This Home Lemonade recipe is fresh, fruity, and delicious! With just three ingredients and my helpful tips, you can easily make your own!
Just the word lemonade is filled with nastolgia. It brings you right back to childhood and long summer days you thought would never end.
You would think that perfecting a recipe that uses just three simple ingredients would be easy, but I made A LOT of lemonade before I got the perfect combination. This recipe is my best lemonade recipe that was tested to perfection!
Why This Recipe Works
- Simmering lemon zest gives an extra lemon flavor and adds a yellow tint without artificial coloring.
- The addition of lemon slices in the glass instead of the pitcher adds flavor and color without soaking them too long, causing bitterness.
- Serving over ice instead of in the pitcher keeps the lemonade from getting watered down.
How Many Lemons Do You Need to Make a Pitcher of Lemonade?
Six to eight large lemons will produce enough juice to make a 2-quart or 1.9 liter pitcher of lemonade. If you can’t find large lemons, a good rule of thumb is to double the amount when they’re on the small side.
Ingredient Notes
- Lemons – Any lemons will do. Just be sure they are unwaxed as you’ll be using the zest.
- Lemon Juice – I highly recommend using fresh lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice lacks the fresh flavor you’d expect in lemonade.
- Zest – Use the zest of the yellow part of the skin. The white underneath is bitter which can be unpleasant.
- Sugar – I use superfine/caster sugar as it dissolves much easier, but granulated sugar works fine if it’s what you have on hand.
- Water – I use filtered water, but tap water is just fine.
Buying Lemons For Lemonade
When purchasing lemons to juice, choose the larger ones as they are juicier than smaller ones. Opt for those with smooth and firm skins that appear heavy for their size (which indicates a juicy lemon). Avoid any that are soft or spongy, with any wrinkles or too many bumps as they won’t be as juicy.
How To Juice A Lemon
- Rinse your lemons well.
- Firmly roll them on a hard, clean surface until they soften. This will make it easier to juice.
- Juice using either a handheld juicer* (over a bowl) or an electric juicer* by pressing the lemon into the juicer cut side down (an electric juicer will save you a ton of time).
* As an Amazon Associate, a small commission is made from qualifying purchases
If your lemons aren’t very ripe, microwave them on high for 20 to 30 seconds to help juice flow more easily.
How To Make Home Lemonade
- Zest and juice the lemons zesting the lemons before juicing.
- Simmer the zest with sugar and water to release flavors and dissolve the sugar.
- Strain the lemon juice and sugar mixture into a large pitcher to remove pulp and seeds and zest.
- Add cold water and mix well.
- Chill and serve over ice.
How to Make Home Lemonade Step by Step
Zest the lemons.
Use a Microplane to zest by running the whole lemon in one direction against the blades (turning the lemon as you go removing only the yellow part – the white is bitter).
If you don’t have a Microplane, you can use a pairing knife to remove the peel and use the peel instead of zest.
In a pot over medium heat, add sugar, lemon zest, and two cups of hot water.
Simmer stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes.
There’s no need to boil the water. You just want to simmer it to release the flavor, dissolve the sugar, and add a yellow color.
Strain the mixure into a large bowl or pitcher to remove the zest.
Juice the lemons and strain the juice to remove the pulp, seeds, and zest.
Add it all to a pitcher (if you haven’t already) with 4 cups of cold water.
Taste to make sure it’s not for sweetness and if it’s too sweet add more water a little at a time until it reaches the desired sweetness.
To keep from watering down the mixture, add ice to the glass instead of the mixture.
Serve your home lemonade over ice in a glass garnished with lemon slices.
Erren’s Top Tips
- Always zest lemons before juicing. Zesting a lemon that is already juiced is much harder to do!
- Roll your lemons under your palm on the cutting board, adding as much pressure as possible to make it easier to juice.
- Don’t Chill Your Lemons – Room temperature lemons yield more juice than cold.
- If your lemons aren’t very ripe, microwave them on high for 20 to 30 seconds to help juice flow more easily.
- Speed up juicing by using an electric juicer.
- To keep from watering down your lemonade, add ice to the glass instead of the mixture or better yet, make extra lemonade and make ice cubes out of it to chill it down without added water.
Storing and Freezing Instructions ❄
Store in a sealed bottle in the fridge for up to seven days.
Lemonade can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, store in airtight freezer-safe container with a ½ inch of headspace at the top to allow room for expansion.
Other Great Recipes
Homemade is always best so here are some of my favorite homemade drinks and cocktails:
FAQs
No, lemon juice is the juice straight from the fruit while lemonade is lemon juice mixed with water and sugar.
Stored the the fridge, fresh lemonade will last about 7 days.
Lemonade gets most of its nutrients from lemon juice, which is full of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system. The lemon juice also helps digestion and the absorption of minerals.
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Let’s Make Home Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1½ cups granulated sugar*
- ¼ cup lemon zest about 4 lemons
- 1½ cups fresh lemon juice about 6-12 lemons depending on size (plus more for garnish)
- 2 cups hot water
- 4 cups cold water more as needed
Instructions
- Zest the and juice the lemons.
- In a pot over medium heat, add sugar, lemon zest, and two cups of hot water.
- Simmer stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has a yellow hue. There's no need to boil the water.
- Strain the lemon juice and sugar mixture into a 2 quart/1.9 liter pitcher to remove the pulp, seeds, and zest.
- Add in 4 cups of cold water.
- Taste for sweetness and if it's too sweet add more water a little at a time until it reaches the desired sweetness.
- Store in the refrigerator.
- Serve over ice in a glass garnished with lemon slices.
- This recipe makes approximately eight 8oz/236ml glasses of lemonade.
Tips + Notes
- Always zest lemons before juicing. Zesting a lemon that is already juiced is much harder to do!
- Roll your lemons under your palm on the cutting board, adding as much pressure as possible to make it easier to juice.
- Don’t Chill Your Lemons – Room temperature lemons yield more juice than cold.
- If your lemons aren’t very ripe, microwave them on high for 20 to 30 seconds to help juice flow more easily.
- Speed up juicing by using an electric juicer.
- To keep from watering down your lemonade, add ice to the glass instead of the mixture or better yet, make extra lemonade and make ice cubes out of it to chill it down without added water.
Gia Hofmann says
This lemonade is a great addition to any occation. I use Splenda instead of sugar and it’s really good. Thank you for this refreshing drink.
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Gia, it’s good to know it works with splenda too! 🙂
Peg Esposito says
I’m drinking this lemonade right now. It’s really good! Summer in a glass!
Erren Hart says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by and sharing! 🙂
Gloria says
I made this with my daughter yesterday, it was so much fun and turned out great
Erren's Kitchen says
Fantastic, I’m so glad you liked it 🙂
Pam L says
This recipe was perfect! My girls and I made it for their “lemonade stand.” I cheated and bought frozen lemon juice since I didn’t have a juicer. Everyone was surprised when it was REAL lemonade and it was a big hit!
Erren Hart says
That’s so great! Thanks for taking the time to let me know! 🙂
Sarah@Jo.com says
Perfect recipe! Thanks so much!!
Erren Hart says
Yay! Love that.
Debi says
This is wonderful, especially with Meyer lemons. Just delicious!
Erren Hart says
I’m so delighted to hear you liked it! 🙂
Heather says
This is a wonderful recipe! My new favorite!
Erren Hart says
Yay, Heather! Great to hear! 🙂
Dina says
I made this lemonade today. It was so good! Thanks so much
Erren Hart says
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