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5.0 from 18 votes

Old Fashioned Lemonade

With freshly squeezed lemon juice and sweet lemon syrup, there is nothing more refreshing than an ice cold glass of this old fashioned lemonade on a hot summer day. It's the best!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 8 cups
Calories: 201 kcal
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Lemonade Simple Syrup
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Peel of 3 washed lemons in strips
Lemonade
  • 1 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 cup lemonade simple syrup
  • 6 cups cold water
  • ice
  • lemon slices mint sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Make the Lemonade Simple Syrup
  2. In a medium sized saucepan, heat sugar, 2 cups water and zest over medium heat. Bring to a lively simmer, not a boil, for about 8-10 minutes or until the syrup becomes a light yellow color from the zest. Turn off heat and let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Make the lemonade.
  4. In a large pitcher, add the lemon juice. Strain the syrup through a mesh sieve into the pitcher to catch zest. Pour the water into the pitcher. Taste for sweetness and tartness. Too sweet, add water. Not enough tartness, juice another lemon.
  5. Fill the rest of the pitcher with ice and chill until ready to serve or serve immediately with ice.

Notes

  • Store the lemonade in your fridge, covered, for up to a week.
  • This recipe is easily doubled to make a gallon of lemonade!
  • Juicing the lemons - speed up the process with an electric citrus juicer if you're not into squeezing by
  • Roll the lemons - want to get the most juice for your buck? Aggressively roll your lemons. Roll them with your hands, under a pan, anything. It breaks up the cells in the lemon so you easily squeeze juice right out!
  • Be wary of large lemons - I know you'd think large lemons equal more flesh and juice...but oftentimes they have a thick pith instead. Sneaky...
  • Speaking of pith, when you use the vegetable peeler try to get as little of the bitter white pith under the yellow skin as possible. It does not taste good!
  • Throw your fresh squeezed lemons into your garbage disposal or compost after you make lemonade so there is no waste. Lemons help clean your garbage disposal!
  • Instead of sugar, use honey for a truly old-fashioned homemade lemonade.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1cup Calories 201kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 53g (18%) Protein 1g (2%) Sodium 20mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 49g (98%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 201

% Daily Value*

Serving 1cup
Calories 201kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 53g 18%
Protein 1g 2%
Sodium 20mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 49g 98%

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