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–+ servings
Homemade Lemonade in a serving glass mug.

Best Lemonade

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Lemonade, a classic favorite with its delightful mix of sweet and sour, is the ultimate summer refreshment. Made with fresh lemon juice, simple sugar syrup, and water, it’s best enjoyed ice-cold. This homemade version is just perfect for sizzling summer days or whenever you need to quench your thirst with something deliciously refreshing.
Course Summer Drinks
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 6 cups
Calories 295
Author Sangeetha Vel

Ingredients

For Sugar Syrup

  • 2 cups Sugar
  • 2 cups Water

For Juice

  • 10 Lemon medium size
  • 2 cups Water for diluting the juice
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preparing Sugar Syrup

  • In your saucepan, combine sugar with an equal amount of water.
    Adding sugar to a saucepan.
  • Stir the mixture continuously over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once it reaches a boil, allow it to bubble for about 2 to 3 minutes to ensure it thickens slightly. Then, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool completely. This will ensure your syrup is clear and smooth, perfect for mixing into your lemonade.
    Sugar syrup boiling in a saucepan.

Extracting Lemon Juice

  • Take all your lemons, cut them in half, and place them in a bowl.
    Cutting the lemon in half.
  • Position a fine-mesh strainer over another bowl and squeeze the juice from your halved lemons using your preferred tool—this could be a fork, spoon, handheld squeezer, or a citrus press. You're aiming to collect about 2 cups of lemon juice. If you are changing the serving size, remember to adjust the quantity of lemons used accordingly.
    Squeezing the lemon juice using fork.
  • After squeezing, press the remaining pulp in the strainer to extract every last drop of juice. This ensures you get the maximum flavor and reduces waste.
    Extracting the juice from pulp in strainer.

Preparing Lemonade

  • First, in a large pitcher or bowl, mix together the freshly squeezed lemon juice and your sugar syrup until they're well combined. Then, add water to the mixture and give it a good stir. Place it in the fridge to chill, ensuring it's nice and cold when you're ready to serve.
    Mixing the lemonade in a bowl with spatula.
  • When it's time to enjoy, grab a glass and fill it with a handful of ice cubes and a couple of lemon slices for that extra zing. Then, simply pour over your refreshing, chilled homemade Lemonade. Your delicious drink is ready to be savored.
    Pouring Lemonade into the serving cup.

Serving

  • Enjoy this homemade Lemonade as a perfect thirst-quencher on hot days or as a refreshing addition to parties and gatherings. With its vibrant citrus flavor and icy chill, it's sure to become a summer favorite for everyone!
    Lemonade served in cup with lemon slices and ice cubes.

Notes

Here are my tips to make perfect Lemonade:
  • Sugar Syrup: A 1:1 ratio of sugar to water usually hits the sweet spot. But, you might want to adjust the sugar depending on the sweetness of your lemons.
  • Lemon Juice: The amount of juice you'll get can differ based on the size of your lemons. You'll need roughly 2 cups for this recipe, but adjust the number of lemons based on how much juice they yield.
  • Water for Dilution: For the base recipe, I use 2 cups of filtered water to dilute the lemon juice, which hits the spot for our family's taste. Feel free to adjust the water quantity to match your preference. Remember, this measurement is for the base recipe; if you change the serving size, you'll need to adjust the water amount accordingly.
  • Balance the Acidity: If your lemonade is too tart, a pinch of salt can balance the acidity and enhance the sweetness, without needing extra sugar.
  • Herbal Touches: Enhance your lemonade by adding a sprig of fresh mint, basil, or rosemary while it chills. These herbs beautifully complement the zesty lemon flavor, introducing subtle, aromatic notes that make each sip even more refreshing.
  • Lemon Zest (Optional): Before juicing your lemons, zest one or two of them. Adding lemon zest to your sugar syrup while it cooks can infuse an extra layer of lemony flavor, making your lemonade even more refreshing. If you're unsure how to extract lemon zest, take a look at my lemon pepper seasoning recipe for guidance.
  • Creative Ice Cubes: Freeze some lemonade or place small lemon slices, mint leaves, or berries in your ice cube trays with water. These decorative ice cubes make your lemonade visually appealing and add a touch of flavor as they melt.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 10mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 70g

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