Looking for the best lemonade recipe? Quench your thirst with this refreshing and sweet lemonade! It only requires three simple ingredients to make, so it’s the perfect drink for anyone to make!

This simple homemade lemonade recipe is a classic and refreshing drink that is perfect for any occasion.

Whether you’re enjoying a sunny day outdoors, hosting a backyard BBQ, or just want a tasty beverage to sip on, making your own lemonade is easy and delicious.

With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a pitcher of old-fashioned homemade lemonade that has the perfect balance of both sweet and tart and completely customizable to your tastes. You can have fun creating your own custom flavor by adding something extra like fresh mint leaves or strawberries to your fresh homemade lemonade.

two glasses of lemonade shot from overhead view on rustic table top

How to Make the Perfect Homemade Lemonade Recipe:

Ingredients:

3 Real Lemons
8 cups of water
1/2 cup of sugar
Ice

Step by Step Instructions:

The key to making this the best homemade lemonade recipe is fresh lemons.

Juice 3 large lemons with a citrus juicer.

To get the juice flowing and easier to slice, roll the lemon with the palm of your hand applying gentle pressure a few times.

Add the fresh lemon juice to a large pitcher. Then add in 8 cups of ice cold water.

Stir in your sweetener of choice. If using sugar, use 1/2 cup or less, to your preferences. Natural sweeteners can be used as well.

Stir until the sugar dissolves and chill your pitcher of lemonade.

Serve a big glass of cold lemonade over ice cubes and garnish with lemon.

Variations on Lemonade Recipes

Add your favorite pureed fruit. We love using fresh berries such as blackberries to make blackberry lemonade or strawberries for strawberry lemonade.
Change this recipe to limeade! Just substitute limes in place of lemons.
Add some sprigs of lavender to make lavender lemonade or fresh herbs such as mint, basil or rosemary.
Instead of water, make sparkling lemonade with club soda.
And for a intense lemon flavor, add some lemon vodka and limoncello to make boozy lemonade slushies!

How long will homemade lemonade keep in the refrigerator?

Homemade lemonade can typically be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days in a tightly sealed container.

Can I make lemonade without using sugar?

Yes, you can make lemonade without using sugar. There are several natural sweeteners that you can use instead, such as honey, maple syrup, stevia, or agave nectar.

Keep in mind that using these sweeteners may alter the taste of your lemonade, so you may need to adjust the amount of sweetener you use to get the desired taste.

Additionally, some people prefer to make unsweetened lemonade and enjoy the tartness of the lemon juice on its own.

How much sugar should I add to my homemade lemonade?

The amount of sugar to add to your homemade lemonade will depend on your personal taste preferences and the tartness of your lemons. A typical ratio of sugar to lemon juice is 1:1, meaning you would add equal parts water too sugar. However, some people prefer their lemonade to be less sweet and use a 1:2 ratio instead.

You can start with a smaller amount of sugar and add more to taste if needed. Keep in mind that you can always add more sugar later, but it’s harder to remove excess sweetness once it’s been added.

The Best Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Looking for the best lemonade recipe? Quench your thirst with this refreshing and sweet lemonade! It only requires three simple ingredients to make, so it's the perfect drink for anyone to make!

Ingredients

3 Lemons
8 cups of water
1/2 cup sugar
Ice

Instructions

The key to making this the best homemade lemonade recipe is fresh lemons.

Juice 3 large lemons with a citrus juicer.

To get the juice flowing and easier to slice, roll the lemon with the palm of your hand applying gentle pressure a few times.

Add the fresh lemon juice to a large pitcher. Then add in 8 cups of ice cold water.

Stir in your sweetener of choice. If using sugar, use 1/2 cup or less, to your preferences. Natural sweeteners can be used as well.

Stir until the sugar dissolves and chill your pitcher of lemonade.

Serve a big glass of cold lemonade over ice cubes and garnish with lemon.

Notes

Variations on Making this Best Homemade Lemonade Recipe:

Add your favorite pureed fruit. We love using fresh berries such as blackberries to make blackberry lemonade or strawberries for strawberry lemonade.

Change this recipe to limeade! Just substitute limes in place of lemons.

Add some sprigs of lavender to make lavender lemonade or fresh herbs such as mint, basil or rosemary.

Instead of water, make sparkling lemonade with club soda.

And for a stronger lemonade, add some lemon vodka and limoncello to make boozy lemonade slushies!

Can I make lemonade without using sugar?

Yes, you can make lemonade without using sugar. There are several natural sweeteners that you can use instead, such as honey, maple syrup, stevia, or agave nectar. Keep in mind that using these sweeteners may alter the taste of your lemonade, so you may need to adjust the amount of sweetener you use to get the desired taste. Additionally, some people prefer to make unsweetened lemonade and enjoy the tartness of the lemon juice on its own.

How much sugar should I add to my homemade lemonade?

The amount of sugar to add to your homemade lemonade will depend on your personal taste preferences and the tartness of your lemons. A typical ratio of sugar to lemon juice is 1:1, meaning you would add equal parts water too sugar. However, some people prefer their lemonade to be less sweet and use a 1:2 ratio instead. You can start with a smaller amount of sugar and add more to taste if needed. Keep in mind that you can always add more sugar later, but it's harder to remove excess sweetness once it's been added.