This homemade lemonade is made with freshly squeezed lemons and homemade syrup to deliver that classic lemonade flavor like no other.
Homemade Lemonade Overview
There aren’t many beverages charming as a glass of homemade lemonade. It’s sweet, tangy, and refreshing, and partners well with summertime. You’ll only need fresh lemons, sugar, and water.
First, a simple syrup is made by simmering sugar and water on the stove. Next, it’s added to a pitcher along with freshly squeezed lemons and water. This is chilled in the fridge and then ice is added just before serving.
Recipe Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups lemon juice – 8 lemons, seeds removed – Or bottled lemon juice
- 2 cups ice cubes
How To Make Homemade Lemonade
Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
STEP 1: 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.
STEP 2: 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 1/2 cups of fresh lemon juice into the pitcher. Stir together with the liquid sugar.
STEP 3: 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.
Recipe Tips
- You’ll need about 1 cup of lemon juice for every 4 cups of water. 6 lemons provide roughly 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
- A rule of thumb for the ratio is 1:1:3 – one part lemon juice, one part sugar, and three parts water. After this is achieved, adjust to your tastes. If it’s tart, add more sugar, too sweet? Add more lemon juice.
- A pinch of salt can help reduce the bitterness of the lemons and enhance their flavor. Add small amounts and test as you go.
- Chill this beverage before adding ice. Chilling with ice will dilute it. Instead, add ice just before serving.
- Always use fresh lemons for the best results because bottled lemon juice will deliver a different flavor.
How to store
- Refrigerate – This can be stored in the fridge up to a week. I recommend giving it a stir before drinking.
Variations
- To make pink strawberry lemonade. Blend strawberries into a puree and mix with the lemonade. Or you can try adding sliced strawberries or cranberry juice.
- To make 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.
- To make sparkling lemonade, replace the water in Step 3 with sparkling water. It won’t stay sparkling for long so serve immediately.
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Homemade Lemonade Recipe
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 1/2 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.
Recipe Notes:
- You’ll need about 1 cup of lemon juice for every 4 cups of water. 6 lemons provide roughly 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
- A rule of thumb for the ratio is 1:1:3 – one part lemon juice, one part sugar, and three parts water. After this is achieved, adjust to your tastes. If it’s tart, add more sugar, too sweet? Add more lemon juice.
- A pinch of salt can help reduce the bitterness of the lemons and enhance their flavor. Add small amounts and test as you go.
- Chill this beverage before adding ice. Chilling with ice will dilute it. Instead, add ice just before serving.
- Always use fresh lemons for the best results because bottled lemon juice will deliver a different flavor.
- Refrigerate – This can be stored in the fridge up to a week. I recommend giving it a stir before drinking.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.