Lemonade is the perfect summer drink with just three ingredients: it’s sweet, tart, and refreshing!
Try this easy Pina Colada, Sherbet Punch, or a Jamba Juice copycat Caribbean Passion Smoothie.
The Best Lemonade Recipe
Every summer, my kids love selling drinks and treats near our house. So, I figured it was time to ditch the store-bought mixes and create a homemade lemonade recipe for them.
The good news? Their little stand is now known throughout the neighborhood for having the best lemonade. The bad news? My kids won’t touch the store-bought stuff anymore. And this is bad news because juicing the lemons needed to keep up with them is, frankly, exhausting!
This recipe is simple to make but tastes amazing! It strikes just the right balance of sweet and tangy—the perfect drink for a hot, sunny day, especially if it’s served with Frozen S’mores!
Ingredients
- Water and Sugar Mixture: Make extra to use in other drinks like Mango Sorbet.
- Fresh Lemon: Fresh-squeezed lemon juice really makes your lemonade stand out!
- Cold Water: Add slowly and taste as you go until it’s just how you like it.
Quick Tip
Add ice right before serving to stop the lemonade from getting watered down.
How To Make Homemade Lemonade Recipe
- Make Simple Syrup: Put equal parts sugar and water in a pot. Warm it up until the sugar melts, stirring now and then.
- Juice Lemons: Roll the lemons on the counter before squeezing to get more juice.
- Mix: Then, add the lemon juice to a pitcher. Pour in cooled syrup, then slowly add cold water. Keep tasting it until it’s just right.
- Chill and Serve: Lastly, chill lemonade in the fridge or serve it right away over ice.
Quick Tip
To prevent lemonade from getting watered down, freeze some in ice trays and use the frozen cubes as ice!
Change Things Up!
- Garnishes: Dip the rim of your glasses with sugar or add a lemon slice.
- Frozen Slushy Lemonade: Blend your lemonade with ice until it’s slushy like this Lemon Berry Slush.
- Add Fruit: I like peaches, raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries.
- Add Herbs: Add fresh herbs like basil, mint, or lavender.
- Sparkling Lemonade: Replace water with sparkling water to make it fizzy.
- Make it Creamy: Mix your lemonade with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a milkshake-like drink. (Like a Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade!)
Storage
Store lemonade in an enclosed pitcher or bottle in the fridge without ice for up to 4 days.
More Refreshing Drinks
- Frosted Lime-Berry Spritzer with a blueberry base
- Sparkling Raspberry Limeade takes minutes to make
- Sparkling Pomegranate Juice perfect for holidays
- Kid-friendly Tart Cherry Spritzer
- Refreshing and light Virgin Mojito Recipe
Lemonade
Equipment
- Large pitcher
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 to 6 cups water divided
- 1 pinch salt
- 6 to 8 lemons
- Ice for serving
Instructions
- Juice lemons using a citrus juicer to get 1 cup lemon juice. (I love this juicer).
- Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar plus a teeny pinch of salt in a small saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside, allow to cool for 10 minutes in the fridge.
- Pour 1 cup of fresh-squeezed lemon juice into a pitcher. Then, add the completely cooled simple syrup. Mix in 3 cups of water and gradually add up to 2 more cups, stirring well and tasting after each 1/2 cup to get it exactly how you like it!
- Pour over ice and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
As Chelsea’s employee I have made this and LOVED IT! We serve this at every summer event and it is always a hit!