This Homemade Lemonade Recipe captures the perfect balance of sweet and sour, making it a quintessential thirst-quencher for hot days.
Ingredients
Scale:
1 cup Fresh Lemon Juice (about 4-6 large lemons)
4 cups Water (divided into 1 cup hot water and 3 cups cold water)
1 cup Granulated Sugar (for simple syrup)
Ice (as needed for serving)
Optional Garnishes: fresh mint leaves, lemon slices, or berries
Instructions
Make the Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of hot water. Stir well over medium heat until the sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Juice the Lemons: While the syrup cools, cut the lemons in half and use a citrus juicer to extract 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain the juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds and pulp.
Combine Ingredients: In a large pitcher, combine the fresh lemon juice, cooled simple syrup, and 3 cups of cold water. Stir well to mix all ingredients thoroughly.
Adjust Sweetness: Taste the lemonade and adjust the sweetness by adding more simple syrup if desired. For a tarter flavor, add a bit more lemon juice.
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes to chill thoroughly. When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice and pour the lemonade over. Garnish with fresh mint leaves, lemon slices, or berries.
