Easy Homemade Lemonade
When easy homemade lemonade tastes this good, it’s worth the effort not to crack open some kind of powder. Take a few minutes and impress the people you love with a drink that’s nothing but cool and tasty.
Watch me make this recipe in its full version and much more on my YouTube Channel!
The warmer it gets, the more we crave something cold and refreshing. And I don’t know how you feel about it, but I get tired of soda all of the time.
That’s why this easy homemade lemonade is the perfect addition to your summer gatherings.
Plus, if you know anything about me, you know that avoiding food coloring is important to us thanks to my daughter’s sensitivity, so just grabbing a 2-liter or a package of pre-made stuff off the shelf will just leave us with hives and misery.
How to make this easy homemade lemonade
Making homemade lemonade could not be easier.
- Always use fresh lemons–if you try that bottled stuff I am not responsible for the terrible mess you will have on your hands. What a sad day that would be. This recipe will need about 6 large lemons or 10 small ones.
- Make a simple syrup by dissolving sugar in water on the stove. By heating the sugar you get a liquid that won’t separate and you won’t end up with half your sugar sitting in the bottom of your pitcher.
- Keep your lemonade in the refrigerator until ready to serve or pour it over ice and add some lemon slices or mint to the top for a pretty presentation.
How long is homemade lemonade good for?
If you keep it in the fridge, your homemade lemonade will easily last 5 to 7 days at least. There’s really no reason it would go bad. If you want to make a concentrate, mix your simple syrup and lemon juice in a jar and cover it well. Pour a little in a glass and add water as you need it.
How can I make my homemade lemonade fizzy?
Replace part of the water or all of it with club soda. Keep in mind that if you add the club soda and don’t serve it right away it will go flat just like a Coke when you leave it open.
You can keep your sugar/water simple syrup and lemon juice mixed up in the fridge as a concentrate, then add it to your pitcher when you’re ready to serve.
Add 6 cups of club soda and give it a taste. It will still be a bit strong but see where things are. Add more club soda a bit at a time or a couple of cups of regular water until you get to a fizziness and tang that you like.
How can I make a sugar free homemade lemonade?
You can easily swap the sugar for stevia if you’d prefer. Because stevia is so very sweet, you’ll need a lot less. Check out this recipe for a sugar free version.
Can I freeze homemade lemonade?
Absolutely! Make popsicles by pouring lemonade in to small paper cups and adding sticks, or spread it thin in a baking dish and scrape the flavored ice with a fork to make a granita. You could even pour it in ice cube trays, freeze and blend it up to make a slushie. Let your imagination run wild!
Easy Homemade Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 8 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, stir together the sugar and one cup of water.
- Bring the mixture to a boil until the sugar dissolves and the liquid is completely clear.
- Turn off the heat and allow to cool 20 minutes or so.
- Juice the lemons and strain away any seeds.
- In a large pitcher, mix the cooled sugar syrup, lemon juice and remaining 7 cups of water. Stir to combine.
- Chill or serve over ice.
How long would a concentrate be good for? Could you freeze lemonade?
Hi Lacey, I think the concentrate can hang on for four or five days in the fridge and yes, you can certainly freeze it. –Rachel
The lemonade is really refreshing and the kids love it. I add half the sugar than the receipe calls for and it’s just the the right amount for us.
Today grandma is going to make lemonade. So glad I found you, I want my grandchildren to have natural food when they visit.
You go grandma! Make those babies some delicious homemade recipes! 😉 –Rachel
I am lucky enough to live in an area where we have our own lemon trees and am always curious to see what others are doing to their lemonade, especially good cooks. We make our lemonade with less than half of the sugar you have in your recipe as we are not sweet eaters and don’t care too much for sweet drinks, just enough to take the sour lemon taste away. We planted a Meyer Lemon tree (hybrid lemon and orange) a few years ago and found that we need hardly any sugar when using them to make lemonade. I do use more sugar when serving lemonade to company as I figure they’d want it that way. As a side note we don’t add any sugar at all to our iced tea, maybe add a few mint leaves is all.
You are lucky to have lemon trees! I’d love for them to be able to survive here. And you’re right about the sugar–thankfully you can adjust it to any level you like (those Meyer lemons would be fabulous to have!). And the great sugared tea debate…hahaha! I live in the south where sweet tea is pretty much life to everyone, but if you go a couple of hours north in to Ohio, it doesn’t exist. To each his own I suppose. Have a great day Cheron. –Rachel
I made my lemonade with bottled lemon juice as I had no fresh lemons and the drink was absolutely lovely!
Well that’s great Nicola. I’d urge you to try it again when you have fresh lemons too. You’ll love it even more! –Rachel
Such a refreshing drink!
I love to watch a garden grow. Ours is very tiny but my husband loves to plant one. Lemonade (and sweet iced tea) are refreshing summertime drinks. I pinned this one!!
It’s very hot in the UK and this is just what I needed. Thanks for sharing this Rachel
I’ve been craving some lemonade lately, will have to try your recipe!
You’ll love it Jacklyn! My family thinks it’s pretty awesome. There’s just nothing like fresh, real, yummy lemonade. 🙂
Nothing is as delicious and refreshing as real lemonade! I can’t wait to see the pictures of your farm in a few more weeks – especially those heirloom tomatoes! Happy hoe-ing 🙂