir before serving.
- Make Ahead: Mix the syrup and lemon juice the night before, then add cold water and ice the next day.
Variations
- Strawberry Lemonade: Blend a handful of strawberries into a puree and stir into the pitcher. Or you can try adding sliced strawberries or cranberry juice.
- Mint Lemonade: Add 6-10 fresh mint leaves to a bowl containing 1 cup of homemade lemonade. Muddle them around, and add them to the pitcher of lemonade.
- Sparkling Lemonade: Swap the 7 cups of still water for sparkling water (just before serving). It won't stay sparkling for long, so serve immediately.
- Pink Lemonade: Add a splash of cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, or a few blended raspberries for that soft pink color and tangy twist.
- Lavender Lemonade: Steep 1-2 teaspoons of dried culinary lavender in the simple syrup while it simmers. Strain out the lavender before adding the syrup to the pitcher.
- Cucumber Lemonade: Add thin slices of peeled cucumber to the pitcher before chilling. It adds a light, refreshing flavor that pairs beautifully with lemon.
- Watermelon Lemonade: Puree cubed watermelon and strain out the pulp. Stir the juice into the lemonade for a naturally sweet and hydrating summer drink.
- Blue Raspberry Lemonade: Add a splash of blue raspberry syrup (homemade or store-bought) for a fun, colorful twist-perfect for kids' parties or themed summer gatherings.
You can find more homemade drinks and summer sippers in my Beverages Collection.
FAQs
You can, but it won't taste the same. Fresh lemons give that clean, bright citrus flavor you just can't get from bottled juice.
Homemade Lemonade Recipe
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Ingredients
- 8 cups water - 1 cold, 7 cups to serve
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups lemon juice - 8 lemons, seeds removed
- 2 cups ice cubes
Instructions
- Add 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir slowly until the sugar has dissolved, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let this cool, then add to a pitcher.
- While that's cooling, juice 8 lemons. Cold lemons are difficult to juice, make sure they're at room temperature. Press firmly with your palm and roll them on the counter. Cut them in half, and use a juicer or your hands to squeeze 1 ½ cups of fresh lemon juice into the pitcher. Stir together with the liquid sugar.
- Lastly add 7 cups of water and stir. Place the pitcher in the fridge until chilled. Adding ice now will dilute the mixture. If adding ice and lemon slices, do so just before serving.
Notes
- 6 lemons = 1 cup fresh lemon juice (enough for every 4 cups water).
- Use the 1:1:3 ratio - lemon juice, sugar, water - then adjust to taste.
- Pinch of salt can balance bitterness.
- Chill before adding ice to avoid dilution.
- Always use fresh lemons-bottled juice tastes different.
- Store in fridge up to 1 week and stir before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-calculated and meant to be an approximation only.
Kristina says
This was super easy and the ratio was on point for me! Never buying store bought again!