A refreshing glass of lemonade is the perfect cure for a hot summer day in the South. With 3 simple ingredients, you can whip up a delicious homemade lemonade recipe, it’s so much better than what you can get at the store.
Making Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade
I love a glass of classic sweet iced tea on a hot summer day, especially here in the South. But one thing I love even more is homemade lemonade. There’s something about the tartness of the lemon and the sweetness of the simple syrup that blends together so well and brings you back to your childhood.
The secret to getting that perfect lemonade flavor lies in the simple syrup. I make a simple homemade sugar syrup using the microwave, which makes things so much easier. It infuses the lemonade with a smooth sweetness that pairs beautifully with the sharpness of freshly squeezed lemons.
By using a simple syrup it allows you to have an even sweetness throughout without it being overly sweet. It’s what makes my frozen berry lemonade so refreshing.
I use about 6 to 7 lemons to get the perfect balance between sweet and tart. You’ll need 1 cup of lemon juice for 7 cups of lemonade. Although this recipe requires freshly squeezed lemons, it’s so worth it!
Once you’ve mixed everything together, the lemonade is ready to chill in the fridge or serve immediately over ice, depending on how patient you’re feeling. This recipe makes a generous half-gallon, which is just the right amount for sharing with friends and family—or keeping all to yourself!
This lemonade can be the base for iced tea lemonade or watermelon lemonade.
Why You’ll Be Obsessed With This Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Recipe
- Simple: You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this classic recipe and one of them is water.
- Quick: It takes around 15 minutes to fully make this recipe, making it perfect for when you need a quick refreshing drink.
- Refreshing: The tart lemons make this drink super refreshing on a hot day.
Ingredients For Making Lemonade From Scratch
- Sugar: You’ll make a classic simple syrup recipe by boiling water with white sugar.
- Lemon juice: You’ll need about 6-7 normal-sized lemons. You can use bottled lemon juice in a pinch.
- Of course you can add mint for a garnish if you like.
Pro Tip: To get the most juice from a lemon, let it come to room temperature then use the palm of your hand to roll it on the counter. If it’s still hard, microwave the entire uncut lemon for about 20 seconds.
How To Make The Best Tart Lemonade
Step One: Make The Simple Syrup
Microwave the sugar and water to create a simple syrup. Let it cool.
Step Two: Make it Sweet
Squeeze the lemons and add the juice to a pitcher with the sugar syrup. Add water and stir. Refrigerate until cold or pour over ice.
A Few Recipe Notes for Classic Lemonade
- You can make your lemonade as tart or sweet as you want by increasing or decreasing the amount of simple syrup and lemon juice.
- Make a double or triple batch for a party or a large family. Just double or triple the ingredients and make the recipe as directed.
- Tired of watered-down lemonade? Pour some of the lemonade into ice cube trays and make lemonade ice cubes.
- Use a citrus squeezer to make the juicing process easier.
- Don’t add ice until right before serving to avoid diluting the lemonade mixture.
How to Store Lemonade
Store lemonade in a pitcher in the fridge for 5-7 days.
Don’t Forget!
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Equipment
- citrus juicer
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup lemon juice 6-7 lemons
- 6 cups water
Instructions
- In a microwave safe bowl, microwave 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water for 4-6 minutes until the water is boiling and the sugar has dissolved. Stir to make sure the sugar is completely dissolved. Let cool while you squeeze the lemons.
- Squeeze lemons and strain to remove pulp and seeds. Add to a pitcher and combine with the sugar mixture. Add 5 cups of water and stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold or pour over ice.
Notes
- Make sure to strain the lemon juice to remove the seeds.
- Make extra and freeze it in ice cube trays so your lemonade isn’t diluted by regular ice cubes.
