Description
This Homemade Lemonade recipe offers a classic, refreshing drink that’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Made with fresh lemons and customizable to your taste, it’s the ultimate thirst-quencher for hot summer days or anytime you’re in need of a refreshing beverage.
Ingredients
1 ¾ cups white sugar
1 cup water
9 medium lemons, or more as needed
7 cups ice-cold water
Ice as needed
Instructions
Prepare Simple Syrup:
In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water.
Stir to dissolve sugar while bringing the mixture to a boil.
Set aside to cool slightly.
Extract Lemon Juice:
Roll lemons around on your counter to soften.
Cut lemons in half crosswise, and squeeze into a liquid measuring cup.
Add pulp to the juice, but discard any seeds.
Continue juicing until you have 1 1/2 cups fresh juice and pulp.
Mix Lemonade:
Pour 7 cups ice-cold water into a pitcher.
Stir in lemon juice and pulp.
Add simple syrup to taste.
Add ice to chill.
Tips
To make ahead, refrigerate the cooled simple syrup for up to one month. Continue with Step 3 when ready to serve.
Nine medium lemons should yield about 1 1/2 cups juice and pulp, but the number required will depend on the size you use.
Notes
- For a less sweet lemonade, start with less sugar and adjust according to taste.
- Consider using a fine mesh strainer when squeezing the lemons to remove seeds and excess pulp.
- For a variation, add fresh fruit purees or herbs like mint or basil to the lemonade for a unique twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg