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Homemade Lemonade Recipe
5 from 69 votes

Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Homemade Lemonade is crafted from fresh lemon juice combined with sugar and water to create a refreshing balance of tartness and sweetness. Optional lemon slices can enhance the presentation and flavor. The recipe offers an optional method to macerate lemon slices with sugar to extract oils from the peel, imparting a more complex citrus note. The use of freshly squeezed lemons ensures better flavor than bottled juice, and the recipe can be scaled down for small servings.

Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 10 cups
Calories: 154 kcal
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 8 lemon large
  • 2 cups sugar (or 1 1/4 cup honey)
  • 8 cups water
  • 1-2 lemon sliced for garnish (optional, plural

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Wash lemons thoroughly with soap or vegetable spray, and warm water. Roll lemons firmly on the counter until they become soft. This will help them to release their juice.
  2. Cut and juice the lemons using a citrus juicer.
  3. Strain the lemon juice into a pitcher to remove any seeds and excess pulp.
  4. Dissolve the sugar by stirring it into the fresh lemon juice until fully combined.
  5. Add 8 cups of water to the lemon syrup (about 2 cups), mix well. Taste it and add more sugar or lemon juice if necessary. Serve over ice.
  6. You can garnish the lemonade in the pitcher with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves.
  7. Optional method: Instead of juicing the lemons, place the sliced lemons in a bowl with the sugar and mash them until all the juice is extracted. This method releases the fragrant citrus oils from the lemon peel and gives the lemonade an even bolder, more vibrant flavor. Strain the lemon syrup, then add water and stir.

Notes

  • Use the 1/2 lemon, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 cup water ratio to scale down for smaller servings.
  • Rolling lemons on a surface before juicing helps release more juice.
  • Meyer lemons, if available, offer a sweeter, juicier option that produces a milder lemonade.
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice gives better flavor than bottled juice, which often contains additives.
  • Macerating lemon slices with sugar releases citrus oils from the peel for a bolder flavor before straining.
  • Adjust sugar and lemon quantities to match your preferred sweetness and tartness.

Nutrition Information

Calories 154kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 40g (13%) Protein 0.01g (0%) Fat 0.1g (0%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.001g (0%) Sodium 10mg (0%) Potassium 2mg (0%) Fiber 0.02g (0%) Sugar 40g (80%) Vitamin A 0.2IU (0%) Vitamin C 0.4mg (0%) Calcium 6mg (1%) Iron 0.03mg (0%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10 cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 154

% Daily Value*

Calories 154kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Protein 0.01g 0%
Fat 0.1g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.001g 0%
Sodium 10mg 0%
Potassium 2mg 0%
Fiber 0.02g 0%
Sugar 40g 80%
Vitamin A 0.2IU 0%
Vitamin C 0.4mg 0%
Calcium 6mg 1%
Iron 0.03mg 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.