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Homemade Lemonade

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This homemade lemonade is simple and versatile! The perfect, refreshing summer drink that can — let’s be real — be enjoyed year round. 

 

Main image for recipe of a glass of lemonade with pitcher of lemonade in background.

 

What makes this recipe even more delightful and easy to enjoy is that it makes a lemonade syrup, which is easy to store and use later and takes up far less room in your fridge. Fresh lemonade can bring a spot of sunshine to your day, whether it’s the dead of winter or the heat of summer! 

We especially love to make sparkling lemonade using this recipe. It still has that fresh squeezed lemonade taste, but with the fizzy zip of sparkling water. The perfect combination, if you ask me! 

 

water and sugar added to a pot ready to boil.

 

How to make lemonade?

As I mentioned before, this is a recipe for a lemonade syrup or concentrate. Frankly, I think that’s part of what makes it the best lemonade recipe ever — you don’t have a giant pitcher of lemonade taking up room in your fridge that needs to be consumed within a couple days. 

For this recipe, you’ll need the following: 

  • Sugar – a simple syrup takes a little effort, but is easy to make and store! Sugar is integral! 
  • Water – simple syrup is made by combining and reducing sugar and water. That’s all you need before you flavor with fresh lemon juice! 
  • Fresh lemon juice – while you can use bottled lemon juice, it won’t have that same, deliciously fresh flavor that fresh squeezed lemons will give you. 
  • Fresh or sparkling water – we love using sparkling water for a fizzy take on simple homemade lemonade! 

Once you have the ingredient you need, the rest of the steps are simple:

  1. Boil sugar and water
  2. Stir in lemon juice
  3. Store or combine with fresh or sparkling water! 

 

fresh squeezed lemon juice being added to simple syrup to make lemonade.

 

Who invented lemonade?

The earliest origins of lemonade appear to be from Egypt around 1,500 years ago, where a lemon and honey wine was made. 

In the 1600’s, lemonade was bottled and sold in France. Later, it would be combined with sparkling water (the common way of serving lemonade in the UK and Australia). In North America and South Asia, lemonade is more likely to not be carbonated. 

Is lemonade a homogeneous mixture?

A homogeneous mixture is a mixture in which all the ingredients are uniform throughout. Lemonade IS a homogeneous mixture — so when you pour a couple glasses of lemonade from a pitcher, the composition of the different glasses are going to be pretty much the same. 

A heterogenous mixture would be liquids that separate — like oil and water. 

 

Warm lemonade in a pot, ready to cool down.

 

Is lemonade a juice?

While it contains juice from lemons, a citrus fruit, lemonade is not really considered a juice. It’s more like a sweetened drink or beverage. The fruit juice provides flavor, but the mixture is just as much sugar as juice, in reality. 

Is lemonade good for you?

There aren’t a whole lot of health benefits to lemonade. It’s a drink with a lot of added sugar and a decent amount of vitamin C. Drinking only lemonade forever would not be a good idea. So exercise moderation! 

 

Zoomed out side view of lemonade in pitcher

 

How to make frozen homemade lemonade?

The lemonade syrup or concentrate that we make in this recipe can be stored in the freezer and used when needed. My grandmother used to freeze blocks of lemon juice or lemonade syrup in the perfect size for her favorite pitcher, so all she had to do was drop in the frozen block and cover with the appropriate amount of water. 

If you’re looking for a frozen slushy-type lemonade, that’s simple too! All you need to do is add ice to the pitcher of a blender, pour in sparkling or fresh water until the volume measures the right amount you need for the lemonade syrup you have, add the lemonade syrup, and blend! 

What is pink lemonade?

Pink lemonade can be one of several things — it can be plain old lemonade with some sort of dye or food coloring. It could also be lemonade with added strawberry, raspberry, or cranberry juice. There are contradicting opinions out there about whether pink lemonade should be more sweet or sour than “regular” lemonade. 

 

zoomed in image of pitcher of lemonade with sliced lemons inside. Top view looking down.

 

What makes pink lemonade pink?

Pink lemonade gets its distinctive pink coloring from either food coloring or fruit additives. Technically, fruit additives change the drink to “strawberry lemonade” or “raspberry lemonade” or another variation, though the fruits can also provide that pink coloring as well. 

What flavor is pink lemonade?

Usually it’s the same as simple lemonade, but with a bit of red food coloring to give it that pretty pink color. 

 

close up of two glasses of lemonade with pitcher in the background.

 

Does homemade lemonade have caffeine?

Nope! Lemons are caffeine free, as is sugar and water. Any caffeine in lemonade would have to have been added as a separate ingredient. 

Does homemade lemonade dehydrate you?

It can. Lemonade has a lot of sugar, and your body has to work to process those sugars, which can be dehydrating. A glass of cold lemonade is refreshing, but not exactly hydrating. 

 

Side view of 2 glasses of lemonade with pitcher in the background.

 

Does homeamde lemonade go bad?

Absolutely, lemonade can go bad. Once mixed, you want to consume your lemonade within a few days to a week. The lemonade syrup will last 2-3 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge and 2-3 months in the freezer. 

Mixed lemonade should ALWAYS be stored in the fridge. 

Can dogs drink lemonade?

Please don’t feed your furry friend lemonade. Lemonade is high in citric acid AND sugar — both of which are no good for your dog, cat, or any animal. 

 

2 glasses of lemonade with a pitcher in the background. Top view looking down at glasses.

 

More Summer Drinks You’ll Love…

More Lemon Recipes You’ll Love…

 

This simple homemade lemonade recipe is a great way to use up extra fresh lemons. It’s wonderful to have on hand when you have company or host gatherings. It makes for easy-to-make frozen lemonades and a cool, refreshing summer drink with enough sunshine to light up your winter months. You’ll love it! 

 

Yield: 16 Glasses

Homemade Lemonade

close up of two glasses of lemonade with pitcher in the background.

This homemade lemonade makes for easy is a cool, refreshing summer drink with enough sunshine to light up your winter months. You’ll love it! 

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • Fresh Water or Sparkling Water
  • Lemon slices

Instructions

  1. In a saucepan on medium heat, combine sugar and water. Stir until dissolved.
  2. Bring mixture to a boil and stir continually for 5 minutes on a rapid boil.
  3. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
  4. After 5 minutes of resting, add fresh lemon juice and stir to combine.
  5. Place lemonade syrup into a canning jar and keep in fridge for 2 - 3 weeks.
    ------------------------
    TO SERVE:
    ------------------------
    Add 3-4 cups of cold water to chilled lemonade syrup (to taste), plus a handful of ice cubes and serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 78Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 0gSugar: 19gProtein: 0g
Originally Posted: August 15, 2014

Photos & Text: May 26, 2021

 

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