There is nothing quite as refreshing as an ice-cold pitcher of homemade lemonade. With just a little advanced preparation and simple ingredients, you, too, can have this easy drink all summer long. It is perfect for pool parties, family reunions, and neighborhood shindigs.
Super Refreshing Lemonade
Summers get fairly warm in this neck of the woods. I love to have some refreshing drink recipes for family and friends who might stop by. Cool off this summer with a refreshing glass of homemade lemonade! Learn how to make the perfect blend of tangy and sweet flavors with this easy summer staple recipe. It is so easy to make flavor variations of this refreshing drink by adding strawberries or raspberries or substituting limes in place of lemons. If you like this recipe, try blueberry lemonade, strawberry lemonade, Italian cream sodas, and fresh peach tea.
Only Two Simple Ingredients
Just two simple ingredients if you don’t include water, ice, and garnishes
How to Make Homemade Lemonade
It is so incredibly easy to make that you will wonder why you have not done it for years. Start by simmering the water and sugar until the sugar dissolves completely. Stir several times to ensure that the sugar dissolves quickly. Then, remove it from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. This liquid is known as simple syrup.
Combine the mixture with the fresh lemon juice and cups of water. Then add the lemon slices and plenty of ice. Finally, add plenty of ice to the glasses and pour. Garnish with fresh lemon slices or mint.
Recipe Tips
- That is a double batch pictured in the beverage dispenser.
- To help prepare the lemonade for an event, simmer the simple syrup the day before. Then cool to room temperature and chill in the fridge overnight.
- It takes about 6-8 lemons to make 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Always use fresh lemons. Extract the juice using a citrus reamer, fork, or an electric juicer.
- For less cloudy, clearer lemonade, strain the lemon juice through a fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp.
- This lemonade is good on the counter at room temperature for about 2 hours. Then, it should be refrigerated. Consume the lemonade within 5 days.
- Adjust the sweetness and tartness with more or less sugar or water.
Recipe variations
- Limeade – replace the lemon juice and lemons with lime juice and limes.
- Raspberry Lemonade – Puree 1 cup of raspberries in a blender or food processor. Run the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. Add at the same time as the lemon juice.
- Strawberry Lemonade – Puree 1 1/2 cups strawberries in a blender or food processor. Run the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. Add at the same time as the lemon juice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does lemonade need to be refrigerated? Yes, it does. This lemonade is good on the counter at room temperature for about 2 hours. Then, store it in an airtight beverage container in the refrigerator.
How long does lemonade last? Homemade lemonade stays good for about 5 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. As always, if there are signs of spoilage, like changes in color, smell, or taste, throw it out.
Can I use bottled lemon juice? Yes, most bottled lemon juice is of good quality. I like using fresh lemons because bottled lemon juice contains additives and preservatives, and I am already picking up fresh lemons to add to the pitcher and glasses.
More Lemon Recipe
Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 6-8 cups cold water to taste
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice
- 2-3 lemons sliced thin
- fresh mint
- ice
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves, stirring several times. Cool to room temperature.
- Combine with the fresh lemon juice and remaining water. Add lemon slices or fresh mint and plenty of ice.
Notes
- That is a double batch pictured in the beverage dispenser.
- To help prepare the lemonade for an event, simmer the simple syrup the day before. Then cool to room temperature and place in the fridge overnight to chill.
- It takes about 6-8 lemons to make 1 1/2 cups freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
- Always use fresh lemons. Extract the juice by using a citrus reamer, fork, or an electric juicer.
- For less cloudy clearer lemonade, strain the lemon juice through a fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp.
- This lemonade is good on the counter at room temperature for about 2 hours. Then it should be refrigerated. Consume within 5 days.
- Adjust the sweetness and tartness with more or less sugar or water.
Nutrition
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Monique
Your recipe for homemade lemonade was absolutely delightful! I appreciate the tips you included, like preparing the simple syrup ahead of time and using fresh lemons for the best flavor. Overall, it’s a wonderfully refereshing and flavorful lemonade that I am eager to make again. Thank you for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Monique!
Denay
Made this lemonade over the Labor Day weekend as a final hurrah to the official summer season. It had the perfect amount of sweet and tang.
Colleen
This summer has been a scorcher, and this lemonade has been on repeat. So delicious and refreshing. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda
I am going to make this now! It’s so hot in the UK today and I have all the ingredients – yum!
Angela
We have a lemon tree so this recipe is for us. The kids had a blast picking the lemons, help making this, and drinking it of course. A great lemonade recipe for any time of year.
Caroline
I agree, homemade lemonade is SO much better than bought and it also works much better with syrup than trying to dissolve in sugar. Perfect for summer.
Jamie Hilly
My family loved this lemonade. I used Splenda to sweeten instead of sugar and it was still delicious. Thanks for a great recipe!!
Amanda Livesay
My kids are obsessed with this lemonade! It’s so perfect for the hot Texas summer.
Tisha
Love lemonade during this time of year! So refreshing
Sandra
Such a delicious lemonade all summer long!!
Claire
Perfect refresher! Thank you for this. I am now able to enjoy summer!
Katie
This tastes like summer. So refreshing and even more amazing with raspberries!
Jessica Burgess
This recipe was amazing! My son wanted to make lemonade to sell it at his lemonade stand, at the farmers market and everyone raved about it!
Betsy
What a difference it makes to heat the sugar and water before adding the lemon juice! I had not thought before to do that! Delicious! Yum!!
Erin
I know for sure this lemonade would be a huge hit in my house!
Krystle
There is nothing better than homemade lemonade. Half sweet and half-sour, so much better than the store mixes.