Homemade Lemonade
servings: 6 (8 oz servings)
There’s just something about a glass of homemade lemonade that hits different—especially when it’s made the way my mom used to make it. Simple, refreshing, and not too tart, this is the kind of easy lemonade recipe you remember all summer long. It’s not fancy or complicated. It’s just good.
Ingredients
- 5-6 medium lemons about 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 5 cups cold water plus extra ice for serving
- Optional: lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Roll the lemons on the counter to release more juice. Cut and squeeze them into a large pitcher until you have about 3/4 cup of fresh lemon juice.
- Stir the sugar into the lemon juice while still at room temperature, mixing until fully dissolved.
- Add the cold water and stir well to combine.
- Slice an additional lemon and float the slices in the pitcher if desired.
- Chill the lemonade in the refrigerator for several hours to allow the flavors to intensify as the oils from the lemon slices infuse the drink.
- Serve over ice.
Notes
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more sugar for a sweeter lemonade or reducing the sugar for a tangier drink.
- For smoother lemonade, make a simple syrup by dissolving the sugar in a small amount of hot water before mixing with the lemon juice and cold water.
- If you add lemon slices to the lemonade when you make it, the lemonade tastes even better after several hours of chilling, as the lemon rind naturally enhances the lemon flavor.
- For a variation, stir in pureed peaches, fresh mint, or substitute part of the water with sparkling water for a fizzy version.
- To make a low-sugar version, replace part or all of the sugar with honey or a sugar substitute.
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
- 1–1½ tablespoons granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup cold water
- Ice
- Mix lemon juice and sugar until dissolved, add cold water, and stir. Serve over ice.