This easy homemade lemonade is perfectly tart, lightly sweetened, and made with just three simple ingredients: fresh lemon juice, sugar, and water. It’s the ultimate refreshing drink for a hot day!
If you’re looking for more lemonade recipes, be sure to try my Peach Lemonade, Creamy Lemonade, and Meyer Lemonade.
The Easiest Homemade Lemonade Recipe
This lemonade recipe is a favorite in our house for spring and summer gatherings, and kids love it just as much as adults! Make a big batch for the week or serve it at your next party. And if you’re hosting, don’t miss my adult lemonade stand – such a fun idea!
Love lemonade as much as we do? Try our lemonade margarita or lemonade popsicles too!
Homemade Lemonade Ingredients
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice gives this drink its vibrant flavor. About 5 lemons will yield 1 cup of juice.
Water: Filtered water is best for a clean, crisp taste and high-quality lemonade.
Sugar: We use granulated (white) sugar to sweeten the lemonade, but you can also try honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or stevia. Keep in mind, alternative sweeteners may slightly change the color and flavor.
How to Make Lemonade
Juice the lemons: Squeeze enough fresh lemons to get the amount of juice needed for the recipe.
Make the simple syrup: In a saucepan, combine 3 cups of water with ¾ cup of sugar. Heat over medium just until the sugar dissolves, then remove from heat and let it cool.
Mix the lemonade: In a large pitcher, combine the lemon juice with 1 cup of water. Add the cooled sugar water and stir well.
Chill: Refrigerate until cold – lemonade is always best served chilled.
Serve: Pour over ice in a tall glass and garnish with lemon slices for a classic touch.
Recipe Variations
Raspberry Lemonade: When you melt the sugar and water together, add 1/2 cup raspberries to the mixture as well. Let them simmer while the sugar is dissolving. Then strain the berries out when you add the sugar mixture into the pitcher.
Lavender lemonade: Add 1/4 cup lavender to the sugar water and let it simmer. Using a sieve, strain the lavender out when you add the sugar water to the pitcher.
Meyer Lemonade: Make this lemonade using sweet Meyer lemons.
Light Lemonade: Use half the sugar or use a sugar-free sweetener to make light lemonade.
Sparkling Lemonade: Add soda water to give this drink some bubbles and make it sparkle! Better yet, add lemon soda water to up the lemon flavor.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Honeydew Lemonade Recipe
- Watermelon Lemonade Recipe
- Berry Lemonade
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Whiskey Lemonade
When you make this lemonade, let me know in the comments below!
FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties!
want to save this?
Enter your email below and I’ll send it directly to your inbox!
Easy Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup lemon juice , fresh-squeezed only
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Squeeze enough lemon juice for the recipe.
- In a saucepan combine 3 cups of water and 3/4 cup sugar.
- Heat on medium only until the sugar has melted, then let it cool.
- In a pitcher add the lemon juice and 1 cup water. Pour in the sugar water and mix.
- Let the mixture cool in the refrigerator. It tastes best when it’s nice and cold!
- Serve with ice and slices of lemons.
Notes
- Always taste as you go: Adjust the lemon juice or sugar to get the perfect balance for your taste.
- Natural sweeteners: Swap granulated sugar with Stevia, Truvia, or honey for a naturally sweetened version.
- Chill before serving: For the best flavor, let the lemonade cool completely in the fridge before serving over ice.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on what sugar you use to sweeten it, it can be considered a healthy drink. If you use a natural sweetener or honey lemonade is healthy to drink. Lemon juice promotes hydration and has a good amount of vitamin c.
Homemade lemonade will last about 5 to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container. For the best flavor, enjoy it within the first few days. Be sure to give it a good stir before serving, especially if it’s been sitting for a while!
It’s best not to use bottled lemon juice for homemade lemonade. It simply doesn’t taste the same – bottled juice can be bitter or flat, lacking the bright, fresh flavor that makes homemade lemonade so delicious. Fresh-squeezed lemons make all the difference!
Looks yummy but am I missing something? The Ingredient List calls for 5 cups of water but the instructions account for 4 cups of water. Should I use a total of 4 or 5 cups of water? Thanks so much!
Hi! Thank you! Fixed it… 4 cups of water! You could add 5 at the end if you felt it needed it but we like it with 4 and 1 cup lemon juice! Yum 🙂
A simple easy to follow recipe. Thanks! Perfect for summer!
Tried this with lunch today and it was delicious! Looking forward to enjoying this all summer long; so yummy!