Making fresh lemonade from scratch is one of my favorite simple pleasures. Every time I whip up a batch, I’m reminded just how refreshing and delicious it is on a warm day.
The blend of tangy lemon juice and the perfect touch of sweetness never fails to impress. The best part? It’s so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
If you enjoy experimenting, you can also try variations like fresh strawberry lemonade for a fun twist on this classic drink. Trust me, you’ll love how smooth and balanced this recipe is!
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 cups water, divided
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 3-4 large lemons)
Note: This recipe serves about eight 8 oz glasses of lemonade.
Time Required
You’ll need just 15 minutes to prepare this delightful drink! That includes 5 minutes of cooking time and about 10 minutes for cooling and mixing.
Equipment You Need
- Lemon squeezer – To extract juice from the lemons easily.
- Small saucepan – For making the simple syrup.
- Glass pitcher – Perfect for mixing and serving the lemonade.
- Wooden spoon – To stir everything together.
- Measuring cups – Ensures the right balance of ingredients.
How to Make Fresh Lemonade?
With just a few steps, you can make homemade lemonade that’s refreshing and absolutely delicious. Follow my step-by-step guide below!
Step 1: Make the Simple Syrup
The secret to smooth and well-balanced lemonade is simple syrup. Begin by pouring 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar into a small saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar completely dissolves. This should take about 4-5 minutes, but make sure not to boil it. Once your syrup is ready, remove it from the heat and set it aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
The simple syrup ensures the sweetness is evenly distributed throughout the lemonade without gritty sugar crystals at the bottom of your glass!
Step 2: Squeeze the Lemons
While the syrup cools, it’s time to juice your lemons. Use a reliable lemon squeezer to extract 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, which usually takes about 3-4 lemons, depending on their size. Make sure to strain out any seeds, but you can leave a little pulp if you enjoy it for added texture.
Fresh lemon juice is what gives the lemonade its vibrant, tangy flavor. You might also like exploring other refreshing beverages like blue lemonade, which offers a fun, colorful twist to your drinks collection.
Step 3: Combine the Syrup and Lemon Juice
Once the syrup has cooled, pour it into a glass pitcher. Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice and stir well to mix the ingredients. At this point, you’ll already begin to notice the bright aroma of the lemons taking over.
This mixture forms the concentrated base of your lemonade, and the next step will perfect it.
Step 4: Add Water and Stir
Now it’s time to dilute the lemon base to achieve that perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. Pour in the remaining 5 cups of water and give everything a good stir. The result will be a smooth, golden lemonade that’s ready to quench your thirst.
If you prefer a slightly stronger flavor, you can adjust the water quantity to suit your taste.
Step 5: Chill and Serve
For optimal flavor, I recommend letting the lemonade chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving. If you’re short on time, simply serve it over plenty of ice. Garnish with lemon slices for a pop of brightness, and enjoy! If you’re a fan of fragrant flavors, you may also want to give lavender lemonade a try for a calming, aromatic experience.
Nutritional Information
Here’s the breakdown of the nutritional information for each 8 oz serving of lemonade:
- Calories: 103
- Protein: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fat: 0g
This analysis is based on the recipe as written and may vary depending on the specific lemons and adjustments you make.
Tips for Making the Recipe
After making this lemonade countless times, I’ve picked up a few tips to take it to the next level. Here’s what worked for me:
- Use fresh lemons for the best flavor. While bottled lemon juice works in a pinch, freshly squeezed juice makes all the difference.
- If the lemonade is too tart for your taste, stir in an extra tablespoon of sugar at a time until it’s just right.
- For a fun twist, I like to add a few sprigs of mint or a handful of fresh berries to the pitcher. The natural flavors pair beautifully with the lemonade.
- If you’re planning to serve it as part of a party, double or triple the recipe. Trust me, it’ll go fast!
- Always serve it chilled. A few hours in the fridge melds the flavors together and makes it even more refreshing.
- Experiment with other sweeteners like honey or agave syrup for a slightly unique flavor.
This lemonade recipe is a staple in my home, and I’m confident it’ll become a favorite in yours too. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, stocking a lemonade stand, or just need a refreshing beverage, this recipe is foolproof and crowd-pleasing. Cheers to the classic taste of summer!
Fresh Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 cups water divided
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice from about 3-4 large lemons
Instructions
- The secret to smooth and well-balanced lemonade is simple syrup. Begin by pouring 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar into a small saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar completely dissolves. This should take about 4-5 minutes, but make sure not to boil it. Once your syrup is ready, remove it from the heat and set it aside to cool for about 10 minutes. The simple syrup ensures the sweetness is evenly distributed throughout the lemonade without gritty sugar crystals at the bottom of your glass!
- While the syrup cools, it’s time to juice your lemons. Use a reliable lemon squeezer to extract 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, which usually takes about 3-4 lemons, depending on their size. Make sure to strain out any seeds, but you can leave a little pulp if you enjoy it for added texture.
- Fresh lemon juice is what gives the lemonade its vibrant, tangy flavor. Trust me, this step is worth the effort!
- Once the syrup has cooled, pour it into a glass pitcher. Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice and stir well to mix the ingredients. At this point, you’ll already begin to notice the bright aroma of the lemons taking over. This mixture forms the concentrated base of your lemonade, and the next step will perfect it.
- Now it’s time to dilute the lemon base to achieve that perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. Pour in the remaining 5 cups of water and give everything a good stir. The result will be a smooth, golden lemonade that’s ready to quench your thirst. If you prefer a slightly stronger flavor, you can adjust the water quantity to suit your taste.
- For optimal flavor, I recommend letting the lemonade chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving. If you’re short on time, simply serve it over plenty of ice. Garnish with lemon slices for a pop of brightness, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh lemons for the best flavor. While bottled lemon juice works in a pinch, freshly squeezed juice makes all the difference.
- If the lemonade is too tart for your taste, stir in an extra tablespoon of sugar at a time until it’s just right.
- For a fun twist, I like to add a few sprigs of mint or a handful of fresh berries to the pitcher. The natural flavors pair beautifully with the lemonade.
- If you’re planning to serve it as part of a party, double or triple the recipe. Trust me, it’ll go fast!
- Always serve it chilled. A few hours in the fridge melds the flavors together and makes it even more refreshing.
- Experiment with other sweeteners like honey or agave syrup for a slightly unique flavor.
