Lemonade is the perfect summer drink made from just three ingredients: it’s sweet, tart, and refreshing!
Looking for more summer drinks? 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 in our small cul-de-sac. Last summer, I decided 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 neighborhoodfor 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 amount of lemons needed to keep up with them is, frankly, exhausting!
This recipe for lemonade is simple to make but tastes amazing! It strikes just the right balance of sweet and tangy—downright perfection on a hot, sunny day, especially if it’s served alongside 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 gradually and taste as you go to get it 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 just until the sugar melts, stirring occasionally.
- Squeeze Lemons: Juice 1 cup of lemon juice. Roll the lemons on the counter before squeezing to get as much juice as possible.
- Mix: Add the lemon juice to a pitcher. Pour in the cooled simple syrup, then slowly add cold water. Keep tasting it until it tastes perfect to you.
- Chill and Serve: Put the lemonade in the fridge to cool or serve it right away over ice.
Quick Tip
To prevent the lemonade from getting watered down, freeze some of it in ice trays and use these frozen cubes as ice!
Change Things Up!
- Garnishes: Rim your glasses with sugar or add a lemon slice for decoration. You can also put in some berries or a slice of pineapple!
- Frozen Slushy Lemonade: Blend your lemonade with ice until it’s reaches a slushy consistency like this Lemon Berry Slush.
- Add Fruit: I like adding peaches, raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries.
- Add Herbs: Add fresh herbs like basil, mint, or lavender to give your lemonade a unique flavor.
- 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 creamy, milkshake-like drink. (Like a Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade!)
- To Make A Glass Of Lemonade “Recipe”: Just click “print” on the recipe card below, then adjust the serving size to 1 and follow the modified quantities!
Fun fact: Despite its name, Brazilian lemonade is actually made with limes, not lemons!
Tips For Making The Best Lemonade
- Pick the Perfect Lemons: Choose lemons that are heavy for their size with smooth skin and are fully yellow with no green spots. They’re usually juicier if they’re a bit soft when you squeeze them.
- Tools: If you make lemonade often enough, consider getting a good juicer. Strain out the seeds, but feel free to leave the pulp in if you enjoy it.
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 sugared blueberry base
- Sparkling Raspberry Limeade takes minutes to make
- Sparkling Pomegranate Juice perfect for holiday entertaining
- 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!