Homemade Lemonade Recipe (2024)

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You only need three ingredients to make this classic homemade Lemonade Recipe. It’s so simple and refreshing–perfect for a summer day! Recipe includes a how-to video.

Homemade Lemonade Recipe (1)

The Easiest, Most Refreshing Lemonade Recipe

I know some of you are going to see this and think, “Do we really need a lemonade recipe?”. Sure lemonade is one of those things that can be thrown together and still taste great (like mac and cheese or French toast); however, having a reliable recipe is still important.

Lemonadeis easy to make, but getting the ratios right is critical. Too much lemon and it’s too tart and undrinkable, and too much water and it’s, well, watered down. What I’m sharing today is a perfectly balanced lemonade recipe that everyone is going to love.

Why You’ll Love My Lemonade Recipe:

  • Super smooth and evenly sweetened, thanks to simple syrup.
  • Can easily be doubled or tripled–perfect for lemonade stands!
  • Not too tart and not too sweet; the balance of lemon and sugar is just right.
  • Pairs well with iced tea to make an Arnold Palmer.

What You Need

Homemade Lemonade Recipe (2)

You only need three simple ingredients to make this lemonade recipe (or two, if you don’t count water!):

  • Lemons. It probably won’t come as a surprise to you that I recommend using freshly squeezed lemons for this recipe (as I do with my lemon cheesecake). You’ll only need 3-4 nice sized lemons to get one cup of juice.
  • Sugar. Plain granulated sugar works just fine, you could also substitute caster sugar!
  • Water. I use tap water because mine doesn’t have a flavor, but if yours has a chlorinated taste use bottled or filtered water.

SAM’S TIP: This isn’t totally necessary, but I like to garnish my homemade lemonade with additional sliced lemons for a bright and sunny look.

Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

How to Make Lemonade

Homemade Lemonade Recipe (3)
  1. Combine 1 cup each of sugar and water and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Set the syrup aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
  3. Combine the cooled syrup and freshly-squeezed lemon juice in a pitcher.
  4. Add the remaining water and stir, then pour over ice and enjoy!

SAM’S TIP: I like to use this tool to juice my lemons; it makes the job so much easier!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use honey to make lemonade?

You could, but keep in mind the honey will impart a different flavor. I’d start with about ½ cup of honey and taste test before adding any more.

Can I make lemonade using bottled lemon juice?

Yes, you can make this lemonade recipe using bottled lemon juice. My brother does this all the time, and the lemonade is still excellent.

What can I add to homemade lemonade?

Fresh mint, rosemary, and lavender are all delicious pairings with homemade lemonade! Or, you could always make my easy strawberry lemonade.

Homemade Lemonade Recipe (4)

You can find me sipping a glass of this on my front porch all summer long 😎

More Summer Recipes:

  • Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
  • Lemon Curd
  • Key Lime Pie
  • Lemon Blueberry Cake

Enjoy!

Let’s bake together!I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe andvideobelow! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me onInstagram, and you can also find me onYouTubeandFacebook

Homemade Lemonade Recipe (5)

Homemade Lemonade Recipe

A simple and refreshinghomemade lemonade recipe! You only need sugar, water, and lemons to make this classic drink recipe. Check out the step-by-step video just below the recipe!

This recipe makes ½ gallon of lemonade but can successfully be doubled!

4.97 from 158 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 8-oz glasses

Calories: 103kcal

Author: Sam Merritt

Ingredients

  • 6 cups (1.4 L) water divided
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (236 ml) fresh-squeezed lemon juice¹ seeds removed, pulp may remain

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Combine 1 cup (236ml) water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside, allow to cool for 10 minutes.

    6 cups (1.4 L) water, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar

  • Pour 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice into a pitcher. Add sugar/water mixture (simple syrup).

    1 cup (236 ml) fresh-squeezed lemon juice¹

  • Add remaining 5 cups (1180ml) water and stir well. Pour over ice and serve, or transfer to refrigerator and allow to chill several hours before serving.

Notes

¹Lemon Juice

I really recommend fresh squeezed, but my brother often makes this recipe using bottled lemon juice with success.

Nutrition

Serving: 18 oz glass | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 32mg | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin C: 16.5mg | Calcium: 60mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy Brown

    Homemade Lemonade Recipe (10)
    It was 8 degrees this morning here in maine and I still decided to make your lemonade. I needed to put some lemon zest in my freezer so I only had 2 lemons to use. I got 1/2 cup of juice out of them so I made 1/2 a batch. Lemonade is easy to make but making the simple syrup made it even easier to mix- no sugar in the bottom of the jar!

