Homemade Lemonade Recipe
This perfectly sweet-tart lemonade recipe will knock your socks off and have everyone coming back for more! It's easy to throw together with 3 ingredients in less than 20 minutes and is make ahead and freezer friendly - perfect for a summer day. Best of all, this lemonade is smooth without any graininess or separation and is endlessly versatile - use it as the base for strawberry lemonade, peach lemonade, etc. and/or add mint, lavender, cucumber, ginger, flavored ice cubes and more - all variations included!
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1 /2 cups water (for simple syrup)
- 1 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (with pulp, remove seeds)
- 4 cups cold water to dilute, plus more to taste
- 2 cups ice
Instructions
- Make simple syrup: Add the sugar and 1 1/2 cups water to a small, nonreactive saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Juice lemons: While the syrup is cooling, juice the lemons and add the lemon juice to a large pitcher.
- Add water and syrup: Add 4 cups water to the pitcher and the cooled simple syrup; stir to combine.
- Chill: Refrigerate until cold, about 30-45 minutes.
- Add ice: When ready to serve, stir in 2 cups ice.
- Adjust to taste: For less strong flavor, add additional water to dilute (noting ice will dilute the lemonade somewhat as it melts). For a more intense lemon flavor, add additional lemon juice. For sweeter, whisk in powdered sugar.
Video
Notes
Storage
- Storage: Cover and refrigerate for up to 7 days.
- Freeze: Freeze the mixed up lemonade OR just freeze the lemon juice concentrate (simple syrup whisked with lemon juice) in freezer bags for up to 4 months. Allow to thaw completely, then add to a pitcher. For the concentrate, add water until it reaches desired flavor.
Lemonade Variations
- Swap granulated sugar: Use caster sugar instead of granulated sugar or use honey instead of granulated sugar, noting this will give the lemonade a distinct honey flavor.
- Sugar free lemonade: Start with 1/4 cup liquid stevia added directly to the lemon juice and water, then add more liquid stevia to taste. To use powder, dissolve 1/4 cup stevia powder in 1 1/2 cups water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, let cool, then combine with water to taste.
- Fruit/strawberry lemonade: Puree 1 cup strawberries, blackberries, peaches, watermelon, etc. and stir into the lemonade.
- Add fruit: Add fresh or frozen raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple or peaches.
- Limeade: Swap the lemons for limes, or use a combination of both.
- Fruit ice cubes: Use ice cubes made from pureed fruits like berries or cucumber.
- Add cucumber: Add cucumber slices for a complex, slightly bitter flavor and a gorgeous green hue.
- Add herbs: Add dried or fresh lavender flowers for a subtle floral aroma; mint for a cool and refreshing taste, or basil for aromatic, minty, sweet pepper notes.
- Add ginger: Add freshly grated ginger for a zesty and slightly spicy flavor.
- Add coconut: Swap the water with coconut water or part of it with coconut milk for a creamy and tropical twist.
- Fizzy lemonade: Use sparkling water for a bubbly twist. It will flatten over time, so combine just before serving. Refrigerate the soda water separately so it's chilled before combining.
- Add edible Flowers: Use edible flowers like lavender, hibiscus, or chamomile for subtle floral notes.
- Add garnishes: Garnish the rim of each glass with a fresh lemon slice, candied lemon peel, mint, maraschino cherry, or even fruit skewers (like berries or watermelon chunks).
- Sugared Rim: Dip the rim of the glass in lemon juice or water, then dip it into sugar or a mix of sugar and salt to create a sweet and tangy rim.