Description
Homemade Lemonade is a refreshing summer drink made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, and cold water. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, this easy citrus beverage is ideal for picnics, barbecues, or everyday hydration.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4–6 large lemons)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water (for simple syrup)
- 3–4 cups cold water (to dilute)
- Ice cubes (for serving)
- Lemon slices (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Roll the lemons on the counter to release juices, then cut and squeeze them until you have 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain out seeds and excess pulp.
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves to form a simple syrup. Remove from heat and let cool.
- In a large pitcher, pour the fresh lemon juice and cooled simple syrup. Stir well to combine.
- Add 3–4 cups of cold water and stir. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness by adding more water or lemon juice if needed.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices if desired.
Notes
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest citrus flavor.
- Warm lemons slightly in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to extract more juice.
- Adjust sugar to taste depending on the tartness of your lemons.
- For sparkling lemonade, replace part of the cold water with chilled sparkling water just before serving.
- Store in a sealed pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop and Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Homemade Lemonade, fresh lemonade recipe, summer drink, citrus beverage, lemon drink, refreshing lemonade, classic lemonade