This Lemonade recipe is so refreshing and timeless. You won’t believe how easy it is to make with just 2 ingredients! Once you try homemade lemonade, it will spoil you forever.

If you’re wondering what to do with lemons, making lemonade is our favorite way to use freshly-squeezed lemon juice along with our Lemon Bars and Easy Lemon Curd.

homemade lemonade in mason jars with lemon slices

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Perfect Lemonade

This lemonade recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. We’re sharing our favorite proportions of sugar to lemon juice, but you can add more sugar or more lemon juice to taste.

This is the perfect base recipe to use for so many lemonade varieties. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the variations below. Our favorite is pink lemonade, which is actually Strawberry Lemonade.

Simple Syrup Makes the Best Lemonade

Simple syrup is a thick and sweet syrup used to sweeten a variety of different drinks. Why is this important for lemonade? If you just stir the sugar into cold water, it will sink to the bottom and won’t dissolve. We promise it’s quick and so worth it!

The simple syrup really is the secret to the perfect lemonade recipe, and it allows you to adjust the sweetness of the mixture to your liking. Just add the syrup slowly to the freshly squeezed lemon juice, and then taste test to find the right balance.

a pitcher of lemonade made with fresh squeezed lemons

Ingredients

This simple recipe perfectly balances the sour and sweet flavors of freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar. After one sip, you’ll see why homemade lemonade is better than store-bought every time.

  • Sugar – we prefer using organic sugar to make the simple syrup and sweeten the lemonade. If you want to substitute for a different sweetener, see the variations below.
  • Lemon Juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice is ideal, and you’ll need 6-8 lemons depending on the size, but store-bought lemon juice could work in a pinch
Lemons, sugar and water combine to make this iconic and refreshing summer drink

Pro Tip: Use room-temperature lemons to make juicing easier. Then, roll the lemon firmly on the counter before cutting to help release juices.

How to Buy Lemons

When you’re shopping for lemons, here is what to look for to ensure you are getting the juiciest lemons:

  • Size – look for smaller to medium-sized fruit.
  • Color – a bright yellow color is a good indicator of ripeness.
  • Texture – the skin should be wrinkle-free and firm but with a slight give. Then, when you pick it up, the lemon will feel heavy for its size.

The Best Lemons for Lemonade

Plain lemons which are known as Lisbon lemons are the best for homemade lemonade and are easy to find year-round in the grocery store and give a more traditional sour flavor to the drink.

Note: Meyer Lemons are sweeter than other varieties, so cut back on how much simple syrup you use in the mixture so the lemonade has a balanced sour and sweet flavor.

Pro Tip: Store lemons on the counter for up to 10 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a month. You can also juice the lemons immediately and store the juice in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freezer for 3-4 months.

How to Make Lemonade

All you need to make this recipe is a great lemon juicer, a saucepan, and a pitcher. If you don’t have a lemon juicer, use a fork to break up the membrane and release more juice.

  1. Make Simple Syrup – simmer 1 cup water and 1 1/2 cups sugar to dissolve the sugar. Cool to room temperature and chill.
  2. Squeeze 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice and refrigerate.
  3. To serve – combine 7 cups cold water, chilled sugar syrup, and chilled lemon juice. Serve over glasses filled with ice and garnish with lemon slices.
Step by step instructions for making simple syrup with just water and sugar

Pro Tip: Get even more lemon flavor by adding the zest of a lemon to the sugar and water when creating the simple syrup. Avoid the white pith of the lemon skins which can make it bitter and remember to strain the zest out before adding to the lemon juice.

Variations

This base lemonade recipe is delicious and versatile! Here are a few ideas on how to put your own spin on the recipe:

  • Fruit Purees– raspberry, strawberry, and peach would be delicious
  • Agave or honey – these will work as a substitute for sugar with a slightly different taste
  • Herbs – add mint, lavender, or even rosemary to the final mixture
  • Soda water – get a bubbly twist on lemonade using sparkling water
  • Iced Tea – mix equal parts lemonade and unsweetened iced tea for an Arnold Palmer

Pro Tip: Add lemon juice ice cubes along with regular ice cubes when serving to keep the lemonade from being diluted when the ice melts.

Common Questions

Is lemonade good for you?

