4.91 from 296 votes

Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Name: Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 6 cups water (divided); 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice¹ (seeds removed, pulp may remain )

By Sam MerrittPublished Jun 08, 2022

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443 Comments

Servings: 8 8-oz glasses

15 mins

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You only need three ingredients to make this classic homemade Lemonade Recipe. It’s so simple and refreshing–perfect for a summer day! Recipe includes a how-to video.

glass pitcher of homemade lemonade surrounded by lemon halves

The Easiest, Most Refreshing Lemonade Recipe

I know some of you are going to see this and think, “Do we really need a lemonade recipe?”. Sure lemonade is one of those things that can be thrown together and still taste great (like mac and cheese or French toast); however, having a reliable recipe is still important.

Lemonade is easy to make, but getting the ratios right is critical. Too much lemon and it’s too tart and undrinkable, and too much water and it’s, well, watered down. What I’m sharing today is a perfectly balanced lemonade recipe that everyone is going to love.

Why You’ll Love My Lemonade Recipe:

Super smooth and evenly sweetened, thanks to simple syrup.
Can easily be doubled or tripled–perfect for lemonade stands!
Not too tart and not too sweet; the balance of lemon and sugar is just right.
Pairs well with iced tea to make an Arnold Palmer.

What You Need

overhead view of lemon halves being juiced into a glass measuring cup

You only need three simple ingredients to make this lemonade recipe (or two, if you don’t count water!):

Lemons. It probably won’t come as a surprise to you that I recommend using freshly squeezed lemons for this recipe (as I do with my lemon cheesecake). You’ll only need 3-4 nice sized lemons to get one cup of juice.
Sugar. Plain granulated sugar works just fine, you could also substitute caster sugar!
Water. I use tap water because mine doesn’t have a flavor, but if yours has a chlorinated taste use bottled or filtered water.

SAM’S TIP: This isn’t totally necessary, but I like to garnish my homemade lemonade with additional sliced lemons for a bright and sunny look.

Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

How to Make Lemonade

juiced and unjuiced lemon halves scattered on a white counter

Combine 1 cup each of sugar and water and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Set the syrup aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
Combine the cooled syrup and freshly-squeezed lemon juice in a pitcher.
Add the remaining water and stir, then pour over ice and enjoy!

SAM’S TIP: I like to use this tool to juice my lemons; it makes the job so much easier!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use honey to make lemonade?

You could, but keep in mind the honey will impart a different flavor. I’d start with about ½ cup of honey and taste test before adding any more.

Can I make lemonade using bottled lemon juice?

Yes, you can make this lemonade recipe using bottled lemon juice. My brother does this all the time, and the lemonade is still excellent.

What can I add to homemade lemonade?

Fresh mint, rosemary, and lavender are all delicious pairings with homemade lemonade! Or, you could always make my easy strawberry lemonade.

You can find me sipping a glass of this on my front porch all summer long 😎

More Summer Recipes:

Enjoy!

Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook

4.91 from 296 votes

Homemade Lemonade Recipe

A simple and refreshing homemade lemonade recipe! You only need sugar, water, and lemons to make this classic drink recipe. Check out the step-by-step video just below the recipe!

This recipe makes 1/2 gallon of lemonade but can successfully be doubled!

Prep: 10

Cook: 5

Total: 15

Servings: 8-oz glasses

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Equipment

Ingredients

▢ 6 cups (1.4 L) water, divided
▢ 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
▢ 1 cup (236 ml) fresh-squeezed lemon juice¹, seeds removed, pulp may remain

Instructions

Combine 1 cup (236ml) water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside, allow to cool for 10 minutes.
1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
Pour 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice into a pitcher. Add sugar/water mixture (simple syrup).
1 cup (236 ml) fresh-squeezed lemon juice¹
Add remaining 5 cups (1180ml) water and stir well. Pour over ice and serve, or transfer to refrigerator and allow to chill several hours before serving.