What’s more thirst-quenching on a hot summer day than a tall glass of homemade lemonade?
You’ll need just three ingredients (and one is water!) to make this delicious lemonade from scratch!
A Fresh Summer Favorite
A fresh lemonade recipe is a favorite.
- It’s so easy to make at home.
- Easy and refreshing, this homemade lemonade recipe needs just 3 ingredients.
- Squeeze the lemons and keep the juice in the fridge for a few days or freeze it for a few months.
- Extra lemon simple syrup is great in all kinds of drinks or even tea!
Or, spike it with vodka for your next (adult) party!
Ingredients for Lemonade
LEMONS – For the best flavor, use fresh lemons. Bottled lemon juice can be used but can sometimes have a bit of a bitter flavor. Don’t forget the lemon slices for garnish too!
SWEETENER – We use sugar to make a lemon simple syrup (make extra if you’d like, it’s great in tea or cocktails)! You can sweeten it with honey, maple syrup, or agave if you’d prefer.
WATER/ICE – Water and ice are needed to make this refreshing, thirst-quenching drink!
Variations
Add New Flavors: Try making it into a fresh strawberry lemonade, a raspberry lemonade or add watermelon, fresh mint leaves, or even make a limeade with fresh limes!
Make Pink Lemonade: For pink lemonade add a bit of cranberry juice, raspberry juice, or grenadine to reach the desired color.
Adjust the Sweetness: If homemade lemonade is too sweet, simply add more lemon juice and if it’s too tart, add a spoonful of sugar and a bit of water.
Make it Boozy: Spike it with a bit of vodka or flavored vodka if you’d like!
How to Make Lemonade
Super simple and fun, homemade lemonade takes just 3 simple steps to make!
- Make Lemon Simple Syrup: Zest a few strips of the rind from a lemon (use a veggie peeler). Combine sugar, water, and lemon zest in a pan and simmer until dissolved.
- Juice Lemons: Squeeze the lemons to make 1 1/4 cups lemon juice.
- Add Water: Add ice and 6 cups of water to make 2 quarts and chill until serving.
Keep the garnish simple with lemons or serve it shirley temple style with pomegranates, orange slices, or cherries!
Tips & Make Ahead
- Microwave the lemons for about 15-20 seconds and then roll on the counter to extract more juice.
- Rinse and scrub lemons with a vegetable brush before zesting. Scrubbing them removes the wax that is sprayed on them during shipment.
- Juice lemons using a juicer but if you don’t have a juicer, cut in half and put a fork into the lemon while squeezing.
- If you’d prefer you can strain out the pulp. Pour the lemon juice through a coffee filter
- Store lemonade in the refrigerator and stir it before serving.
More Summer Drinks
Did you love this Homemade Lemonade? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Homemade Lemonade
This fresh homemade lemonade is the perfect refreshing drink.
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Peel 3 long strips of zest off of the lemons.
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Combine sugar, 1 ½ cups water, and lemon zest in a small saucepan and bring just to a boil until sugar is dissolved. Cool completely.
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Cut the lemons in half and squeeze out the juice using a juicer. If you don’t have a juicer, place a fork in the lemon and gently squeeze while rocking the fork back and forth. You will need 1 ¼ cups lemon juice.
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Place 1 ¼ cups lemon juice and 1 cup* of the simple syrup in a 2 QT pitcher.
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Add ice and 6 cups of cold water. Stir to combine.
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Taste and add more simple syrup if desired.
- *If you prefer lemonade to be less sweet, start with 3/4 cup of simple syrup and add more to taste.
- Microwave the lemons for about 15-20 seconds and then roll on the counter to extract more juice.
- Rinse and scrub lemons with a vegetable brush before zesting. Scrubbing them removes the wax that is sprayed on them during shipment.
- Juice lemons using a juicer but if you don’t have a juicer, cut in half and put a fork into the lemon while squeezing.
- If you’d prefer you can strain out the pulp. Pour the lemon juice through a coffee filter
- Store lemonade in the refrigerator and stir it before serving.
Calories: 129 | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beverage, Drink
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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