Home > Recipes > Drinks > The Simple Lemonade Recipe You Need to Make This Summer
by Michelle
June 5, 2019
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4.72 (7 ratings)This easy homemade lemonade recipe is incredibly simple to make and a perfect blend of tart and sweet. You’ll reach for it over and over again when you need something refreshing in the middle of the day or are unwinding on your back patio in the evening. It takes such little time to prepare that you’ll keep a pitcher in the refrigerator all summer long!
It’s not quite full-blown summer weather here yet, but in less than a week I’m going to be squinting into the sun, trying to re-position my chair in the ever-elusive sliver of shade that keeps moving, and peeling my sweat-soaked legs off the patio chair. Those days in the mid-80’s are just around the corner.
In a word, I LOATHE the heat and humidity of summer. It’s just not my thing. Give me an October day with a high in the 50’s any day over the dog days of summer. Who’s with me here?
Let’s face it – I’m never going to beat summer (unless we move somewhere with a considerably more mild climate), so I may as well join it, right? Well, at least a little. An ice-cold glass of homemade lemonade sure makes those sweltering days a little more tolerable, so pass the pitcher, please!
Only 3 Ingredients Required in This Lemonade!
This crazy easy lemonade recipe only requires three ingredients:
- Lemon Juice – Fresh lemons are, of course, a must! You’ll need about eight medium-sized lemons to get the right amount of lemon juice for this recipe.
- Superfine Sugar – This is a very fine sugar that dissolves easily in liquid, which helps us to eliminate the step of making a simple syrup; it can get stirred right into the lemon juice. (Check the notes for a substitution hack if needed!)
- Water – Does this even count as an ingredient?! We use it to dilute the lemon juice and sugar so it’s not too super tart or too super sweet; we strike the perfect balance that is just oh-so-good.
All that’s left is to add ice and/or mint, if you like!
One of my favorite splurges when at an outdoor event or theme park during the summer is a big cup of lemonade that I can sip leisurely as I walk around; I’m so thrilled to have the perfect recipe to keep lemonade at the ready here at home, too.
It doesn’t necessarily keep my legs from sticking to the chair, but boy is it refreshing! Let’s beat the summer heat together…
I’d love to hear about your favorite summer drink – share in the comments below!
Cheers to a fabulous summer on the horizon! *Clink!*
More Summery Drinks For You…
Mix up any of these refreshing drinks for sipping by the pool, on the deck, or wherever you like to kick back and relax when the weather gets warm!
- Watermelon-Peach Slushies
- Strawberry Pim’s Cup co*cktail
- Chocolate Italian Cream Soda
- Blackberry Gin Fizz Float
- Ginger-Tea Lemonade
- White Sangria
One year ago: Easy Buttermilk Biscuits
Five years ago:
Six years ago: Chinese Beef and Broccoli
Seven years ago: Fresh Fruit Tart with Pastry Cream
Easy Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Yield: 8 drinks
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
This easy homemade lemonade recipe is incredibly simple to make and a perfect blend of tart and sweet. Great for those summer nights out on the deck!
4.72 (7 ratings)
Print Pin Rate
Ingredients
- 2 cups (488 ml) fresh lemon juice, from about 8 lemons
- 1 ⅓ cups (266.67 g) superfine sugar
- 6 cups (1.5 l) water
- Ice cubes
Instructions
Stir together lemon juice and sugar in a 3-quart pitcher until sugar is dissolved. Add water and stir until combined. Garnish with additional lemon slices and mint, if desired. Serve over ice in glasses.
Notes
- If superfine sugar is not readily available where you shop, you can place regular granulated sugar in a food processor to great that fine texture.
- You can refrigerate the lemonade if not serving immediately; stir before serving.
- The lemonade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Calories: 142kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Sodium: 11mg, Potassium: 62mg, Sugar: 34g, Vitamin C: 23.6mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Author: Michelle
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Update Notes: This recipe was originally published in May 2010; updated in June 2019 with new photos and improved recipe instructions.
[photos byAri of Well Seasoned]
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60 Comments on “The Simple Lemonade Recipe You Need to Make This Summer”
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Elizabeth Beltran — Reply
I had made some lemon zest cookies and was looking to use the rest of the lemon juice and powdered sugar. Since I only used two lemons, I downsized your recipe to use only two tablespoons of powdered sugar and 3/4 cup of water. It was perfect.
