Description
Old fashioned homemade lemonade is a bright and refreshing drink made with lemon juice, sugar, and water, perfectly balanced between sweet and tart and ideal for warm days or gatherings.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup lemon juice (from about 4–5 medium lemons or 100% bottled lemon juice)
- 7 1/4 cups water
- 1 1/4 cups granulated white sugar
- 3 cups ice
- Lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the lemons thoroughly if using fresh ones.
- Roll the lemons on the counter to release more juice, then cut them in half and squeeze until you have 3/4 cup of lemon juice. Set the juice aside.
- Slice the squeezed lemon halves and place them in a large pot.
- Add 7 1/4 cups of water and bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat for about 8 minutes.
- Add the granulated sugar and stir until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Place a strainer over a large pitcher and carefully pour the hot lemon mixture through it to remove the lemon pieces, seeds, and pulp.
- Add the reserved 3/4 cup lemon juice to the pitcher and stir well.
- Add the ice and allow the lemonade to cool.
- Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours for best flavor, then serve cold over additional ice if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the sugar to taste if you prefer a sweeter or tarter lemonade.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the brightest flavor, but bottled lemon juice also works well.
- For a sparkling version, replace part of the cold water with sparkling water just before serving.
- Add fresh berries or mint leaves for a fruity or herbal variation.
- Store lemonade without ice in the pitcher to prevent dilution.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 33 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
