Real Homemade Lemonade – Because the Powdered Stuff Just Doesn’t Cut It Anymore! There’s just something about homemade lemonade that hits different. I don’t mean the kind that comes from a canister or a bottle. I mean real, fresh-squeezed, chilled-to-the-core, sweet-tart lemonade that tastes like summer in a glass. Simple ingredients. Nothing weird or artificial. Just lemons, sugar, and water—done right. This easy recipe for Homemade Lemonade is perfect for a hot day. It’s refreshing and tangy; you can adjust the sweetness to your liking.
Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy cold refreshing drinks like Homemade Lemonade. It’s easy and fun to make, but you can customize the recipe. Gather your ingredients and get ready to make lemonade! This lemonade is the perfect combination of sweet and sour.
If you’ve never made lemonade from scratch before, this is your sign. Because once you do, you won’t want to go back. There’s something so satisfying about squeezing a bunch of lemons, making that quick simple syrup, and then watching it all come together into the kind of drink that makes you want to sit down and actually enjoy your porch (or your couch with the windows open—same energy).
Why You’ll Love This Recipe for Homemade Lemonade
A pitcher of cold, refreshing lemonade is the perfect summertime drink. But why settle for store-bought when you can make your own delicious, homemade lemonade? Here are three reasons why you’ll love this recipe for homemade lemonade:
- It’s incredibly refreshing and perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot summer day.
- This lemonade is made with real lemons and has a wonderfully fresh and tart flavor.
- Homemade lemonade is easy to customize. Simply add more or less sugar to taste.
Ingredients to Make Homemade Lemonade
- Water – I like to use filtered water for the homemade lemonade to help give it the best taste!
- Granulated sugar – Yes, simple sugar will do just fine for this recipe.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice – To make this lemonade a hit in your house, use freshly squeezed lemon juice. The flavor is so good when you make the lemonade this way.
This version is as classic as it gets: just fresh lemon juice, water, and sugar, with the smallest amount of stovetop effort to get it just right. The trick is making a quick simple syrup instead of just dumping sugar straight into cold water. That part’s important. If you skip it, the sugar will sink to the bottom and you’ll end up stirring forever—or worse, drinking lemonade with gritty sugar crystals clinging to the ice cubes. No one wants that.
Tips & FAQs for Making Lemonade
How much lemon juice do the lemons produce?
1 & ¼ cup of juice is about 6 large lemons worth. Only use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
How should I serve this homemade lemonade?
I only suggest pouring this over ice to serve and not adding ice directly to the pitcher. Adding ice will water down the lemonade.
How long can I store lemonade?
Keep in the fridge covered for up to 10 days.
How can I change up this lemonade?
You can also use this ratio for limeade or grapefruitade. If you want to make an orangeade, I would cut the sugar in half since oranges are naturally sweet. You can also use a mix of citrus juices for a fun twist!
How can I make this pink lemonade?
Add a couple of tablespoons of grenadine to make pink lemonade until you get your desired color.
Can I freeze this lemonade?
I don’t recommend freezing this lemonade because it can cause the texture to change. If you want to make it ahead, I would make a big batch and store it in the fridge for up to 10 days.
So here’s how it goes down: boil half the water with the sugar until it’s clear. That’s it. You’re not cooking anything down or doing anything complicated. Just whisk it over medium heat until the sugar disappears. You’ll know it’s done when the mixture looks like water again. Once that’s off the heat, the rest comes together fast.
Meanwhile, squeeze your lemons. You’ll need about a cup and a quarter of juice—so, depending on the size of your lemons, maybe five to eight of them. A good citrus squeezer makes a big difference, but however you do it, just get that juice out. If you’re anti-pulp, go ahead and strain it, but if you like a little texture in your lemonade, leave it as is.
Dump that fresh juice into a big pitcher, add the rest of the water, and pour in the sugar syrup. Stir it all together and boom—lemonade. Now, technically, it’s ready to drink at this point, but trust me: let it chill for a couple hours in the fridge. Something magical happens in that time. The flavors settle, the acidity mellows, and it goes from “pretty good” to “holy crap this is refreshing.”
Pour it over ice when you’re ready. Maybe add a lemon slice if you’re feeling fancy. You don’t have to, but it looks nice—and sometimes it’s the little things. This lemonade is perfect on its own, but it also plays well with others. You can throw in some mint, muddle a few berries into the pitcher, or spike it with vodka or rum for the grown-ups. It’s a solid base for pretty much any direction you want to take it.
But honestly? Most of the time I just keep it simple. A tall glass, lots of ice, maybe a quiet moment on the back step or a lazy afternoon with the windows open or even poolside after a swim! That’s all it takes. It’s not fussy, it doesn’t need a blender or some fancy garnish, and it definitely doesn’t need to be overthought. Just a little lemon, sugar, and water—and the kind of pause in your day that makes everything feel a little slower in the best way.
When to Serve Homemade Lemonade
This easy recipe for Homemade Lemonade is perfect for any occasion! Serve it at summer BBQs, pool parties, or just on a hot day. It’s great for quenching your thirst after a workout. You can even use zero-calorie sugar!
If there’s one recipe I come back to again and again all summer long, it’s this one. There’s nothing store-bought that comes close to the clean, bright flavor of fresh homemade lemonade. And the best part? It’s done in 10 minutes, give or take, and makes the fridge feel like it’s holding something special.
So skip the powdered mix. Make the real thing. Your taste buds—and your summer afternoons—deserve it.
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Homemade Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 cups water divided
- 1 & 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 & 1/4 cups lemon juice fresh squeezed
Instructions
- Place half of the water into a small saucepot with the sugar. Place over medium heat and whisk to combine.
- Continue to whisk until the sugar is fully dissolved. You know it is fully dissolved when the mixture becomes crystal clear like water. Take off the heat.
- In a large pitcher add the remaining 2 cups of water.
- Juice the lemons and strain it if you don’t want any pulp add this to the pitcher. Pour in the sugar water, stir to combine.
- Place in the fridge for 2 hours or until chilled. Serve over ice.
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