Homemade Lemonade Recipe

On hot days in Mississippi, my Big Mama used to bring out icy pitchers of her homemade lemonade recipe. It was a Godsend, y’all. Each sip was cool, tart, and never too sweet. I’d ask for second and then thirds with my dinner because it was just that good. Unfortunately, that means Big Mama ruined any other kind of lemonade I could ever have. So, today I’m sharing with you her perfect recipe in the hopes that it brings a bit of that same magic to your home!

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Southern lemonade in pitcher with glasses filled ready to serve

How To Make Homemade Lemonade

Fresh lemon juice being poured into pitcher

Step 1: In a large pitcher, add water and lemon juice.

Sugar being poured into lemon water to make southern lemonade

Step 2: Carefully stir in sugar and continue to until it completely dissolves.

Glasses filled with a refreshing homemade lemonade recipe

Step 3: Garnish with mint leaves and lemon slices. To serve, add to ice filled glasses with straws.

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Southern lemonade in pitcher with glasses filled ready to serve

Homemade Lemonade Recipe

This Southern Homemade Lemonade Recipe is easily made with fresh squeezed lemons, sugar and crisp, cold water.
4.58 from 7 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course: Drink
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 6 cups filtered water
  • 7 fresh lemons juiced
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Mint leaves and fresh lemons for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large pitcher, add water and lemon juice.
  • Carefully stir in sugar and continue to until it completely dissolves.
  • Garnish with mint leaves and lemon slices.
  • To serve, add to ice filled glasses with straws.

Notes

  • Use a Lemon Squeezer: Y’all can squeeze lemons by hand if you’re strong (not me), but a good ol’ lemon squeezer will save you time and get every last drop of juice out. Plus, it keeps those annoying seeds out of your lemonade.
  • Choose the Right Lemons: The juiciest lemons are the ones that give a little when you squeeze ’em. Look for bright yellow lemons without bruises or breaks in the skin. The yellow-green ones? Leave ‘em be – they won’t give you the sweetness and juice you need.
  • Juice at Room Temperature: Let your lemons sit out until they’re room temp before juicing. Trust me boo, they’ll be a whole lot easier to squeeze and you’ll get all that juicy goodness.
  • Stir Until Sugar Dissolves: Don’t rush this part! Stir the lemonade until all that sugar is completely dissolved. Any gritty bits will mess up your perfect drink.

Nutrition

Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
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Recipe Help

How do I make my lemonade extra cold without diluting the flavor?

Use frozen lemon juice cubes or even frozen lemonade instead of regular ice cubes. That’s how your homemade lemonade can stay icy cold without watering it down!

How can I intensify the lemon flavor?

Zest one of your lemons, boo! Mix the zest with your sugar and let it steep for several minutes. This will infuse the sugar with a bright, lemony aroma that will take your lemonade to the next level.

Glasses filled with a refreshing homemade lemonade recipe

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Comments

  1. Homemade lemonade makes me think of spring and summer and this lemonade looks totally delicious!

  2. Your pictures really highlight your homemade lemonade. I also love your idea of adding herbs to add an extra pop of flavor to lemonade. Such a great idea!

4.58 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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