Description
Classic Lemonade is a refreshing and timeless drink made with fresh lemons, sugar, and water. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart, ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 5 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices (for garnish, optional)
- Fresh mint (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of water and the sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and set aside to cool to make the simple syrup.
- Juice the lemons until you have 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Remove any seeds.
- In a large pitcher, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice and the cooled simple syrup. Stir well to combine.
- Pour in the remaining 4 cups of cold water. Stir again and taste. Adjust the sweetness by adding more water or sugar if desired.
- Fill glasses with ice cubes, pour the lemonade over the ice, and garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint if desired.
- For best results, chill the lemonade in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover lemonade in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Sweetener Alternatives: You can use honey, agave syrup, or a sugar substitute like stevia for a different sweetness profile.
- For a fizzy twist, use sparkling water or club soda instead of regular water.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or thyme for a unique herbal infusion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (for simple syrup)
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stir
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
