Homemade Lemonade is easy to prepare and makes all the difference in the heat of summer. This freshly squeezed lemonade recipe is simple and pure, with only 3 ingredients! I love to serve it on hot days, at summer parties, or any time I need a quick refresher!

Homemade Lemonade in a pitcher and 3 glasses

Easy Homemade Lemonadeย Recipe

I honestly think this homemade lemonade recipe is the BEST! Itโ€™s so fresh, so simple, and it only takes three ingredients to whip up a pitcher. I usually squeeze the lemons myself because nothing beats that bright, tangy flavor, but if Iโ€™m in a pinch, Iโ€™ll grab unsweetened bottled lemon juice and it still turns out great.

On a hot summer day, thereโ€™s nothing I love more than pouring myself a glass of ice-cold lemonadeโ€”itโ€™s the ultimate refresher. I make it all the time for potlucks, BBQs, or just to keep in the fridge for those afternoons when I need something cool and satisfying. And when Iโ€™m in the mood to switch things up, Iโ€™ll even make lavender lemonade for a fun little twist.

Recipe Card

Homemade Lemonade Recipe

4.25 from 8 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Resting Time: 25 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Becky Hardin
This Homemade Lemonade recipe is as pure & simple as it gets! Make fresh squeezed lemonade all summer long with the perfect recipe.
Homemade Lemonade is easy to prepare and makes all the difference in the heat of summer. This fresh-squeezed lemonade recipe is simple and pure, with only 3 ingredients!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Ingredientsย 

  • 1ยผ cups granulated sugar (if using ultrafine sugar, see note)
  • 4ยฝ cups water divided
  • 1ยผ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice from 5-7 lemons

Video

Instructionsย 

  • In a small saucepan, over medium heat, whisk together sugar and 1ยฝ cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and stir often until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.
    1ยผ cups granulated sugar, 4ยฝ cups water
  • Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher.
    1ยผ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • Add 3 more cups of water and the sugar/water simple syrup. Stir well and adjust to taste, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
    4ยฝ cups water
  • Serve in glasses filled with ice and garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!

Beckyโ€™s Tips

  • If you use ultra-fine sugar instead of granulated sugar, you donโ€™t need to make a syrup first. You can just mix everything.
Calories: 258kcalCarbohydrates: 67gSodium: 15mgPotassium: 78mgSugar: 64gVitamin C: 29.5mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Homemade Lemonade Step by Step

Make the simple syrup: Whisk 1ยผ cups granulated sugar and 4ยฝ cups water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.

Squeezing lemon juice into a sieve.

Strain the juice: Strain 1ยผ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher.

Combining lemonade ingredients in a pitcher.

Add water: Add 3 more cups of water and the sugar/water simple syrup to the lemon juice and stir well. Adjust to taste, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

3 glasses filled with freshly squeezed lemonade, lemon slices, and mint.

Serve: Serve in glasses filled with ice and garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!

How to Store

Store leftover lemonade in an airtight container or glass jar in the fridge for 5-7 days. Give it a good stir before serving in case the sugar has fallen to the bottom.

A pitcher of fresh squeezed lemonade with ice and lemon slices.

Serving Suggestions

Nothing pairs better with a cold, refreshing glass of lemonade than a batch of gooey sโ€™mores cookies or sweet chocolate sugar cookies. For a savory twist, I also love serving it with corn fritters or a hearty steak sandwich!

more lemonade recipes

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABCโ€™s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.25 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)
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Maggi
Maggi
April 25, 2020 4:56 am

If making that 800 ml jug I would add a small teaspoon of salt and no more than a tablespoon of sugar. The salt takes the bitterness of the lemons away and you can then adjust the sugar to your taste

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 25, 2020 3:03 pm
Reply to  Maggi

Great tip!!