Go Back
–+ servings
A clear glass pitcher filled with homemade Lemonade Recipe, lemon slices floating inside, and glasses of lemonade served with ice.

lemonade Recipe

A refreshing homemade lemonade recipe that balances tart lemon juice with smooth simple syrup. Easy to scale up or down, with fun variations like strawberry, mint, ginger, and more. Perfect for family gatherings, barbecues, or just cooling off on a hot day.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Chill Time (optional) 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Beverage, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Calories: 100
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup Sugar - For simple syrup
  • ½ cup Water - For simple syrup
  • 1 pinch Salt - Enhances flavor in syrup
  • 1 cup Lemon juice - Freshly squeezed (about 6–8 lemons)
  • 6 cups Water - Cold
  • ½ cup Simple syrup - Adjust to taste
  • Ice cubes - For serving
  • Lemon slices - Optional garnish
  • Fresh mint - Optional garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Pitcher (Large, at least 2 quarts)
  • 1 Juicer (Citrus juicer or fork for squeezing)
  • 1 Measuring cups (For sugar, water, lemon juice)
  • 1set Spoon (Long-handled for stirring)
  • 1 Knife (Sharp, for cutting lemons)

Method
 

  1. Combine ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan. Heat about 3 minutes until sugar dissolves completely. Let cool.
  2. Roll lemons on counter, cut in half, and juice until you have 1 cup. Strain seeds, keep pulp if desired.
    Fresh lemonade being poured from a jug into a tall glass filled with ice and lemon slices.
  3. In a large pitcher, add 6 cups cold water, ½ cup simple syrup, and 1 cup fresh lemon juice. Stir well.
  4. Taste and balance flavors: add more syrup if too tart, more juice if too sweet, or more water if too strong.
  5. Fill glasses with ice, pour lemonade, and garnish with lemon slices or fresh mint if desired.
    Fresh lemons, a glass jug of lemonade, and a wooden spoon with sugar arranged on a white background, ready for making homemade lemonade.

Nutrition

Serving: 240gCalories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 27gSodium: 20mgPotassium: 100mgSugar: 25gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 10mgIron: -1mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!