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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Drinks

    Homemade Lemonade Recipe

    June 8, 2022 By Sam Merritt 331 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    collage of lemonade, top image of pitcher of lemonade, bottom image of lemons squeezed

    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
    1. Combine 1 cup each of sugar and water and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
    2. Set the syrup aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
    3. Combine the cooled syrup and freshly-squeezed lemon juice in a pitcher.
    4. 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.

    glass pitcher of lemonade

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

    More Summer Recipes:

    • Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
    • Lemon Curd
    • Key Lime Pie
    • Lemon Blueberry Cake

    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

    Lemonade in glass pitcher

    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 ยฝ gallon of lemonade but can successfully be doubled! 
    4.91 from 244 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 8-oz glasses
    Calories: 103kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt
    YouTube video

    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

    Recommended Equipment

    • Lemon squeezer
    • Small saucepan
    • Glass pitcher

    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.
      6 cups (1.4 L) water, 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.

    Notes

    ¹Lemon Juice

    I really recommend fresh squeezed, but my brother often makes this recipe using bottled lemon juice with success.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 18 oz glass | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 32mg | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin C: 16.5mg | Calcium: 60mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kendall

      June 10, 2025 at 4:37 pm

      5 stars
      We had some leftover lemons from Costco after making lemon bars and lemon cupcakes per my kids’ request. This lemonade is really hitting the spot right now as I take a break from a busy day of housework. I added some lemon zest to the simple syrup for enhanced lemony flavor. I would appreciate the addition of lavender to this lemonade recipe as well. It’s perfect for late spring/early summer heat. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        June 11, 2025 at 4:16 pm

        We’re so happy you’re enjoying it, Kendall! Love the idea of adding lavender ๐Ÿ˜

        Reply
    2. JennieAnne

      June 08, 2025 at 8:44 am

      5 stars
      Best lemonade recipe! Highly recommend! I do add juice from one orange. My kids go straight to the fridge to see if we’ve got fresh lemonade to drink.

      Reply
    3. Kaito

      June 02, 2025 at 10:16 pm

      5 stars
      I used this in a lemonade stand and It was greatly effective
      THANKS

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        June 04, 2025 at 11:51 am

        Wonderful! Thanks for using our recipe, Kaito ๐Ÿฅฐ

        Reply
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    4.91 from 244 votes (106 ratings without comment)

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