Easy Homemade Lemonade

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup lemon juice (4-6 lemons at room temperature)
  • 2 1/2 cups cold water (to dilute the lemonade)
  • ice cubes (optional)

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the sugar and water to create a simple syrup. Bring to a simmer. Using a wooden spoon, stir the syrup to help the sugar dissolve more quickly, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Set it aside.

  2. As the water and sugar are heating, wash and dry the lemons. Massage the lemons on a hard surface to soften the pulp.

  3. Juice the lemons using either a juicer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. If you use a juicer, slice the lemons in half lengthwise in order to extract more juice. Juice the lemons until you have 1 cup of juice.

  4. If you use a stand mixer, cut your lemons into quarters. Toss the quartered lemons into the bowl of the stand mixer. Place plastic or a splash guard on the bowl. Mix the lemons until the juice has been extracted from them. Pour the lemon juice through a sieve into a small bowl. Discard the lemon seeds and pulp.

  5. Combine the lemon juice and the simple syrup in a pitcher. Pour in cold water to taste -- more can be added later. Adding ice will naturally dilute the lemonade.

  6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Supplies

  • small saucepan
  • wooden spoon
  • juicer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment
  • plastic or splashguard (optional)
  • sieve (optional)
  • small bowl (optional)
  • pitcher

Recipe Notes

Room-temperature lemons help soften the pulp, making it easier to juice.

If the lemonade is too sweet, add a little more lemon juice to it. If the lemonade is sour, add a bit of sugar to it.

Recipe By: Brittany Baxter