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    Home » Drinks

    Homemade Lemonade Recipe

    June 8, 2022 By Sam 159 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 Print Recipe
    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 ½ gallon of lemonade but can successfully be doubled! 
    4.97 from 138 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    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

    Ingredients

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

    Recommended Equipment

    • Lemon squeezer
    • Small saucepan
    • Glass pitcher
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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.
    • Pour 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice into a pitcher. Add sugar/water mixture (simple syrup).
    • 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. SK

      June 27, 2021 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today!! Perfection! Came out just like I had hoped. Too much lemon for my son so next time I’m going to use a little less fresh lemon juice and more water. For me – perfect!!!

      Reply
    2. Christy

      June 26, 2021 at 5:15 pm

      This was a great recipe. My husband loved it.

      Reply
    3. Leah

      June 25, 2021 at 6:07 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe!! Super simple and easy. Made it with my 8 year old daughter and my 10 year old niece, they were the chefs today!!! Thanks again. Will be looking for more!.

      Reply
    4. Christine

      June 24, 2021 at 11:27 pm

      Hey, this sounds delicious. I was just wondering do you use regular tapwater? Here our tapwater has chlorine etc. added which gives it a distinct horrible taste, so i’m worried it will ruin the lemonade.

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 25, 2021 at 10:28 am

        Hi Christine! I do use tap water, but mine doesn’t have that taste to it. I would think the lemon would cover that chlorine taste but it may be safer to use bottled water. 🙂

        Reply
        • Christine

          June 29, 2021 at 5:53 pm

          Thank you, Sam!

      • Vanessa

        June 28, 2021 at 12:57 pm

        5 stars
        SUPER DELICIOUS HIGHLY RECOMMEND 😍🙌

        Reply
    5. Brandy

      June 15, 2021 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this for the family and I doubled the batch… boyfriend said it was almost a little too sweet so I added 2 tsp of lemon juice and he tried it again. It was a hit!! Thanks

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 15, 2021 at 8:41 pm

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Brandy! 🙂

        Reply
      • Ava

        June 16, 2021 at 3:02 pm

        5 stars
        I just made this for the first time If you have not tried Lavender Lemonade it is my favorite summer drink! Simply make a lavender simple syrup and add it to this lemonade to taste. It’s great! Thank you so much for this Lemonade recipe!! 🍋

        Reply
        • Sam

          June 17, 2021 at 12:54 pm

          Ooo I’ve never tried that before, Ava! Sounds delicious! 🙂

    6. Suzan

      June 03, 2021 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      I’m not a lemonade fan but my husband loves it. I am so
      happy that I can make it from scratch with no chemicals
      or preservatives, plus it’s nice to know you can use bottled
      lemonade if need be.
      I will share it with everyone I know that likes lemonade.
      Bless you for sharing your awesome recipe.
      🍋Suzan🍋

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 05, 2021 at 2:24 pm

        Thank you so much for trying my recipe, Suzan! I’m so glad your husband enjoys it, and thank you so much for sharing, too! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Caroline Watterson

      May 20, 2021 at 5:12 pm

      The lemonade was awesome I loved it but I used the lemon juice but it was still amazing

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 20, 2021 at 10:05 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Caroline! 🙂

        Reply
        • Amber

          May 23, 2021 at 2:44 pm

          5 stars
          Great easy recipe. My family wanted to make fresh Arnold Palmers and this lemonade was just right to mix with the sweet tea. Thank you for the video didn’t even have to read the recipe! Will be using again.

        • Sam

          May 23, 2021 at 9:48 pm

          I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Amber! 🙂

    8. Christopher

      May 09, 2021 at 6:00 pm

      Well, that was disappointing. Followed the directions exactly and it tastes like lemon water. No sweet. No tart. Just bland.

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 09, 2021 at 9:20 pm

        I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy it, Christopher! Did you happen to leave out the sugar or maybe your lemons weren’t very good.

        Reply
      • Caroline Watterson

        May 20, 2021 at 5:10 pm

        It was amazing but I used the lemon juice that was already in a bottle but it was still really really good

        Reply
    9. Elisa

      April 27, 2021 at 3:05 pm

      5 stars
      We have tried so many recipes for lemonade this is hands down the best! Not too sweet and not too sour. Perfect!

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 27, 2021 at 3:44 pm

        I’m so happy to hear this, Elisa! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for letting me know how it turned out for you!

        Reply
    10. Mac

      April 09, 2021 at 11:51 am

      I am going to the store to make your lemonade soo yea your recipe is AMAZING I LOVE IT!!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 11, 2021 at 9:58 pm

        That is so awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Ed

      March 21, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      4 stars
      Pretty good recipe. I add the zest from 2 or 3 lemons to the simple syrup before heating which adds some additional lemon flavor

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 21, 2021 at 9:22 pm

        I’m glad you enjoyed it, Ed! 🙂

        Reply
      • AnnMarie

        May 01, 2021 at 6:11 pm

        Ed that is a great idea..I will be sure to try the lemon zest when making lemonade

        Reply
    12. Valerie

      March 14, 2021 at 11:47 pm

      My lemonade dosen’t really have any flavour so what should I do? Should I squeeze more lemons and put them inside the lemonade or should I add more sugar?

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 15, 2021 at 9:16 am

        I’m so sorry to hear this Valerie! If you don’t have really flavorful lemons this can happen. You could try adding a little more lemon juice or sugar to your tastes. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Michelle

      February 16, 2021 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      This Recipe is so freaking good I made a lemonade stand for 1 whole week and each day there were like 30 persons and more I tried and It was good.Everybody Loved it!!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 16, 2021 at 9:27 pm

        That is so awesome! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, and I hope you made some good money from your lemonade stand. 🙂

        Reply
    14. Jim

      December 15, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      Am I able to make this recipe without lemons? My town is very small and our local grocery store does not hold lemons. Any help?

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 15, 2020 at 10:20 pm

        You could use lemon juice. 🙂

        Reply
    15. Ariana

      November 30, 2020 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      this was amazing so doing this again mt dauther loved it so much when it summer again she said she is going to do a lemonade stand 5 stars!!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 30, 2020 at 9:18 pm

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it, Ariana! Good luck with the lemonade stand! 🙂

        Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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