    Reply

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Homemade Lemonade Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the formula for lemonade? ›

Start with the proportions of 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of lemon juice. Reduce the sugar amount if you are using Meyer lemons or if you like your lemonade less sweet. (I usually use 3/4 cup of sugar.)

What are the ingredients of lemonade? ›

Sipping icy-cold sweet lemonade on a blazing-hot summer day is one of life's finest pleasures, which is why we think making lemonade from scratch should be the easiest drink you make this summer. After all, it is just three ingredients: lemon juice, sugar, and water.

How does Paula Deen make lemonade? ›

In a one gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and water to render one gallon. Stir well until well mixed. Pour lemonade over a glass of ice, squeeze slice of lemon on top, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Is drinking homemade lemonade healthy? ›

The answer is yes, homemade lemonade is healthier than carbonated lemonade, but only if you cut down on the sugar. Unsweetened lemonade is always the best way forward, allowing you to keep the hydrating properties, vitamin C, and antioxidants but cut down on the drawbacks, primarily caused by excess sugars.

How many lemons to make 1 cup of juice? ›

How Much Juice in One Lemon? On average, there are 3 tablespoons of juice in one lemon. So, for a cup of fresh lemon juice, you would need 5 and a quarter lemons. But, because some lemons are less juicy than others, it's safe to say you'd need 5 and a half lemons for a cup of lemon juice.

What is simply lemonade made of? ›

CONTAINS PURE FILTERED WATER, LEMON JUICE, CANE SUGAR, NATURAL FLAVORS. * Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium.

What are 3 facts about lemonade? ›

Fun Facts/Information:
  • The first record of lemonade is from the 12th century in Egypt. ...
  • Lemons are a great source of Vitamin C! ...
  • Baking soda is used to make baked goods like cookies and banana bread rise.
  • Lemons taste sour because of acetic acid in their juice. ...
  • Water is neutral – it is neither an acid nor a base.

Is Chick Fil A lemonade real lemonade? ›

Classic lemonade using three simple ingredients: real lemon juice—not from concentrate, cane sugar, and water. Nutrition information is calculated using standard product formulations and incorporates multiple data sources. Variation in nutrition & ingredients may occur.

Why do you put baking soda in lemonade? ›

The answer is carbonation! Carbonation is the process of adding carbon dioxide (CO2) to a liquid. In this experiment, you are creating a chemical reaction between an acid—the lemon juice—and a base—the baking soda. The chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide in your liquid and that's what forms the bubbles.

What is Minute Maid lemonade made of? ›

Ingredients. PURE FILTERED WATER, LEMON JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LESS THAN 1% OF: LEMON PULP, NATURAL FLAVORS, PECTIN, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM.

Is lemonade good for your kidneys? ›

Lemons are a great addition to a kidney-friendly diet. They are low in potassium, which makes them a safe choice for people with kidney disease. Plus, they contain high levels of citric acid which can help prevent kidney stones from forming.

Will lemonade raise blood sugar? ›

In fact, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) classifies lemons and other citrus fruits as "superfoods" rich in fiber and vitamin C. 2 Lemons are also low on the glycemic index (GI), meaning that they are less likely to raise your blood sugar.

Is homemade lemonade better than store bought lemonade? ›

Everyone commented on the homemade version's tang and strong lemon flavor, while the store-bought was generally described as milder and sweeter. The Health Nut: Homemade; "The store-bought is just too sweet for me." The Foodie: Homemade; "The store-bought is more watery, so I'll go with the homemade for its tang."

What is lemonade in chemistry? ›

Lemonade is a combination of lemon juice, water, and sugar. The lemonade is an example of a hom*ogeneous mixture. A hom*ogeneous mixture has the same composition throughout.

What is lemonade a compound? ›

In the context of chemistry, lemonade is an example of a solution, which is a hom*ogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In this case, it's primarily water (the solvent) with dissolved sugar and lemon juice (the solutes).

What type of chemical is lemonade? ›

Lemonade (specifically the lemons) are made up of a type of chemical known as an acid. Acids have a low pH, like to donate their hydrogens and tend to have a sour taste. But in saying that- don't rush off to start tasting all chemicals for their acidic properties!

Is lemonade a mixture in chemistry? ›

Lemonade is a special type of mixture called a solution. The ingredients in a solution cannot be separated by hand because of changes in the ingredients' physical properties. But evaporation can be used to separate some solutions. For example, if you heat a solution of sugar water for a while, the water will evaporate.

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