Best Homemade Lemonade
An easy and perfectly balanced homemade lemonade made with a silky-smooth simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and cold water, perfect for any gathering.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.75 cups 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 8 cups 8 cups cold water, divided Divided into syrup and lemonade mixture.
- 1.5 cups 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 6 large lemons) Freshly squeezed for the best flavor.
- Ice, for serving
Optional Ingredients (Flavor Boosters)
- Lemon slices or wedges (for serving)
- Fresh mint or basil
- Sparkling water (swap for part of the cold water)
- Pinch of salt Tiny pinch makes lemon flavor pop.
- Strawberries, raspberries, or peaches For fruity variations.
Instructions
Preparation
- Wash lemons well (especially if you’ll add slices to the pitcher).
- Juice lemons until you have 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice.
- If you want a smoother drink, strain out seeds and heavy pulp.
Make the Syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 3/4 cups sugar with 1 cup water.
- Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Cover and chill the syrup for about 2 hours.
Mix the Lemonade
- In a pitcher, stir together the chilled syrup, 1 1/2 cups lemon juice, and remaining 7 cups cold water.
- Taste and adjust if needed: add more lemon juice for tartness, a splash of water for lighter flavor, or extra syrup for sweetness.
Serve
- Fill glasses with ice.
- Pour lemonade over ice and serve immediately.
Notes
Chill everything for the best flavor and don't skip the syrup step to avoid graininess. Adjust the sweetness to taste based on the tartness of the lemons.