Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
A pitcher of homemade lemonade with lemons and glasses of lemonade.
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Homemade Lemonade

Three-ingredient homemade lemonade is tart-sweet and always refreshing! Easy to make and adjust to your taste.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 137kcal
Author: Nicole Spiridakis

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup lemon juice , freshly squeezed, please!
  • 5 cups water , divided
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Make a simple syrup by combining 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup of water in a pot over medium heat. Simmer, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved fully Set aside to cool a bit.
  • If you haven't already done so, squeeze enough lemons to equal 1 cup lemon juice. Place the lemon juice and simple syrup in a pitcher, then add 4 cups of water (or more to taste). Stir to combine.
  • Store leftover lemonade in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • How to choose lemons: Not all lemons are created equal. The best lemons for lemonade feel heavy (ie, full of juice). I prefer to use Meyer lemons for lemonade as they are milder and sweeter, but any type of lemon will work.
  • Roll the lemons before juicing. Give each lemon a firm roll on the countertop before juicing it to help break down the membranes inside. This will give you more juice!
  • Make the simple syrup! Don't skip this step. For a smooth and balanced sip, you DO NOT want grainy sugar in the lemonade. A brief dissolving of water and sugar will result in sweet sugar water to perfectly incorporate into the lemon juice.
  • Chill. You can totally drink lemonade as soon as it's stirred together, but I like to chill it for at least 30 minutes before serving. Or, serve it over ice if you can't wait.
  • Adjust the sweetness. I strongly recommend tasting the lemonade as you go and adding the dissolved sugar slowly. Stop when you've reached your perfect sweetness level.
  • Make it a cocktail! Use lemonade as the mixer in a summery cocktail. Pair it with bourbon, vodka, or gin.
  • Or a mocktail. Add a splash of sparkling water to turn this into a fizzy lemon mocktail, then garnish wtih a slice of strawberry or a sprig of mint.
  • Double the batch. You can easily double or triple this recipe to make a lot of lemonade!

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.1mg