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This Fresh Squeezed Lemonade recipe is made with just 3 ingredients! It's perfectly sweet (but not too sweet!) and makes the best refreshing summer drink. Take it to a BBQ, Potluck, or just enjoy it at home.
Looking for more beverage recipes? Try my Strawberry Lemonade, Chocolate Milkshake, or Strawberry Banana Smoothie!
What I love about this drink:
- Delicious – This is the BEST lemonade recipe and will absolutely ruin your tastes buds for any type of store-bought lemonade. No other lemonade will ever measure up– it's that good!
- 3 Ingredients – Lemons, sugar, and water is all you need. It's easy to adjust the sweetness to your liking. Be sure to serve it with lots of ice.
- Freezer-Friendly – I love to double of triple the recipe, and freeze it (before adding water) so that we have fresh lemonade any time we want!
Lemonade ingredients:
- Lemons: Fresh lemons are essential for this recipe to get that great fresh-squeezed lemonade taste. Depending on the size of your lemons, you will need between 6-8 medium size lemons to get 1 ½ cups of lemon juice for this recipe.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar gets dissolved in water to create a simple syrup.
- Water: How much water you add really depends on how sweet you like your lemonade.
How to Make lemonade:
Make Simple Syrup: Add sugar and 2 cups of water to a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
Juice the Lemons: Strain the lemon juice through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher.
Combine Syrup and Lemon Juice: Add more water to taste, until you reach your desired lemonade sweetness.
Chill: Serve cold, over ice and enjoy!
Pro Tips:
- How to Choose Juicy Lemons: When choosing lemons from the grocery store, look for lemons that are tender to the touch, indicating they are juicy. If you pick up two lemons that are about the same size, the one that is heavier will be juicier.
- How to Juice Lemons: Make sure the lemons are at room temperature before you try and squeeze the juice from them. If using a handheld juicer, like this one, or this, place the lemon inside with the cut-side facing down. You may also use a fork to juice lemons. The tines of the fork and the bent edge of the fork can be used to work your way around the inner flesh of the fruit to get all of the juice out.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: This easy lemonade recipe can be made and kept covered in the fridge up to a day or two in advance. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 7 days (but I promise it won't last that long!).
To Freeze: You can freeze the lemon juice concentrate from this recipe and save it to make homemade lemonade, any time. Mix the cooled simple syrup and fresh squeezed lemon juice together. Pour into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 5 months. Allow the mixture to thaw and add it to a pitcher. Add water, to taste, until you reach your desired sweetness.
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Homemade Lemonade
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice, , about 6-8 lemons
- 4 ½ – 5 cups water, , divided
Instructions
- Combine sugar and 2 cups water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher. Add simple syrup and stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold.
- When ready to serve, add 2 ½ cups of cold water and stir. Taste, and add more water if it's too sweet. Serve over ice, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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*I originally shared this recipe May 2015. Updated April 2019 and May 2022.
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Delicious!!!
I will never buy store brought lemonade again absolutely love this recipe will give it to all my family and friends thank you
This is absolutely delicious! I have a new summer favorite!
Recipe was a big hit with my family. The only thing I minded was the sugar. I made it as is for my grandson and his family. As a diabetic I used 1/2 C sugar and 1 C sugar substitute at my house. No one knew I made the switch. It was just as good.
This is good, but wayyyyy more sweet than tart. If you’re looking for a tarter lemonade or just less sugar in general, consider lessening the sugar by a lot! I feel like you can hardly taste the lemon it’s so sweet.
I made this last night, but instead of regular sugar I use sugar in the raw, I must say, this is delicious and yes I probably will make my own and my granddaughter likes it. Thanks for sharing.
Hi,
I would love to make this. Question, if I am doing the double one, is it minimum 2 cups of water for the heated pan? I like a sweeter lemonade, so will I necessarily need to add any more water at some point? Thank you.
The best I’ve ever tasted! Thanks for the recipe
What if I like the pulp in the lemonade…or at least some proportion left in? And what about using the old style glass manual juicers?
After you strain the pulp use the cold water use have to use to put the right amount you want. I like the pulp as well. Basically you are rincing the pulp back in.
Robert, my grandmother always did hers this way so yes, you can too. As a matter of fact, I have her glass juicer and use it to this day.
I made this lemonade and it is so good. I add just a little extra sugar cause I like mine really sweet. Will make this some more this summer. Perfect drink for a lazy afternoon.