Classic Homemade Lemonade is the epitome of summer! Sweet, tart, and refreshing, it's perfect for lounging with friends on the porch, and backyard BBQs!
Course Drink
Cuisine American
Keyword lemon
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 10 minutesminutes
Total Time 20 minutesminutes
Servings 10cups
Calories 126kcal
Author Dini Kodippili
Ingredients
2cupsfreshly squeezed lemon juicefrom about 8 - 10 lemons
1 ½cupswhite sugar
2 ½tablespoonslemon zest(2-3 lemons)
8cupscold waterto dilute
Instructions
Lemon syrup
Add 1 cup of the lemon juice into a saucepan, along with 1 ½ cup of sugar and the zest. Heat the two ingredients together on medium-high heat, while stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Continue to heat the lemon syrup until the lemon syrup starts to simmer.
Set the saucepan aside and allow the syrup to cool down to room temperature.
Stir in the rest of the ½ cup of lemon juice.
Strain the lemon syrup to remove the zest.
Allow the syrup to chill in the fridge until needed.
To make the Lemonade
Mix the lemon syrup with about 6 cups of chilled water at first then stir to combine. Add the extra 2 cups of water if you want to dilute the lemonade further (to your taste). Pour the lemonade into a pitcher with additional lemon slices.
Taste and add more fresh lemon juice or water if needed. Serve immediately or store in the fridge until needed.