Description
This homemade lemonade recipe offers a refreshing and tangy beverage made from fresh lemons, sugar, and water. Perfect for hot days, it balances sweet and tart flavors with an easy-to-make simple syrup base, and serves about 8 people.
Ingredients
Scale
Simple Syrup
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- Zest of 2 lemons
Lemonade
- 5 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 8 lemons)
- 2 cups ice cubes
Instructions
- Make Simple Syrup: In a large saucepan, combine 3 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar. Boil over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the sugar is fully dissolved to create a sweet syrup base.
- Add Lemon Zest and Cool: Remove the syrup from heat and stir in the zest of 2 lemons. Allow the mixture to cool for about 5 minutes to infuse the lemon flavor.
- Combine Lemonade: In a large pitcher, mix the remaining 5 cups of water with 1 1/2 cups of fresh lemon juice. Strain the cooled sugar syrup mixture through a fine sieve into the pitcher to remove the zest pieces.
- Chill and Serve: Add 2 cups of ice cubes to the pitcher and refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes before serving chilled, enhancing the refreshing taste.
Notes
- Adjust the sugar amount according to how sweet you like your lemonade.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
- For a natural twist, add fresh mint leaves or sliced lemons when chilling.
- The simple syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to one week for future use.
- To make the lemonade less sweet or more tart, adjust the water and lemon juice ratio accordingly.
