Fresh Lemonade Recipe (2024)

Refreshing homemade Fresh Lemonade recipe made with fresh lemons! It’s a classic delicious drink perfect for any occasion! Includes how to make lemonade concentrate!

For more delicious and refreshing drinks, I think you’ll love my Southern Sweet Tea, Limeade, and Strawberry Lemonade.

Fresh Lemonade Recipe (1)

Homemade lemonade is one of the most refreshing and easiest drinks to make and this recipe gives you that perfect sweet, yet tart drink we all love! It is perfect for serving throughout the year but especially refreshing during warmer months. We love it with everything from BBQ pulled pork sandwiches to hamburgers and grilled chicken. A definite favorite!

There are just a few simple tricks to make sure that your lemonade is absolutely perfect every time!

Fresh Lemonade Recipe

Fresh Lemonade Recipe (2)

How to Make the Best Fresh Homemade Lemonade

This homemade lemonade recipe is so simple to make and have on hand. It only takes a few minutes to have a gallon of it made and ready for serving.

It is perfect for serving anytime but especially delicious for picnics, parties, and get-togethers. And thankfully, it couldn’t get much easier, and you know exactly what is in it! No powdery mixes are used! ♡

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

  • sugar
  • hot water
  • fresh lemon juice
  • cold water
  • lemon zest
  • lemonslices
Fresh Lemonade Recipe (3)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Add sugar. Start by adding your sugar to a large, gallon-size pitcher. If you do not have a gallon-size pitcher, you can easily cut this recipe in half or even double it for larger quantities.

Pour in the hot water and stir to dissolve the sugar. This basically creates a simple syrup and prevents your lemonade from being grainy or with sugar that sinks to the bottom of the pitcher.

Stir in your fresh lemon juice and cold water. I also like to add fresh lemon zest to my lemonade recipe; it increases the lemon flavor even more!

Now you are ready to serve it! I love to serve it with lemon slices and over ice.

Fresh Lemonade Recipe (4)

How Long Does Lemonade Keep in the Refrigerator?

For best results, keep your lemonade refrigerated between servings. Not only does this make it more refreshing on a hot day, but it also keeps it fresher for longer.

I’ve found that my lemonade stays fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. If making in advance for a party, consider using my concentrate recipe or simply wait to add the fresh lemon slices to the pitcher until right before serving.

Can I Make Sugar-Free Lemonade?

Yes! I love to make this recipe sugar-free! Use your favorite sugar-free replacement that you would use in drinks such as tea or coffee.

How to Make Lemonade Concentrate

Similar to my sweet tea concentrate, I love to make this as a concentrate as well! The concentrate requires less room in my refrigerator, is easier to transport when traveling, and is great to make ahead and keep on hand!

To make lemonade concentrate, simply proceed through the recipe without adding the cold water and lemon slices.

Mix sugar and water. Add your sugar to a large pitcher and pour the hot water over the sugar and stir to combine.

Add lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir well.

Pour into an airtight bottle.

Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

How to Serve from Lemonade Concentrate

To serve, simply add equal parts lemonade concentrate and cold water to a glass (for single servings) or a pitcher (for larger service).

Other Favorite Drinks

Sweet Tea

Strawberry Lemonade

Limeade

Fresh Lemonade Recipe (5)

Here’s my Lemonade Recipe. I hope you enjoy it!

Fresh Lemonade Recipe (6)

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Fresh Lemonade Recipe

Robyn Stone

5 from 9 votes

Refreshing homemade Fresh Lemonade recipe made with fresh lemons! It's a classic delicious drink perfect for any occasion! Includes how to make lemonade concentrate!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 cups lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • cold water
  • 1 lemon, sliced

Instructions

  • Add sugar to a gallon pitcher and pour hot water over sugar, stirring to dissolve. Add fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and enough cold water to fill the pitcher. Stir until well-combined. Serve with ice and fresh lemon slices, if desired.

  • Keep refrigerated

Lemonade Concentrate

  • Add sugar to a pitcher and pour hot water over sugar, stirring to dissolve. Add fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir until well-combined. Pour into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator up to a week.

  • To serve, pour equal amounts of lemonade concentrate and water into a glass (single serving) or into a pitcher (for larger service). Serve with ice and fresh lemon slices, if desired.

Notes

Sugar-Free Lemonade: Use your favorite sugar substitute in place of the sugar called for in this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin C: 16.4mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Categorized as:30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Camping, Cooking, Dairy-Free Recipes, Drink Recipes, Easter Recipes, Egg-Free Recipes, Everyday, Father’s Day Recipes, Game Day Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Grain-Free Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, July 4th Recipes, Make-ahead Recipes, Mother’s Day Recipes, Recipes, Shower Recipes, Simple Recipes, Southern Favorites

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

Read more about Robyn

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Fresh Lemonade Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the 7 steps in making a lemonade? ›

What are the 7 Steps of Making Lemonade?
  1. Wash fresh lemons.
  2. Combine sugar and water.
  3. Bring the sugar and water mixture to a simmer over medium heat. ...
  4. Cut the lemons in half and juice them. ...
  5. Add the lemon juice to a pitcher (paid link) of cold water.
  6. Add the simple syrup to the lemon juice mixture.
  7. Add ice and serve.
Feb 8, 2022

What is the formula for lemonade? ›

Combine 1 cup each of sugar and water and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Set the syrup aside to cool for about 10 minutes. Combine the cooled syrup and freshly-squeezed lemon juice in a pitcher. Add the remaining water and stir, then pour over ice and enjoy!

