Easy Homemade Lemonade Recipe

during the summer we all need something to beat the heat and this homemade lemonade will help you do just that! only 2 ingredients plus water and it is incredible.

the inspiration

Lemonade is one of those drinks I tend to forget about until it is a hot summer day and I want something other than water. I love homemade lemonade because you can control the amount of sweetness and sugar. Nothing truly screams summer more than a pitcher of fresh lemonade with a meal. This easy homemade lemonade is not only delicious but so beautiful.

the ingredients

• Fresh Lemons: the beauty of a good lemonade comes from freshly squeezing your own lemons. I personally find lemon juice in a bottle to have too strong of a flavor and it almost can remind me of cleaner. So, take the time and squeeze some lemons (or ask someone else to do it for you).
• Organic Cane Sugar: in order to keep this recipe vegan-friendly make sure you use organic sugar to sweeten the lemonade.
• Cold Water: this will help to make our lemonade after we make the lemon syrup.
• Ice: this will help to keep the pitcher cold, you of course don’t need ice if you will refrigerate it for a while.
• Fresh Mint Leaves/Basil: these are optional garnishes.

how to get the best lemons

Lemons are one of those fruits that gets tossed to the side because it is so acidic. However, some lemons can be a little sweeter or just easier to squeeze. I find medium sized lemons work the best. They should feel a bit soft when you squeeze them in the store. Try to look for ones that are fully yellow you don’t want any green, it’s not common but sometimes they aren’t quite ripe enough yet.

lemon simple syrup

Making this easy homemade lemonade really only requires one main step: make a lemon simple syrup. All the other stuff about decorating and styling the cups is just extra. You will need to juice the lemons, you can either do this by hand or with a juicer.

I find it best to squeeze the lemons over a fine mesh sieve to make sure I am not getting any pits in my juice. From there add the lemon juice and organic cane sugar into a pot. Cook on the stove for about 5 minutes over medium heat, just until the sugar dissolves. That is all you have to do it is so simple!

Fresh-squeezed lemon juice really is best for this. It has better flavor and the proper amount of tartness. I find the lemon juice in a container tends to taste a bit like a cleaner to me.

lemon simple syrup variations

While a regular simple homemade lemonade is always so good and refreshing, you can always add more into your simple syrup for other flavors. Here are some ideas that I think would be so delicious.

• Make a raspberry lemonade by adding a large handful of raspberries into to pot. Be sure to strain after to get out any seeds.
• Make a rosemary lemonade by adding 1 to 2 sprigs of rosemary into the syrup. Remove before using the syrup.
• Make a lavender lemonade by adding a small spoonful (about 1 to 2 teaspoons) of dried lavender to the syrup. You can either remove or leave it in there.
• Make a peach lemonade by adding in some chopped peaches about 1 to 2. If it is peak summer use fresh otherwise you can use canned. Then, add the peaches and syrup into your whole pitcher when you are done.

lemon sugar rim

A very small but effective way to dress up any drink is by adding a rim! For this recipe I decided to zest my lemons before juicing them and then adding in some cane sugar. It adds a beautiful touch to the drink that elevates this classic recipe! It also of course adds a bit of zest and sweetness while you are drinking the lemonade.

I also love to add a mint garnish. It adds freshness and a beautiful touch of green along with a fresh lemon slice.

more summer drink recipes

lemonade add ons

While this lemonade is truly a classic, simple staple that is delicious, here are some other fun ways to jazz up this lemonade:

• Add seltzer.
• Add another citrus like orange juice.
• If you are 21+ add in some vodka for a light cocktail.
• Make a spicy lemonade with some jalapeño.
• Freeze berries in ice cubes and use those ice cubes.
• Garnish with edible flowers.
• Add in some vegan condensed milk to make it creamy.

easy homemade lemonade faq

• Is this recipe soy free? Yes.
• Is this recipe gluten free? Yes.
• Is this recipe nut free? Yes.
• How long does this last? Up to 4 days in the fridge.
• Can I swap the sugar for a different sweetener? Sure, feel free to use agave, maple syrup, coconut nectar. But different sweeteners can affect the taste.
• Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, but the longer the lemons sit in the drink the more the flavor will develop. So, if you are making this more than 1 hour ahead of time wait to add the lemon pieces into the drink.

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