When that summer heat is bearing down on ya and you can feel the sweat trickling, there’s nothing like a tall, cold glass of Homemade Lemonade to cool you right off. I know what you’re thinking, “how tough can it be to mix lemons, sugar, and water?”. Well honey, it ain’t rocket science, but getting that perfect blend of sweet and tart? That’s the real trick. And this recipe nails it every. single. time!
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As summer rears its head, I find myself dreaming of sunny days spent playing at the park with Harmony and sharing picnics with my husband. Warmer weather calls for light sandwiches, fruit salads, and of course, cold glasses of this easy homemade lemonade.
On hot days, my Big Mama used to bring out icy pitchers of lemonade. 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!
The Lowdown Of the Best Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Cuisine Inspiration: Classic American
Primary Cooking Method: Mixing/Chilling
Dietary Info: Vegan, Gluten-Free
Key Flavor: Sweet and Zesty Lemon
Skill Level: Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!
- Perfect Flavor: Too much lemon, and you’ll be puckering up tighter than a bullfrog. Too much water, and you’ve got yourself a watery mess. This old fashioned lemonade recipe? It always nails that sweet-tart balance, boo!
- No Fuss, No Muss: Many lemonade recipes want you to simmer a simple syrup on the stove… Who’s got time for that? I like to keep things easy, just like the lemonade we enjoyed as kids.
- Kid-Friendly: This lemonade is so simple even the kiddos can join in. Let them squeeze the lemons or stir in the sugar. It’s a great way to make some sweet summer memories, just like the ones I have with my Big Mama.
- Customizable: Want it a bit sweeter? Add more sugar. Prefer it more tart? Squeeze in another lemon. This recipe is super easy to tweak to your taste, so you get the perfect glass of lemonade every time.
Ingredients Needed To Make Homemade Lemonade
- Fresh Lemons: The only hard and fast rule in this homemade lemonade is that you gotta make it with real lemons, not the bottled stuff from the store. Any lemon variety will do, just be sure they’re ripe and juicy.
- Granulated Sugar: To sweeten up your lemonade just right!
- Mint Leaves: These add a fresh, cooling touch that’s perfect for hot days.
- Lemon Slices: Garnish your glasses with these to make ‘em look extra pretty!
How To Make Homemade Lemonade
- Grab a big pitcher and pour in the filtered water and fresh lemon juice.
- Carefully stir in the granulated sugar. Keep on stirring until that sugar’s completely dissolved. You don’t want no gritty lemonade, boo!
- Toss in a handful of mint leaves and a few slices of lemon to pretty it up.
- To serve, fill up some glasses with ice and pour in that delicious lemonade. Don’t forget to add a straw!
Tips For Making The Best homemade lemonade recipe
- 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.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Syrup Sweetener: While I love keeping things simple, you can fancy it up with a simple syrup. Just heat equal parts sugar and water till the sugar’s gone, let it cool, and mix it in. You can keep the leftover syrup in the fridge to sweeten other drinks too.
- Flavored Ice Cubes: Freeze lemon juice, mint leaves, or even berries in ice cube trays. As they melt, they’ll give your lemonade an extra burst of flavor.
- Fizzy Lemonade: Swap out regular water for some sparkling water! It adds a fun fizz that makes your homemade lemonade feel extra special. Harmony says it tastes “spicy”, and I agree!
- Berry Lemonade: Sometimes I like adding a handful of fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries to my lemonade. I just muddle them a bit before mixing them in, and they’ll release all their juiciness.
How To Serve this easy homemade lemonade
- Nothing complements a cold glass of lemonade like a cookie! Try my favorite chewy chocolate chip cookies, lemon crinkle cookies, or Southern tea cakes.
- For the chocolate lovers out there, pair your lemonade with fudgy brownies, caramel pretzel brownies, or raspberry brownies. Or you can whip up some lemon brownies to double the lemony goodness!
- You can’t go wrong with a slice of pound cake. My classic buttermilk pound cake, a tangy lemon pound cake, or a rich cream cheese pound cake makes the perfect pairing with this lemonade.
- Lemonade is a picnic staple, so enjoy it with some finger-lickin’ Southern fried chicken or a big bowl of creamy potato salad. The ultimate combo for a sunny day out!
How To Store homemade lemonade
- Fridge: Pour any leftover lemonade into a clean, airtight pitcher or container and tuck it in the fridge. Sugar likes to settle at the bottom, so make sure to give it a good stir before serving again. If you keep it in the fridge, your homemade lemonade will last 5-7 days. I mean, there’s really no reason that your lemonade should go bad. But, I find that after a week the lemon juice loses its freshness.
- Freezer: Yep, you can freeze lemonade! Pour it into ice cube trays for easy grab-and-go portions or a freezer-safe container if you’ve got a lot. Liquids expand when they freeze, so leave a bit of room at the top.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way is to use a lemon squeezer, but if you don’t have one, just roll the lemons on the counter before cutting them to help release the juice. Then, squeeze them by hand or use a fork to help get all the juice out.
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!
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.
Best Summer Drink Recipes
- Honey, Blackberry And Sage Refresher Mocktail
- Berry Rhubarb Punch
- Strawberry Float
- Sweet Tea
- Sweet Peach Tea
Homemade Lemonade Recipe
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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.
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Homemade lemonade makes me think of spring and summer and this lemonade looks totally delicious!
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!
Now I don’t have to wait for the fair to get that fresh squeezed lemonade! Can’t wait to make this!
This lemonade was so refreshing and delish. The kids loved it and I wish I had made a double batch.
Easy and delicious!