Homemade lemonade is a sweet drink, but it’s certainly better than store-bought concentrate. You can add less of the simple sugar to cut down on calories and carbs. This lemonade is also high in Vitamin C as each glass has about the equivalent of 1 juiced lemon. Read the nutrition label below to get a full calorie count per serving.

Can I make lemonade without simple syrup?

Sugar is difficult to dissolve in cold water. While you can make lemonade without a simple syrup, you may have crunchy sugar crystals in your drink. The Syrup isn’t hard to make, and it’s so worth it.

Can I double this lemonade recipe?

Of course! This is the perfect recipe for a lemonade stand or even a summer barbecue.

Homemade Lemonade recipe over ice with lemon rounds and mason jars

What to Serve with Lemonade

Lemonade is delicious on its own, but also compliments these delicious recipes:

Make-Ahead

  • Refrigerate: Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a week. The simple syrup and lemon juice will also keep separately refrigerated for the same time.
  • Freezing: Freeze the simple syrup and lemon juice separately, or mix them together before freezing as a substitute for store-bought lemonade concentrate.
  • Thaw: allow frozen lemonade to defrost in the refrigerator and serve over ice.
Lemonade in pitcher with lemon slices

Homemade lemonade will never go out of style. It’s a real treat in summer. Next step? Stock up on lemons and satisfy that craving.

Refreshing Summer Drinks

As temperatures climb, we stay hydrated and keep cool with these crisp, bubbly, and flavorful summer drink recipes:

Lemonade Recipe

4.97 from 79 votes
Lemonade served in a carafe with yellow towel and lemon rounds
Lemonade is so refreshing and timeless. You won’t believe how easy it is to make lemonade. Once you try homemade lemonade, it will spoil you forever.
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 people

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water with 1 1/2 cups sugar. Place over medium heat and bring just to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. Transfer to a mason jar, cover and refrigerate until ready serving.
  • Squeeze 1 1/2 cups lemon juice. Transfer to a mason jar and refrigerate up to 2 weeks until ready to make lemonade.
  • To make the full batch of lemonade, pour 7 cups cold water into a pitcher, add the 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice and 1 1/2 cups chilled sugar syrup and stir to combine. You can also add the lemon juice and sugar syrup to taste. Add ice to glasses when serving.

Nutrition Per Serving

155kcal Calories41g Carbs1g Protein1g Fat1g Saturated Fat2mg Sodium47mg Potassium1g Fiber39g Sugar17.7mg Vitamin C3mg Calcium
Nutrition Facts
Lemonade Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
155
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Sodium
 
2
mg
0
%
Potassium
 
47
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
41
g
14
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
39
g
43
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin C
 
17.7
mg
21
%
Calcium
 
3
mg
0
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade lemonade, lemonade, lemonade recipe
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 155
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.97 from 79 votes (45 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Marni
    May 3, 2020

    Have you had anyone use Swerve (granular) and/or stevia in place of the sugar for a sugar-free version? I saw someone asked about Splenda, but just wanted to inquire about a more natural sweetener alternative…and if you have heard of someone using Swerve and/or stevia, how much to use versus sugar?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 4, 2020

      Hello Marni, I personally haven’t tried using Swerve to advise. Sorry wish I could help you more!

      Reply

    • Glenda Laverty
      April 2, 2021

      I’ve made lemonade with Monk Fruit sweetener (1 for 1) and it comes out good.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        April 2, 2021

        Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

        Reply

  • Elaine Capano
    February 23, 2020

    Can this be made with Splenda? If so do you know how to use?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      February 24, 2020

      Hi Elaine, I haven’t tested that through since we don’t use Splenda but if you experiment, please let me know how it goes.

      Reply

      • Kate
        April 28, 2020

        You don’t need any sweetener or sugar at all. In Austria we drink it as lemon soda. just fresh cold soda water + freshly squeezed lemons! Really refreshing! Zero calories!

        Reply

    • Pam
      March 17, 2020

      Yes, it works well with Splenda.

