Homemade Lemonade Recipe

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Fresh-squeezed lemonade is the ultimate summer refresher. If you are looking for the best lemonade recipe, this is it. It uses only three simple ingredients you probably have on hand. 

One of my fond childhood memories is of making lemonade with my grandmother. She had a Ponderosa lemon tree in her yard that produced huge lemons all year. We would pick a basket full of lemons and make lemonade. She froze the leftover lemon juice in ice cube trays. 

An ice-cold glass of fresh homemade lemonade is like liquid sunshine any time of year. After drinking homemade lemonade, you will never be satisfied with store-bought lemonade again. 

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How to Make Lemonade

The best way to make lemonade is with freshly squeezed lemon juice and homemade simple syrup.

Ingredients:

• 6 – 8 fresh lemons
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar (granulated sugar)
• 3 cups cold water

Supplies:

• Medium saucepan
• Measuring cups 
• Large square ice cube trays with lids
• Bamboo spoon
• Glass pitcher 
• French chef’s knife (this is the one I use)
• Bamboo cutting board
• Handheld juicer (this is the one I use)
• Mesh sieve 
• Tall glasses 
• Paper straws 
• Serving tray

 

Simple Syrup

I am a little old-school when it comes to making recipes. I like to print out the recipe first. 

Simple syrup is the best method since granulated sugar will not dissolve in the pitcher. 

The first step is to make the simple syrup (it is really simple). 

Place a medium saucepan over medium heat. Pour in the granulated sugar and 1 1/2 cups of water. 

Stir as the sugar dissolves into the water. Remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature (about 20 minutes).

Juicing Lemons

To prepare my whole lemons, I like to press down while lightly rolling them across the counter. This process helps release the juice.

I use my favorite knife and slice the lemons in half. 

Note: I set my mesh sieve over a large glass measuring cup and juice my lemons directly into it to save a step. 

While holding one-half of the cut lemon, I use a handheld juicer to extract the juice.  

Mixing it

Using a pretty serving pitcher, I combine the cooled simple syrup, 1 1/2 cups lemon juice (strained), cold water, and large cubes of ice stir. Garnish with slices of lemon and fresh sprigs of mint.

To serve lemonade, add ice and lemon slices to glasses and fill with lemonade. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig. Add a paper straw, and enjoy.

 

How Much Sugar is in Lemonade

The perfect balance of sweet and sour is achieved by testing as you add the ingredients to the pitcher. Lemons are different sizes and vary in sweetness, so to be sure you have the right amount of lemon flavor, I measure the juice. Then I add the simple syrup, lemon juice, and 2 to 3 cups of cold water to the pitcher. Stir and taste. You can adjust the intensity of your lemonade by adding more cold water.

Sugar-Free Lemonade

If you want to make your lemonade sugar-free, I recommend using a natural sweetener such as this one. 

 

 

During the summer months when we lived in Italy, you could find street vendors with lemonade stands serving fresh-squeezed lemonade. They made each glass of lemonade to order. They used this tool to squeeze the lemons, so I ran directly to a shop to purchase one. However, the simple handheld juicer is my go-to juicer. 

Another fun lemonade recipe I thought was the bee’s knees was the Baltimore Lemon Stick. It is one of those special treats we had at outdoor events during the summer.

It is super simple yet so much fun, and everyone enjoys it. Soft peppermint sticks and lemon are all that is needed to serve these fun treats. They look so festive for all your summer BBQs and parties, so be sure to stock up on plenty of soft peppermint sticks. You can see the complete tutorial here. 

Want More?

Sometimes, we all need a little inspiration for easy meals and recipes. I put together some recipes. I think you will like it.

If you like easy everyday recipes, you might enjoy having my favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox. Click HERE.

Bon Appetit, 

Kippi