On a hot, scorching day, there’s nothing more refreshing than a glass of cold lemonade. And while store-bought lemonade is fine in a pinch, it just doesn’t have the same flavor, sweetness and zip as homemade.
Our fresh-squeezed lemonade recipe makes a thirst-quenching, tangy-sweet cup you’ll want to store by the bucketful in the fridge. It may even tempt you more than a cold beer or a carbonated soft drink!
Before you learn how to make fresh lemonade, take a look at Alton Brown’s secret ingredient for lemonade.
How to Make Our Lemonade Recipe
This homemade lemonade recipe comes from Tammi Simpson of Kentucky, who loves to serve it at gatherings for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Fill out the rest of your celebration menu with some of our best summer recipes.
Ingredients:
- 1-1/3 cups sugar
- 5 cups water, divided
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
- 1-3/4 cups lemon juice (about 10 lemons)
Tools:
- Large saucepan
- Juicer
- Microplane or other zester
- Pitcher
Makes: About 7 servings
Step 1: Juice lemons
You can certainly use store-bought lemon juice, but juicing fresh lemons by hand is such a satisfying task. (Plus, it makes the kitchen smell amazing!) We swear by these two simple tricks to get the most from your citrus:
- Firmly roll each lemon on the counter, using the palm of your hand.
- Microwave the lemons on high 10-20 seconds just before cutting.
Then, cut the lemons in half and use a juicer-or a spoon and your hand-to squeeze the juice from about a half-dozen lemons; set aside.
Test Kitchen Tip: Substitute limes for lemons to make limeade. It’s just as refreshing.
Step 2: Zest, zest, zest!
Zesting was an awkward task for me until I picked up a microplane grater. This nifty gadget will give you the finest lemon zest without any of the bitter white stuff from the lemon peel. Just grate that colored layer off the fruit. Don’t have a microplane? Try these zesting tricks.
Psst: Here’s what to do with those leftover lemon rinds.
Step 3: Cook it down
In a large saucepan, combine sugar, 1 cup water and lemon peel. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes.
Test Kitchen Tip: On its own, this step makes a useful lemon-flavored simple syrup. It goes great in drinks, like this Strawberry Basil Cocktail, or you can freeze it in an ice cube tray to make single-serve lemonade on-demand. If you’re feeling bold, play with flavors by adding fresh herbs, such as rosemary or basil, to the sugar syrup. Just be sure to strain the mixture once it cools.
Step 4: Cool and serve
Remove your simmering saucepan from the heat. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and remaining water. Then, pop it into the fridge until it’s cold. It’s best served over ice.
Test Kitchen Tip: You can freeze extra lemon slices in ice cube trays. They’ll look beautiful and cool your drink without diluting it. They also taste delicious in a glass of cola. Here are more pretty ways to upgrade your ice cubes.
How to Make This Lemonade Recipe Your Own
You can vary the flavor endlessly for fresh new taste sensations. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Lavender Lemonade: Add 1 tablespoon dried lavender with the lemon peel in the syrup. Strain after cooling.
- Ginger-Mint Lemonade: Add 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger and 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves with the lemon peel in the syrup. Strain after cooling.
- Berry Lemonade: Substitute 1 cup pureed, strained fresh strawberries or raspberries for 1 cup water when making the simple syrup.
- Grown-up Lemonade: Add 1 oz. bourbon or vodka to a tall glass of lemonade for an adult beverage.
Looking to get even more lemon in your life? Check out these lemon recipes, from tart to sweet.
Strawberry Watermelon Lemonade
The nutrition department at my local hospital inspired me to create this refreshing summer sipper. I tweaked their recipe slightly to create this drink full of sweet-tart flavor. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Peach-Basil Lemonade Slush
This chilly slush with peaches, lemon juice and garden-fresh basil is hands down the best lemonade ever. It tastes just like summer. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
Spiked Lemonade
Rum gives a tropical addition to this fabulous homemade lemonade. If you have vodka on hand, try that instead of the rum. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
Rhubarb Lemonade Slush
My family loves rhubarb, and this is such a fun way to enjoy it. It's nice to have in the freezer and bring out when guests drop by. Even people that aren't crazy about rhubarb enjoy it. —Cathie Beard, Philomath, Oregon
Blackberry Beer Cocktail
This refreshing hard lemonade has a mild alcohol flavor; the beer adds just enough fizz to dance on your tongue as you sip. Sorry, adults only! —Ginger Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida
Summertime Tea
You can’t have a summer gathering around here without this sweet tea to cool you down. It’s wonderful for sipping while basking by the pool. —Angela Lively, Baxter, Tennessee
Kentucky Lemonade
Mint and bourbon give this drink a Kentucky kick, and ginger ale makes it a fizzy party punch.—Cathy Justus, Taylor, MichiganRosemary Lemonade
A friend suggested I add a sprig of rosemary to lemonade. The herb makes the drink taste fresh and light, and it's a pretty garnish. —Dixie Graham, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Red and Blue Berry Lemonade Slush
This delightfully sweet-tart beverage showcases fresh raspberries and blueberries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Orange Lemonade
This juice is a favorite at our place. I'll often double the batch and send a jar next door to my mother-in-law! I was looking for a way to sweeten lemonade without using more sugar when I came up with the recipe. —Wendy Masters, Grand Valley, Ontario
Blackberry Lemonade
Here's a special drink that's perfect when blackberries are in season. It has a tangy, refreshing flavor. —Rich Murray, Nevada, Missouri
Aunt Frances' Lemonade
My sister and I spent a week each summer with our Aunt Frances, who always had this thirst-quenching lemonade in a stoneware crock in the refrigerator. It makes a refreshing drink after a hot day of running around. —Debbie Reinhart, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Lemonade Iced Tea
I have always loved iced tea with lemon, and this irresistible thirst-quencher takes it one step further. The lemonade gives this refreshing drink a nice color, too. —Gail Buss, New Bern, North Carolina
Raspberry Lemonade Concentrate
Here's a concentrate that allows you to enjoy a refreshing summer beverage any time of year. Sweet raspberries balance the tartness from lemons. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sparkling Kiwi Lemonade
Keep some kiwi ice cubes in the freezer so they’re ready whenever you crave a tall glass of this dressed-up summertime favorite. —Emily Seidel, Ainsworth, Nebraska
Lemony Cooler
Everyone thinks I've gone to a lot of trouble when making this refreshing summer drink, but it's so easy! I also like to make my own pretty ice cubes by adding 1/2 cup lemon juice and a mint sprig to 4 cups water.—Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie
We love the perfect blend of sweet and citrus in this refreshing smoothie. It's so easy to throw together, I often find myself making one for breakfast or a midday snack. — Jamie King, Duluth, Minnesota
Apricot Lemonade Iced Tea
Every special occasion deserves a refreshing beverage (and a lovely punch bowl). Our tea has a tangy flavor from lemonade, apricot nectar and mint. —Kay Chon, Sherwood, Arkansas
Red, White and Blue Frozen Lemonade
This patriotic drink is as pretty as it is tasty. Layering cherries, blueberries and lemon juice, we created a striped lemonade that sings with Fourth of July pride. —Shawn Carleton, San Diego, California
Grilled Lemon & Thyme Lemonade
We use our grill for most summer dinners, so we thought, "why not grill the lemonade?" The flavor is surprisingly smooth, with just the right amount of honey and herbs. We call it Thyme for Lemonade. —Susan Jordan, Denver, ColoradoJames Schend, Deputy Editor, Culinary, contributed to this article.
The post This Lemonade Recipe Is Just Like Grandma’s appeared first on Taste of Home.
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