• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Sugar Spun Run
  • All Recipes
  • Desserts
    • Cookies
    • Candy
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Cake
    • Pies
  • Breads
  • Savory
  • Breakfast
    • Muffins
    • Scones
  • Seasonal
    • Cozy Winter / Holiday Treats
    • Easter / Spring
    • Fall Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • All Recipes
  • Contact/Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
  • ร—
    Home ยป Drinks

    Homemade Lemonade Recipe

    June 8, 2022 By Sam 172 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    collage of lemonade, top image of pitcher of lemonade, bottom image of lemons squeezed

    You only need three ingredients to make this classic homemade Lemonade Recipe. It’s so simple and refreshing–perfect for a summer day! Recipe includes a how-to video.

    glass pitcher of homemade lemonade surrounded by lemon halves

    The Easiest, Most Refreshing Lemonade Recipe

    I know some of you are going to see this and think, “Do we really need a lemonade recipe?”. Sure lemonade is one of those things that can be thrown together and still taste great (like mac and cheese or French toast); however, having a reliable recipe is still important.

    Lemonadeย is easy to make, but getting the ratios right is critical. Too much lemon and it’s too tart and undrinkable, and too much water and it’s, well, watered down. What I’m sharing today is a perfectly balanced lemonade recipe that everyone is going to love.

    Why You’ll Love My Lemonade Recipe:

    • Super smooth and evenly sweetened, thanks to simple syrup.
    • Can easily be doubled or tripled–perfect for lemonade stands!
    • Not too tart and not too sweet; the balance of lemon and sugar is just right.
    • Pairs well with iced tea to make an Arnold Palmer.

    What You Need

    overhead view of lemon halves being juiced into a glass measuring cup

    You only need three simple ingredients to make this lemonade recipe (or two, if you don’t count water!):

    • Lemons. It probably won’t come as a surprise to you that I recommend using freshly squeezed lemons for this recipe (as I do with my lemon cheesecake). You’ll only need 3-4 nice sized lemons to get one cup of juice.
    • Sugar. Plain granulated sugar works just fine, you could also substitute caster sugar!
    • Water. I use tap water because mine doesn’t have a flavor, but if yours has a chlorinated taste use bottled or filtered water.

    SAM’S TIP: This isn’t totally necessary, but I like to garnish my homemade lemonade with additional sliced lemons for a bright and sunny look.

    Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    How to Make Lemonade

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

    SAM’S TIP: I like to use this tool to juice my lemons; it makes the job so much easier!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use honey to make lemonade?

    You could, but keep in mind the honey will impart a different flavor. I’d start with about ยฝ cup of honey and taste test before adding any more.

    Can I make lemonade using bottled lemon juice?

    Yes, you can make this lemonade recipe using bottled lemon juice. My brother does this all the time, and the lemonade is still excellent.

    What can I add to homemade lemonade?

    Fresh mint, rosemary, and lavender are all delicious pairings with homemade lemonade! Or, you could always make my easy strawberry lemonade.

    glass pitcher of lemonade

    You can find me sipping a glass of this on my front porch all summer long ๐Ÿ˜Ž

    More Summer Recipes:

    • Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
    • Lemon Curd
    • Key Lime Pie
    • Lemon Blueberry Cake

    Enjoy!

    Letโ€™s bake together! Iโ€™ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook

    Lemonade in glass pitcher

    Homemade Lemonade Recipe

    A simple and refreshing homemade lemonade recipe! You only need sugar, water, and lemons to make this classic drink recipe. Check out the step-by-step video just below the recipe! 
    This recipe makes ยฝ gallon of lemonade but can successfully be doubled! 
    4.97 from 160 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 8-oz glasses
    Calories: 103kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups (1.4 L) water divided
    • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
    • 1 cup (236 ml) fresh-squeezed lemon juiceยน seeds removed, pulp may remain

    Recommended Equipment

    • Lemon squeezer
    • Small saucepan
    • Glass pitcher
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Combine 1 cup (236ml) water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside, allow to cool for 10 minutes.
      6 cups (1.4 L) water, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
    • Pour 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice into a pitcher. Add sugar/water mixture (simple syrup).
      1 cup (236 ml) fresh-squeezed lemon juiceยน
    • Add remaining 5 cups (1180ml) water and stir well. Pour over ice and serve, or transfer to refrigerator and allow to chill several hours before serving.

    Notes

    ยนLemon Juice

    I really recommend fresh squeezed, but my brother often makes this recipe using bottled lemon juice with success.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 18 oz glass | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 32mg | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin C: 16.5mg | Calcium: 60mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

    Related Recipes

    • Soft Pretzel
      Homemade Soft Pretzels
    • sugar cookies shaped and colored like watermelon slices
      Watermelon Sugar Cookies
    • blue bowl full of kettle corn
      Kettle Corn
    • Stacked white bowls overflowing with homemade cheese crackers
      Cheese Crackers
    « Chocolate Scones
    The BEST Coffee Cake Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristian

      March 09, 2024 at 11:37 pm

      4 stars
      Nice and simple, and a hit with the kids! Just one minor thing though – it may be a matter of taste, but I would suggest starting with only 4 cups of water (+ the one for the syrup), and then adding more to taste. The first attempt came out tasting just a little ‘watered-down’ for my liking.

      Reply
    2. Judy Brown

      March 01, 2024 at 1:34 pm

      5 stars
      It was 8 degrees this morning here in maine and I still decided to make your lemonade. I needed to put some lemon zest in my freezer so I only had 2 lemons to use. I got 1/2 cup of juice out of them so I made 1/2 a batch. Lemonade is easy to make but making the simple syrup made it even easier to mix- no sugar in the bottom of the jar!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

    Most Popular

    flaky biscuit on white cloth

    Easy Homemade Biscuits

    Pizza dough in glass bowl, after rising

    The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

    one bite missing from a slice of vanilla cake with chocolate frosting

    The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe

    Slice of cheesecake

    The Best Cheesecake Recipe

    Potato soup in bowl, with toppings

    The Ultimate Creamy Potato Soup

    Stack of cookies made from this chocolate chip cookie recipe with melty chocolate chips and a bite missing from the top cookie

    The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

    Cozy Soups

    CHICKEN tortilla soup in white bowl

    Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Bowl of butternut squash soup topped with roasted pumpkin seeds.

    Butternut Squash Soup

    Blue bowl of beef stew with chunks of beef, carrots, and potatoes.

    Beef Stew Recipe

    Bowl of turkey chili topped with sour cream, avocado, and shredded cheese.

    Turkey Chili (Great for leftover Turkey!)

    white bowl of hearty homemade tomato soup garnished with parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and cracked black pepper

    Tomato Soup Recipe

    Close-up view of chicken pot pie soup with shredded chicken, carrots, potatoes, green beans, and other veggies.

    Chicken Pot Pie Soup

    places sugar spun run has been featured (Women's Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, the huffington post, People, Delish, MSN, TLC, Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed)
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Privacy Policy|Accessibility Statement

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    ABOUT

    • About Me
    • Policies, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Terms of Use

    CONTACT

    • Contact
    • Work with Me!

    ยฉ 2020 Sugar Spun Run. All Rights Reserved

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    Name and email are required