Lemonade Recipe
Easy to make Lemonade Recipe with only 3 ingredients and no cooking involved. Use this same recipe to create flavored lemonade. Recipes for Strawberry Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, Cherry Lime Lemonade and Cucumber Mint Lemonade included.
There’s nothing quite like a cold glass of homemade lemonade on a hot day. It’s definitely a standard Summer drink at most cookouts and parties.
Lemonade Recipe – Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I make my own Lemonade and not buy from the store?
One of the biggest reasons to make your own homemade lemonade, in my opinion, is then you can control the amount of sugar that is added. You can also add more lemon juice if you like a tart lemonade, or more sugar if you like it sweeter.
Is it hard to make Lemonade at home?
Lemonade is very easy to make. The only tool that you really should have is a juicer of some kind, it really helps to squeeze all the juice from the lemons and makes the task go much quicker and easier.
Is Homemade Lemonade cooked?
There are two different methods of making homemade lemonade. One is to make a simple syrup with sugar and water on the stove, the second method is to keep it easy and simply mix the sugar and water in the pitcher then add the lemon juice. You will need to stir the sugar and water for about 3-5 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved, however it is still faster than cooking on the stove and waiting for the simple syrup to cool.
Can I use this recipe to make Flavored Lemonade?
Yes absolutely! I have included five additional lemonade recipes for you in this post – Strawberry Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, Cherry Lime Lemonade and Cucumber Mint Lemonade. All of them are delicious!
How many lemons does it take to make this lemonade recipe?
The number of lemons needed will depend on the size of lemons you buy. I bought 2 full bags, and had plenty to add sliced lemons to the drinks as well. You will need 1 1/2 cups lemon juice.
Cooking Light teaches that on average, you can get 3 tablespoons juice from one small lemon, 4 tablespoons from a medium lemon and 5 tablespoons from a large lemon.
How do I juice a lemon?
- Begin by gently rolling the lemon on the counter, that will soften the lemon and make it easier to juice.
- Slice the lemon in half crosswise
- Juice the lemon with any of these tools or by hand – Glass Juicer similar to the one I use, Citrus Juicer with Measuring Cup, Handheld Wooden Reamer, Manual Lemon Lime Press Juicer, or for larger tasks to juice a lot of citrus, try this Stainless Steel Citrus Juicer.
How long does homemade lemonade last?
As long as you keep the lemonade in the refrigerator and have it covered, it should last 5-7 days, possibly longer.
Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- Lemons
- Sugar
- Water
Kitchen Essentials Needed
- Large Glass Pitcher – 2 quart = 8 (8 oz) glasses
- Juicer – Glass Juicer similar to the one I use, Citrus Juicer with Measuring Cup, Handheld Wooden Reamer, Manual Lemon Lime Press Juicer, or for larger tasks to juice a lot of citrus, try this Stainless Steel Citrus Juicer.
- Measuring Cup
- Large Spoon
How to make Homemade Lemonade
- First you will need to juice the lemons. Begin by gently rolling the lemon on the counter, that will soften the lemon and make it easier to juice.
- Slice the lemon in half crosswise
- Juice lemon using a juicer or by hand, be sure to strain any seeds
- Add sugar to pitcher, then add water.
- Stir about 3-5 minutes, or until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Then add the lemon juice and stir until completely incorporated.
- Add ice and lemon slices
- Chill until ready to serve
With Summer approaching, here are some great recipes to serve along with this easy Lemonade Recipe –
- Pulled Pork Sliders
- Southwestern Pork Kabobs
- All American Burger
- Summer Steak Salad Recipe from A Clean Bake
- Fruit Salad Recipe
- Coleslaw Recipe
- Mango Habanero Grilled Turkey from Flavor Mosaic
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps from The Suburban Soapbox
Creating other flavors of Lemonade is super easy. Often you can just look in your refrigerator and see what fresh fruit you have available. I also like using up the fruit that needs to be used before it goes bad.
Starting with the Lemonade Recipe, we have created Strawberry Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, Cherry Lime Lemonade and Cucumber Mint Lemonade. You can make a whole pitcher full, or simply lay out the ingredients and let everyone make their favorite lemonade flavors.
Raspberry Lemonade
By the Glass –
- Add a small handful, about 5-6 raspberries, to a small bowl
- Then using a spoon or a tool to macerate (or muddle) the berries, you don’t want them totally smashed but enough to release the juices
- Add to the bottom of the glass
- Fill with lemonade
- Garnish with additional whole raspberries if desired
By the Pitcher –
- Puree 1 cup fresh raspberries in the blender
- Make lemonade recipe
- Add pureed raspberries to large pitcher
- Pour in lemonade and ice
- Garnish with additional whole raspberries if desired
Cherry Limeade Lemonade
By the Glass –
- Add 2 tablespoons Cherry Lime Syrup (like Torani) to the glass
- Slice and add limes
- Fill with lemonade
- Garnish with Maraschino Cherries if desired
By the Pitcher –
- Add 2 tablespoons Cherry Lime Syrup per serving to the pitcher – on average there are 8 servings in a 2 quart pitcher, so you would need 16 tablespoons or 1 cup of cherry lime syrup
- Slice and add limes
- Fill with lemonade
- Garnish with Maraschino Cherries if desired
Strawberry Lemonade
By the Glass –
- Make a batch of Strawberry Glaze, don’t mash the strawberries totally smooth – or – slice and mash strawberries
- Add a couple heaping tablespoons of Strawberry Glaze to the glass
- Then add ice to the glass
- Fill with lemonade
- Stir slightly
- Garnish with fresh strawberry if desired
By the Pitcher –
- Make a batch of Strawberry Glaze, don’t mash the strawberries totally smooth – or – slice and mash strawberries
- Add 1 cup of Strawberry Glaze to pitcher
- Then add ice to the glass
- Fill with lemonade
- Stir slightly
- Garnish with fresh strawberry if desired
Pink Lemonade
By the Glass –
- Add a splash, about 1 tablespoon, Cranberry Juice to glass
- Fill glass with ice
- Pour in lemonade
- Garnish with lemon slices if desired
By the Pitcher –
- Add 1/4 cup Cranberry Juice to pitcher
- Fill glass with ice
- Pour in lemonade
- Garnish with lemon slices if desired
Cucumber Mint Lemonade
By the Glass –
- Slice and add 4-6 slices of cucumber to glass
- Fill glass with ice
- Pour in lemonade
- Add a piece of fresh mint
By the Pitcher –
- Slice one English cucumber or 2 small cucumbers and add to pitcher
- Add ice to pitcher
- Fill with lemonade
- Add fresh mint to pitcher
Lemonade Recipe
Lemonade Recipe with only 3 ingredients and no cooking. Create other flavored lemonade with this same recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5 cups cold water
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- Lemons for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Squeeze lemons for juice
- Combine water and sugar in large pitcher
- Stir about 3-5 minutes or until sugar is completely dissolved
- Add lemon juice
- Stir until completely combined
- Add ice to pitcher
- Add lemon slices if desired
- Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve
- Store leftovers in refrigerator up to 7 days
Notes
The number of lemons needed will depend on the size of lemons you buy. I bought 2 full bags, and had plenty to add sliced lemons to the drinks as well. You will need 1 1/2 cups lemon juice.
Small Lemon = 3 tablespoons juice
Medium Lemon = 4 tablespoons juice
Large Lemon = 5 tablespoons juice
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Looking for more Summer Drinks? Click on the photo for the recipe –
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