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Home » Drinks » Iced Drinks

How to Make Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Published: Jun 8, 2025

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Learning how to make homemade lemonade has never been easier. This from-scratch lemonade recipe yields a tangy, sweet, and incredibly refreshing summer drink that you’ll make again and again. Perfect for BBQs, pool days, or just when you want to enjoy a cold drink on a hot day!

how to make homemade lemonade in a glass

Since you are here, you have to try out my Trendy Tiktok Creamy Lemonade Recipe, this Starbucks Peach Green Tea, this Easy Summer Matcha Lemonade, this Frozen Strawberry Lemonade, as well as this delicious Chick Fil A Frosted Lemonade Recipe!

There’s nothing that screams summer like a tall glass of icy lemonade, especially when it’s made from scratch and bursting with real lemon flavor. Sure, you can buy lemonade at the store, but it will never taste as good as the one that you make at home. Fresh lemons, your sugar of choice, water, and ice, and you’re done! Simple ingredients that yield big flavors that are sure to impress.

I personally love making this specific recipe because I find that adding the lemon peel or zest to the fresh lemon juice simple syrup adds a lot more flavor. However, depending on your preference, you can skip this step to save a little time. I have tried both methods, and both are delicious. My method adds a little extra zing to this drink!

how to make homemade lemonade ingredients

Ingredients you’ll need to make a homemade lemonade recipe

Here are the ingredients you will need to make the best homemade lemonade ever! Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements. 

  • Real lemons- Using fresh lemons will take your lemonades to the NEXT LEVEL! You might become the designated lemonade maker at every get-together, though, so keep that in mind! I love using this lemon juicer to make the job easier!
  • Sugar-  You can use either regular white granulated sugar or even monk fruit for a low-calorie drink!
  • Water- Use filtered water for the best lemonade flavor.
  • Ice Cubes- You can use either fresh, homemade ice or store-bought ice to avoid the freezer aftertaste. 
  • A pinch of salt- This is totally optional, but adding a tiny bit of salt to your warm simple syrup will help balance out the sweetness of the drink. 
how to make homemade lemonade in a glass

How to Make Homemade Lemonade with Fresh Lemons

This is how you can make this simple recipe. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions! 

  • Peel 3-4 lemons before juicing. Make sure you only get the yellow lemon zest, not the white part, otherwise it will dim the sweet flavor of our lemonade and make it more bitter.
  • In a medium or small saucepan, add the lemon peels, the sugar, and the freshly squeezed lemon juice. 
ingredients in a saucepan
ingredients in a saucepan
  • Cook over medium heat on the stove, stirring frequently, until the sugar dissolves. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool down fully. 
  • Once the lemon sugar mixture is cooled completely, strain it into a large pitcher, discard the peels, and top it with cold water. 
  • Top it with slices of lemon and ice. Stir well and serve. Decorate with a fresh sprig of mint!
ingredients in a saucepan
ingredients in a pitcher
ingredients in a pitcher

Expert Tips for the Best Fresh Lemonade Every Time

  • Use fresh lemons! I know bottled lemon juice sounds convenient, but you don’t want that chemical aftertaste that’s in bottled juices to overpower your drink!
  • Add your lemon zest to the simple syrup! This will add a deeper and more complex flavor to your fresh lemonade. 
  • Allow the sugar syrup to cool down completely before adding the water and ice. If you use it while still hot, you might dilute your lemonade too much. 
  • For the best flavor, taste, and adjust the water amount to your liking. 

Why should you learn how to make homemade lemonade?

  • It only uses 3 ingredients as opposed to the store-bought lemonades that are full of fillers. 
  • Allows you to adjust the taste to your liking with both sweetness and tartness.
  • It’s the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot summer day. 
  • You can turn it into one of the most delicious cocktails! Add a little less water and replace that with tequila or vodka for the adults!
how to make homemade lemonade in a glass

Frequently asked questions – FAQ

How Many Lemons do I need for 1 cup of juice?

You will need about 5-6 medium lemons to get 1 cup of juice. 

Storage Tips for Old-Fashioned Lemonade

  • Refrigerator: Place the lemonade in a large airtight container or just wrap the top of the pitcher with plastic wrap and store in the fridge without ice for up to 7 days. 
  • Freezer: Pour your lemonade in gallon ziplock bags or pour it into Souper Cube silicone trays and freeze for up to 3 months. Just thaw in a pitcher or in the bag when ready to serve. 

How to make homemade lemonade with different Flavor Variations

  • Strawberry Pink Lemonade: Blend 1 cup fresh strawberries and stir it into the cooled syrup. You can do the same with raspberries, just make sure to strain the seeds well.
  • Mint Lemonade: Add a handful of fresh mint leaves to the hot syrup, let it steep for a bit, then strain.
  • Sparkling Lemonade: Replace some of the water with chilled club soda for a bubbly version. 
  • Basil Lemond: Add a handful of basil leaves to the hot syrup, let it steep for a bit, then strain.

Can I use bottled lemon juice?

You can, but I prefer using fresh lemons to avoid that weird aftertaste that comes with some bottled lemon juices. 

Can I use honey or maple syrup in this recipe?

It will taste a little different but you can definitely use either. Add about ⅓-1/2 cup of either into the room temperature water or lemon and stir to dissolve. Continue making the lemonade as you would the regular lemonade. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking. 

how to make homemade lemonade in a pitcher

Old-Fashioned Lemonade Recipe You’ll Make All Summer

how to make homemade lemonade in a glass

How to Make Old Fashioned Lemonade Recipe

Learning how to make homemade lemonade has never been easier. This recipe yields a tangy, sweet, and incredibly refreshing summer drink.
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Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 79 Calories

Ingredients
  

  • peel from about 3-4 lemons you will be juicing avoid the white pith
  • 1 cup lemon juice about 4-6 lemons, freshly squeezed
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar adjust to taste
  • 5-6 cups cold water adjust to taste
  • Ice cubes
  • Lemon slices and fresh mint leaves for garnish optional

Instructions
 

  • Before juicing the lemons, peel 3 to 4 of them, just the yellow zest, not the bitter white part. This adds extra lemon flavor to the syrup.
    peel from about 3-4 lemons you will be juicing
  • In a saucepan, combine the fresh lemon juice, sugar, and the lemon peels. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture is hot (but not boiling). Once the sugar’s dissolved and the lemon peel has had a chance to infuse, remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
    1 cup lemon juice, ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • Strain the mixture into a large pitcher, discarding the peels. Add in the cold water and plenty of ice. Stir, taste, and adjust sweetness if needed. Serve right away or chill in the fridge. Garnish with lemon slices and mint if you’re feeling fancy!
    5-6 cups cold water, Ice cubes, Lemon slices and fresh mint leaves for garnish

Nutrition

Calories: 79CaloriesCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.001gSodium: 0.5mgPotassium: 32mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.04mg
Keyword homemade lemonade, homemade lemonade recipe, how to make homemade lemonade, raspberry lemonade recipe
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Filed Under: Drinks, Iced Drinks Tagged With: homemade lemonade, how to make homemade lemonade, lemonade recipe

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Hey there! My name is Chahinez, and I’m the brains behind the blog, Lifestyle of a Foodie. LOAF was started back in 2018 during my last semester ...

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