The best homemade lemonade uses just three ingredients and is quick and easy to make. All you need is lemons, sugar (or simple syrup), and water to make the perfect sweet-yet-tart balance of a classic lemonade. This drink is perfect for hot summer days and can be made in larger batches to serve a crowd for parties and gatherings.
Related: Electric Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Lemon Drop Jello Shots, Lemon Drop Martini, Pink Lemonade Jello Shots, Strawberry Basil Lemonade Cocktail, Rosemary Lemonade
Ingredients
- Lemons: You’ll definitely want fresh lemons for your lemonade whenever possible. Use a lemon squeezer to make juicing easier.
- Sugar: The secret to the most evenly sweet flavor in your lemonade (with no grains of sugar sinking to the bottom of the pitcher) is dissolving the sugar into hot water before mixing in your lemon juice. You can also buy a bottle of simple syrup at the store or easily make your own simple syrup to use instead.
- Water: Tap water will work fine for this but a purified or filtered water will give you a cleaner taste if you have that on hand.
Directions
Dissolve Sugar in Water: Boil 2 cups of your water on the stove, remove from heat and add in your sugar, stirring until dissolved. Allow to cool a bit.
Juice Lemons: Half your lemons widthwise with a knife and use a lemon squeezer or a juicer to extract the lemon juice.
Mix Together: Add your sugar water to a pitcher and add the remaining 4 cups of chilled water and then the lemon juice. Stir to combine.
Serve: When serving, fill a glass with ice and pour your lemonade on top. Enjoy!
Note: To make with simple syrup, skip to the juicing step first and then add all your water and simple syrup to the juice and stir to combine. Easy!
Tip: Make your lemonade a sparkling version by topping off your glass with sparkling water.
Tips for Making
- Roll your lemons: It may sound odd, but rolling your lemons firmly on the counter before cutting and juicing will help release the juices and make juicing easier.
- Hold the ice: Don’t add your ice directly to your lemonade pitcher as it will dilute the liquid as it melts. Add it to each glass and then pour the lemonade on top.
- Make a frozen lemonade: To create a slushy lemonade, make a batch that is a little stronger on the sugar and lemon add it to a blender with some ice for a frozen treat.
Tip: Don’t forget you can adjust your lemonade to taste! Add more sugar to change sweetness (or you can add more water to make it less sweet if already made) and more lemon to taste.
Variations
- Arnold Palmer: Make an easy Arnold Palmer by adding some iced tea to your lemonade.
- Strawberry Lemonade: Add some pureed fresh strawberries to make a berry treat.
- Mint Lemonade: Muddle some fresh mint leaves at the bottom of the pitcher before adding your ingredients for a mint twist.
- Rosemary Lemonade: Rosemary adds an earthy note to your tangy lemonade.
- Pink Lemonade: Make it pink naturally with watermelon for a pop of color.
- Spiked Lemonade: Add a shot of vodka or gin to your glass for a boozy lemonade.
Can you freeze fresh lemonade?
Yes! Put your lemon juice and simple syrup into a freezer bag (or into ice cube trays and then into a bag when frozen) and simply let your frozen lemonade concentrate thaw in the fridge before adding your water.
How do you make simple syrup?
To make your own simple syrup, combine two cups sugar and two cups water in a small pan. On medium heat, simmer together and stir until sugar is fully dissolved and there are no grains.
Do not boil simple syrup for more than the time it takes to dissolve. It you overcook your syrup it will eventually become caramel.
Let cool and pour into a bottle in the fridge.
Serving Suggestions
Try serving this refreshing lemonade with our:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use bottled lemons for lemonade?
While fresh is always best, bottled lemon juice will work in a pinch.
What’s the best way to store lemonade?
Store your lemonade in the fridge in an airtight container. If you only have a pitcher without a lid, then put plastic wrap over the top to keep the container sealed.
How long does homemade lemonade last in the fridge?
Store your homemade lemonade in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Make sure to store it without ice so it doesn’t dilute the mixture.
Can I use honey instead of sugar for lemonade?
Yes, while you can use honey instead of sugar or simple syrup, it will change the taste of the lemonade from the classic version.
Get our FREE recipe guide with our most popular recipes of all time!
Free Popular Recipe Guide
Our top 25 recipes of all time!
Get the Recipe
This homemade lemonade is evenly sweet, tart, and delicious!
Instructions
-
Dissolve Sugar in Water: Boil 2 cups of your water on the stove, remove from heat and add in your sugar, stirring until dissolved. Allow to cool a bit.
-
Juice Lemons: Half your lemons widthwise with a knife and use a lemon squeezer or a juicer to extract the lemon juice.
-
Mix Together: Add your sugar water to a pitcher and add the remaining 4 cups of chilled water and then the lemon juice. Stir to combine.
-
Serve: When serving, fill a glass with ice and pour your lemonade on top. Enjoy!
Notes
Note: To make with simple syrup, skip to the juicing step first and then add all your water and simple syrup to the juice and stir to combine. Easy!
Tips for Making
- Roll your lemons: It may sound odd, but rolling your lemons firmly on the counter before cutting and juicing will help release the juices and make juicing easier.
- Hold the ice: Don’t add your ice directly to your lemonade pitcher as it will dilute the liquid as it melts. Add it to each glass and then pour the lemonade on top.
- Make a frozen lemonade: To create a slushy lemonade, make a batch that is a little stronger on the sugar and lemon, and add it to a blender with some ice for a frozen treat.
- Sparkling lemonade: Make your lemonade a sparkling version by topping off your glass with sparkling water.
Lemonade variations
- Arnold Palmer: Make an easy Arnold Palmer by adding some iced tea to your lemonade.
- Strawberry Lemonade: Add some pureed fresh strawberries to make a berry treat.
- Mint Lemonade: Muddle some fresh mint leaves at the bottom of the pitcher before adding your ingredients for a mint twist.
- Rosemary Lemonade: Rosemary adds an earthy note to your tangy lemonade.
- Pink Lemonade: Make it pink naturally with watermelon for a pop of color.
- Spiked Lemonade: Add a shot of vodka or gin to your glass for a boozy lemonade.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Lemonade
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