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Dori — Reply
Oo, yum!! Can’t wait to try this recipe this summer. I’m with you: ugh, that summer heat is the WORST. Nothing like a cold glass of lemonade to get you thru the day!
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Macy — Reply
Enjoy lemonade. Not sure if I want to make it though lol😋 living in ca I feel bad even commenting on hot Summers…but we’ve had some really hot ones a few years back to back to back..like in 100s hot. That is hot for us and it was miserable. But we do always seem to cool down at night. I like things lemony as in sweets..cookies, etc but dont like lemon in anything else. Weird food preference..
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Beth — Reply
Try adding some juiced raspberries through a sieve to remove the seeds…
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Priya — Reply
Hi Michelle, a wee dash of salt really amps up the flavor…. do try it!
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Sally K — Reply
I’m also a summer hater. June through September is something to be endured.
I love all things lemon except lemonade. I prefer just a squeeze of lemon juice (or lime juice) into my water than the sweet/sour combination.
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Kathleen M — Reply
I love lemonade so will be trying this recipe. I am with you on summer – HATE IT. I live in Northern California and our summers are very hot (100’s) and very long. I only wish it was in the 50s here in October, we don’t get that until December.
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Betsyros — Reply
I love all things lemon. I make limoncello and one of my favorite summer treats is mixing limoncello and vanilla ice cream in a blender. Heaven!
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Michelle — Reply
Question : : Could powdered sugar be used in place of the super fine? Your picture looks like powdered sugar which is what made me think about this.
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Lucy — Reply
I love, love, love lemonade and this recipe is perfection! In addition to drinking this lemonade as is, I also like to mix it with a half a glass of fresh brewed iced tea, it makes the perfect Arnold Palmer and boy is it delish! Also, I agree with you Michelle, I hate summer, too hot and humid for me. If I lived on the beach I am sure I’d view it differently but unfortunately I do not. In addition to all the bad hair days, it just really zaps me of any energy.
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Diane W. — Reply
Two suggestions…
1. Try using Meyer lemons when they are in season. They’re so much more flavorful than traditional lemons.
2. Zest all of those lemons before you juice them. You can freeze the zest in ice cube trays with water. Then pop them into iced tea, water or lemonade to give you a lemony boost with out any effort. -
Donna — Reply
Hi Michelle,
I’m from Miami. I’m with you about Summer. I absolutely ABHOR summer. I have very light skin, so I’m not a sun person, although I love going to the beach and sitting in the shade with a tall glass of lemonade.😀 Our Summers in Florida are very hot( in the high 90’s) , and humid. Along with Summer comes hurricane season, which has Floridians keeping a close eye on weather reports. I’ll take a 50 degree day over our 90 degree Summer any time. For now, I’ll try to beat the heat, and make some of your lemonade. Yum! -
Lori — Reply
Just used up the 2 cups of lemon juice sitting in the fridge to make this and it is absolutely the most “perfect” lemonade. Thank you :)
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Julie — Reply
this summer has been hot hot hot! I bet this will cool things down!!!! :D
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tommy bottoms — Reply
I would like to know if anyone knows how to make bakers lemonade, I drank it when I was a boy growing up on a farm in Wisconsin and it sure hit the spot on the hot days baling hay. Thanks Tommy
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Ginny — Reply
I made this lemonade for my dinner party last night and everyone loved it! It is the perfect amount of sweet and tanginess. Thanks for the recipe! :)
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Jen Bratanch — Reply
Honey is a great alternative to sugar.
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Foodlvr — Reply
I make homemade lemonade but I make a mint and Ginger simple syrup instead of using superfine sugar. I make it with agave nectar instead of sugar. It is a huge hit. I just gave a quart of it to a friend for her son who is addicted to it. He thinks it is the best lemonade he has ever tasted. I also used my thawed Meyer lemon juice for it. Sooo good.
Your recipe sounds very good too. I adore fresh lemonade. Nothing like it.
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Jamie — Reply
Made this over the weekend and it was delish!!!! Thanks!! :D
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Michelle — Reply
So glad you enjoyed it Jamie! :)
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The Food — Reply
Nothing quite like homemade lemonade.
