Say hello to your new favorite summer drink by learning how to make Homemade Lemonade. A freshly squeezed lemonade perfect for any hot day.

Make this quick and easy 3 ingredient drink in no time at all! Made with fresh lemons and lemon zest, sugar, and water, you can’t go wrong.

I love making lemonade all year round, I like to switch between making my favorite Fresh Strawberry Lemonade, Fresh Peach Lemonade, and Watermelon Lemonade! Don’t forget to enjoy this Lemonade Recipe with my Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer or my Cucumber Tomato Salad.

Pitchers of homemade lemonade with two glasses of lemonade with a fun straw and lemon slice.

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

  • It’s made with freshly squeezed lemons.
  • All you need is a few quick minutes to make this tasty drink.
  • Perfect for any party or summer bbq.
  • Great for kid’s lemonade stands too!

Amazing! And so easy! I’ll definitely be making this again.

Katie
Ingredients laid out for homemade lemonade recipe.

Ingredients

  • Fresh Lemons: Fresh lemons give this lemonade that special homemade taste. You even get to add a little extra flavor by using lemon zest.
  • Granulated Sugar: The perfect way to make this drink sweet. Adjust the amount of sugar you use to make it just right for you. You can also use stevia as a lower-calorie option.
  • Ice: Ice makes this drink a great option for a hot summer day.
  • Water: The base of the drink.

Kitchen Tools

For this recipe, you will need a citrus juicer, a lemon zester, a saucepan, a large pitcher, and a strainer.

Step by step picture guide for the recipe. Picture 1 boiling water, picture 2 zesting lemon, picture 3 adding lemon zest to water, picture 4 juicing lemon, picture 5 adding lemon juice to pitcher, and picture 6 adding the cooled zest sugar water.

How To Make Lemonade

  1. Boil. Water and sugar in a saucepan.
  2. Zest. Washed, fresh lemons.
  3. Add. The lemon zest to the boiled sugar water.
  4. Juice. Fresh lemons to gather lemon juice.
  5. Pour. Fresh squeezed lemon juice and cold water in a large pitcher.
  6. Strain. The cooled boiled sugar water with lemon zest into the lemon water.
Two glasses of lemonade with fancy straws and a lemon slice.

Expert Tips

  • Adjust to your tastes! Do you like your lemonade on the sour side? Add less sugar than the recipe calls for. Want it sweeter? Add more sugar than the recipe asks for.
  • Make it ahead of time. Make this easy homemade lemonade ahead of time so it has time to be a cold refreshing drink.
  • Use fresh lemons. While you can use lemon juice for this recipe, using fresh lemons gives you that taste you want and love.
  • Get a zester. Make sure you get a zester for this recipe. You won’t be disappointed in the extra flavor it brings.
Above shot of lemonade with straw and lemon slice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lemons do I need to make lemonade?

You will need about 8 lemons to get about 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice.

What are the best lemons to use to make Lemonade?

Meyer lemons are the best lemons to use to make homemade lemonade because they’re sweeter and juicier. 

How to juice a lemon?

The best way to juice a lemon is to first roll each lemon over your cutting board. This will help them to release more juice. Then use your citrus juicer.

Is lemonade just lemon juice and water?

Lemon juice and water make the base of this drink but this recipe also includes sugar, ice, and lemon zest for extra flavor.

Above shot of lemonade with straw and lemon slice.

What To Serve With Lemonade

Serve these sizzling meals with this cool sweet drink for a full-flavor experience.

Mason jar with lemonade with fancy straw and lemon slice.

How To Store Lemonade

  • Store. Lemonade in the fridge to keep cool for 3-4 days.

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If you’ve tried this Homemade Lemonade recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. I love hearing about your experience making it and it also helps anyone else making the recipe too.

homemade lemonade
4.69 from 123 ratings
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Servings: 8 cups

Homemade Lemonade

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Enjoy homemade lemonade with this fresh lemonade recipe perfect for a hot summers day. You'll love this zesty drink for the whole family.
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Ingredients
 

  • 8 cups of water, divided
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • Zest of 2 lemons
  • 1 ½ cups of lemon juice, about 8 lemons
  • 2 cups of ice cubes

Instructions
 

  • Pour 3 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar into a saucepan. Bring to boil. Boil for 5 minutes. 
  • Remove pan from heat, add lemon zest into the sugar water. Let sit for 5 minutes or cool to room temperature! Sometimes, I just put the pan in the fridge to cool it down faster! 
  • In a large pitcher or jug, add the lemon juice and the remaining 5 cups of water. Pour COOLED sugar water over a strainer into the pitcher/jug, the strainer will catch the lemon zest. Discard the lemon zest.
  • Add ice and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving! Pour over ice and serve with a lemon slice.

Notes

  • Store. Lemonade in the fridge to keep cool for 3-4 days.
  • Adjust to your tastes! Do you like your lemonade on the sour side? Add less sugar than the recipe calls for. Want it sweeter? Add more sugar than the recipe asks for.
  • Make it ahead of time. Make this easy homemade lemonade ahead of time so it has time to be a cold refreshing drink.
  • Use fresh lemons. While you can use lemon juice for this recipe, using fresh lemons gives you that taste you want and love.
  • Get a zester. Make sure you get a zester for this recipe. You won’t be disappointed in the extra flavor it brings.
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 106kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 0.2g, Fat: 0.2g, Saturated Fat: 0.02g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 48mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 3IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 0.05mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Drinks
Author: Jennifer
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