      Reply

  • Steph
    January 8, 2020

    I have been chasing after the perfect lemonade recipe for years and I finally found it!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 8, 2020

      That’s so great! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply

  • Bread and salt kitchen
    November 30, 2019

    Presentation is great. We like lemonade very much. We consume it summer to winter every time. Also, we share our homemade lemonade (in Turkish limonata) on our blog site

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 30, 2019

      That’s so great! Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Oviya
    October 19, 2019

    i love this! this was so helpful for my party! it was so tasty!!!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 19, 2019

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Sapna
    September 23, 2019

    Wow! Really simple to make and tastes great on a hot day. Really energizing & refreshing.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 23, 2019

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Andie
    July 19, 2019

    This recipe is fool-proof! It came out great using lemons from a friend’s tree. So refreshing on a hot summer day, and especially soothing for a sore throat. Thank you for sharing the recipe. 🙂

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 20, 2019

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Andie! Thank you for the wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Tania
    July 15, 2019

    This was so good! I made it with homegrown lemons, organic cane sugar, and added a few mint leaves from our garden! Perfect!! Thanks!
    Homemade is the best!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 15, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Lisa
    July 1, 2019

    After cooling the syrup to room temperature can I proceed with the whole batch of lemonade? Do you recommend refrigerating it for a period of time?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 1, 2019

      Hi Lisa, we like to drink it cold so we make it ahead of time and chill it in the fridge.

      Reply

  • Olga
    June 27, 2019

    Such a simple recipe, yet so delicious! 😋 it’s so perfect for summer. I’m a huge lemonade fan and so are my kids (surprising right lol). My kids eat lemons with touch of sugar but when they saw lemonade, it was gone in minutes. Thank you! Here are my July 4th goals😋😋

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 27, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that, Olga. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Toni
    June 26, 2019

    We love lemonade!! Thanks for all the tips! This is such a perfect drink this summer!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 26, 2019

      You’re so welcome Toni! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Billy
    June 26, 2019

    Nothing like homemade lemonade, incredibly delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 26, 2019

      Isn’t it the best! Thank you for that awesome review!

      Reply

  • Tanya Schroeder
    June 26, 2019

    Nothing beats a pitcher of homemade lemonade!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 26, 2019

      I couldn’t agree more! Thank you for that awesome review!

      Reply

  • Cheryl S
    June 26, 2019

    We drink this all summer long! great lemonade recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 26, 2019

      So refreshing and perfect for summer! Thank you Cheryl!

      Reply

  • Shawnee
    June 26, 2019

    My son is coming home from college for summer to see me for two weeks before he has to go back. I was wanting homemade lemonade for him and poof! The perfect recipe just showed up! Thank you!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 26, 2019

      You’re so welcome! I bet you’re so happy to him home for the summer! That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Trang
    June 25, 2019

    Love the ice cube tip!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 25, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that!

      Reply

  • JMHH
    June 25, 2019

    Lemonade is also prescribed by doctors to those who suffer from kidney stones. There is something in the lemon that dissolves existing stones and prevents new ones from forming. It works too. Ask me how I know.

    One suggestion: Use only organic sugar to prevent acid indigestion and heartburn.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 25, 2019

      Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Ruby
    June 25, 2019

    Does this taste like chick fil a lemonade!? Their lemonade is sooo good haha

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 25, 2019

      That’s a good question Ruby! Sounds like a taste test is in order!

      Reply

  • Mark
    June 25, 2019

    1.5 cups of sugar is NOT healthy. Sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      June 25, 2019

      Hi Mark, keep in mind it is divided by 8 servings. Also, I didn’t claim it was healthy to consume alot of sugar, but I do think it is a better alternative to concentrate lemonade and restaurant lemonade which often has more sugar.

      Reply

    • Diana
      January 7, 2021

      Could you freeze prior to adding the 7 cups of water

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        January 7, 2021

        Hi Diana, I haven’t tested that to advise. If you experiment, I would love to know how it goes.

        Reply

  • Lesya
    June 25, 2019

    Absolutely amazing recipe! I love the fact that it is naturally healthy and without any concentrates.

    Another hit recipe. Thank you Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 25, 2019

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Lesya!

      Reply

    • Nataliya
      July 16, 2019

      Here is a tip for healthier version of lemonade. Use honey instead of sugar (mix honey with room temperature water). Also, I add a few stems of fresh mint before chilling lemonade in the fridge. My kids love it and it’s very popular at family gatherings.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        July 17, 2019

        Thank you so much for sharing that with me!

        Reply

      • jackie vanhappen
        April 2, 2021

        how much honey would you use?

        Reply

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