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risaeats — Reply
This sounds really cool and yummy. My favorite lemonade recipe is infused with mint and ginger. I will post it in awhile. It is really yummy and less sweet. I find lemonade to be the best summer drink. It is so refreshing. I want some of that!
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Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction — Reply
This looks lovely! And it’s funny that you posted it because I bought a whole bunch of lemons earlier in the week with intentions of making lemonade, but I realized I had never made it before and didn’t really know what proportions of lemon juice/water/sugar to use. Now I know!
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Cookin' Canuck — Reply
Lemonade is definitely my favorite non-alcoholic summer drink, though I like to add a little fresh squeezed orange juice and oranges slices. For a more adult drink at times – definitely a mojito.
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ivoryhut — Reply
Aah. Nothing like fresh lemonade on a hot day. The powdered stuff just doesn’t compare!
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Sevgi — Reply
Thank you for sharing this. I haven’t had lemonade in years. I can’t wait until the days are warm enough so I can make this :)
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Jenny — Reply
I love Lemonade! So you don’t need a juicer or anything fancy?
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Michelle — Reply
Hi Jenny, Nope! I don’t have a juicer, I just cut the lemons in half and squeezed away!
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Magic of Spice — Reply
Very refreshing!
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Christina — Reply
I love lemonade. So refreshing, and I wish I had a glass right now!
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Drick — Reply
reminds me of youth- so how much does a glass go for on your corner? I like peach or strawberry lemonade myself
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The Housewife — Reply
Ahhh! Making this for memorial day weekend :)
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Tracy — Reply
It doesn’t get more summer than this! :-)
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Ann Taylor — Reply
add a couple of mint leaves and this is the perfect summertime drink
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Julie M. — Reply
Mmmm. I love homemade lemonade! I used to make it in my juicer with a pile of apples and a couple lemons. Bring on summer!
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Foodlover25 — Reply
Love this:)
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Raina (The Garden of Yum) — Reply
I can’t believe I wrote hear instead of here..oops!
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Raina (The Garden of Yum) — Reply
This is great! It is funny..I was just thinking I would like to make fresh lemonade but did not have an actual recipe. Thanks! Very hot hear too. This will be so refreshing.
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Jenny Flake — Reply
Love lemonade!! Looks so refreshing sitting out on the ledge!
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Belinda @zomppa — Reply
Today would be PERFECT for it!
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Dolce — Reply
It’s the “clink” that tells me summer is here so I can relax. Easy peasy recipe for a hot day :)
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Jen @ How To: Simplify — Reply
That looks so refreshing and perfect for the hot day today!
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DB — Reply
I actually made lemonade over the weekend using this recipe. It was pretty good but I haven’t written about it yet.
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Swee San — Reply
Perfect for a hot hot day like this.. !!
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Maria — Reply
Perfect for a sunshine day!
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Ana Maria — Reply
…We make lemonade daily, for my nephews and nieces; a favorite of the adults is Lipton’s Iced Tea, with a hint of raspberry…
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Jason Sandeman — Reply
A lovely, refreshing drink for summer. I would add Stevia to the juice for sweetening, if you do not want that sugar punch, (or if you cannot have sugar like me)
Also, perhaps infusing a simple syrup with the zest of those lemons might make for an interesting twist, no?
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Maria D. — Reply
I love lemonade! I alwasy add some other fruit to it too for additional flavor
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Lemonade is my absolute favorite!
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Katrina — Reply
Nothing better than lemonade on a hot day.
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Kim — Reply
Try squeezing one orange into the lemonade…it cuts the bitterness and tastes AMAZING
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Mary Moh — Reply
Very refreshing. Great for summer. I always add a pinch of salt to it. It’s very nice. Give a try.
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Paula — Reply
oh, that`s totaly delicious!
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Brooke Reasoner — Reply
My very favorite summer drink is Giada’s Sangria recipe that uses Prosecco. I grow tons of mint in the Summer, and the mint simple syrup is what I think makes this one so special!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/champagne-sangria-recipe/index.html -
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) — Reply
I can’t seem to get enough lemonade lately. This sounds wonderful. :)
Jenn
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notyet100 — Reply
this looks so refreshin
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tsr — Reply
Love lemonade in the summer…I tried this recipe with fresh basil…….
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