Is drinking homemade lemonade good for you? ›

The answer is yes, homemade lemonade is healthier than carbonated lemonade, but only if you cut down on the sugar. Unsweetened lemonade is always the best way forward, allowing you to keep the hydrating properties, vitamin C, and antioxidants but cut down on the drawbacks, primarily caused by excess sugars.

What is fresh lemonade made of? ›

Sipping icy-cold sweet lemonade on a blazing-hot summer day is one of life's finest pleasures, which is why we think making lemonade from scratch should be the easiest drink you make this summer. After all, it is just three ingredients: lemon juice, sugar, and water.

How many lemons should I put in a gallon of water? ›

Use a Gallon Jug

I've found that it's so much easier to track how much I'm drinking if I fill up a gallon jug every single morning and just drink from that all day long. Because of the health benefits, I drink lemon water. So I fill up a gallon jug with approximately 10 Tablespoons lemon juice to 1 gallon water.

What is the ratio of fruit juice to lemonade? ›

so 80% of the juice should come from the 70% pure fruit juice drink, and 20% should come from the 95% pure fruit juice drink. A 6 litre jug of lemonade contains 1.6 litre of lemon juice and the rest is water.

How many lemons make a cup of juice? ›

On average, there are 3 tablespoons of juice in one lemon. So, for a cup of fresh lemon juice, you would need 5 and a quarter lemons. But, because some lemons are less juicy than others, it's safe to say you'd need 5 and a half lemons for a cup of lemon juice.

How lemonade is prepared? ›

Lemonade is prepared by mixing lemon juice and sugar in water.

How much lemon juice to add to water? ›

To make lemon water, squeeze half a lemon into 8 oz of warm or cold water. You can infuse more flavor or a health boost by adding a: few springs of mint. teaspoon of maple syrup or raw honey.

Is too much lemon juice bad for your kidneys? ›

Excessive lemon juice intake may pose a risk for kidney stones due to its citric acid content. However, lemon juice is generally safe in moderation and can have a mild diuretic effect that can actually help improve kidney function. If you're concerned about your kidney health, speak with a health care professional.

Is it OK to drink homemade lemonade everyday? ›

Yes! Lemonade is generally a healthy drink provided you don't add too much sugar, instead a lemonade made with honey is healthier. Lemonade is also known to have a cleansing effect, particularly in the detoxification of waste and toxins. It increases collagen production in the skin that are helps heal scars.

What is in Chick Fil A lemonade? ›

Classic lemonade using three simple ingredients: real lemon juice—not from concentrate, cane sugar, and water. Nutrition information is calculated using standard product formulations and incorporates multiple data sources.

Is homemade lemonade healthier than store-bought? ›

If you're going to be drinking lemonade, homemade is definitely the way to go. Homemade is most likely better for you than store-bought, depending on the bottle or mixture you buy from the store. Lemon juice also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, which are excellent for our bodies.

Is Chick Fil A lemonade made fresh? ›

Chick-fil-A's lemonade has just three ingredients—water, sugar, and fresh squeezed lemons (not concentrate), mixed together and made daily at each location.

How long does homemade lemonade last? ›

Store homemade lemonade in the fridge for about 5 to 7 days without ice. Since ice will dilute the mixture, it's best to add it right before serving. If the lemonade is in an open pitcher, cover it with storage wrap for maximum freshness.

What are the 7 steps of making lemonade PDF? ›

Making Lemonade
  1. Step 1: Gather Supplies. Materials: 1 gallon pitcher. ...
  2. Step 2: Boil Water. To Do List. ...
  3. Step 3: Cut the Lemons. To Do List: ...
  4. Step 4: Boil the Lemons. To Do List: ...
  5. Step 5: Prepare the Pitcher. To Do List: ...
  6. Step 6: Straining the Lemons. To Do List: ...
  7. Step 7: Final Touches. To Do List:

Is 7 Up lemonade? ›

7 Up (stylized as 7up outside the United States) or Seven Up is an American brand of lemon-lime–flavored non-caffeinated soft drink. The brand and formula are owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, although the beverage is internationally distributed by PepsiCo.

What are the ingredients in 7 11 strawberry lemonade? ›

Ingredients. Filtered Water, Sugar, Lemon Juice From Concentrate (filtered Water, Lemon Juice Concentrate), Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Strawberry Juice From Concentrate (filtered Water, Strawberry Juice Concentrate), Fruit And Vegetable Juice Concentrate (color), Gum Arabic.

How many phases are in lemonade? ›

The 12 phases of "Lemonade" show how Beyoncé handled (or imagined to handle) infidelity, including: intuition, denial, anger, apathy, emptiness, loss, accountability, reformation, forgiveness, resurrection, hope and redemption.

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