Creamy lemonade is a fun and simple twist on a classic summer drink. Serve yours up in a cold glass full of ice.
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you’ll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
If you love my Whipped Frozen Lemonade then you are going to adore this creamy lemonade recipe. It has all the great taste of a whipped lemonade but without the blender. Made with condensed milk and fresh lemon juice, this drink is creamy, sweet, and tangy.
Lemonade is such a family favorite over here that we can't seem to get enough of it. Creamy Lemonade is one of our favorites for so many reasons, mostly because it's simple and unique.
Fun and unique variations like Pickle Lemonade, Strawberry Pink Lemonade, and Orange Lemonade keep finding their way into our fridge and this condensed milk lemonade is one that we all agree deserves more recognition.
Jump to:
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Minimal ingredients. You only need 4 ingredients to make this Creamy Lemonade, making it perfect for when you want something quick and easy. That's the same number of ingredients for our Old Fashioned Lemonade too!
- No stove or microwave is needed. Unlike my other lemonade recipes where we need a cooked or Microwaved Simple Syrup Recipe for the sweetener, this drink doesn't need it. The condensed milk is already sweetened so there's no need to dissolve sugars.
- It's fast to make! Just open a can and whisk everything together in a pitcher. You can have a pitcher full of this TikTok lemonade in just moments flat.
🛒 Ingredients
Condensed milk- Use a can of sweetened condensed milk for this lemonade. This will be what gives us the sweetener that our drink needs and the creamy appearance and taste we expect.
Ice cubes- Make sure to use plenty of ice cubes to fill the pitcher. They not only help to keep the drink chilled, but they also help to stir everything together when we mix.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Lemon juice. If you don't have real lemons on hand, you can use concentrate in a pinch. You can also use it to bring the fresh lemon juice up to the required measurement so you can keep that strong lemon flavor.
Condensed Milk. For a nondairy version or vegan-friendly version, you can swap out the condensed milk with condensed coconut milk or full-fat coconut milk.
Flavored Syrups: Add some fun color with a splash of grenadine syrup. Or use flavored syrups like in our Blue Raspberry Lemonade.
Adult Version: This lemonade is perfect for the whole family, kids included. But if you'd like an adult only version, you can simply add some vodka to your creamy lemonade.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use bottled lemon juice. Fresh lemons taste wonderful, but bottled lemon juice is often much cheaper and works great in creamy lemonade, especially when you're making a big batch.
Stick with store-brand ingredients. Store-brand sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and lemon juice taste nearly identical to name-brand versions but cost noticeably less.
Make homemade simple syrup. It's far cheaper than buying pre-made syrups and takes only sugar and water.
Stretch it with extra water or ice. If you need to stretch the recipe for guests, add more cold water or ice. Flavor stays strong, and the cost per serving drops.
🥄 Instructions for Creamy Lemonade
Step 1: Add your sweetened condensed milk to the bottom of a large pitcher.
Step 2: Add in your lemon juice.
Step 3: Whisk well to combine. Make sure to get the edges of the pitcher, as the condensed milk may stick there.
Step 4: Add in enough ice to fill the pitcher.
Step 5: Pour in some cold water to bring the mixture to the top of the pitcher.
Step 6: Stir well with a long spoon or whisk to mix the drink evenly.
Step 7: Pour into glasses and serve with fresh lemon slices.
Enjoy.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Read the labels. Ensure you use sweetened condensed milk for this recipe; do not substitute with evaporated milk as it will yield different results.
- For a sweeter taste, consider adding ¼-1/2 cup of granulated sugar to the drink.
- To extract more juice from fresh lemons, microwave them for 10-30 seconds, then roll them on the counter before slicing. This method maximizes juice extraction.
- If fresh lemons are unavailable, you can use concentrate as a substitute to maintain the desired lemon flavor. Adjust the amount to achieve the required measurement.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Store leftover creamy lemonade in an airtight pitcher or jar in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The mixture may naturally separate as it sits, just give it a quick stir before serving.
Make Ahead: You can make this lemonade up to 24 hours in advance. For the freshest flavor and best texture, add the ice right before serving. If making ahead for a party, prepare the lemonade in the pitcher and chill it, then pour over ice-filled glasses when ready.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Creamy lemonade pairs well with grilled or BBQ chicken, fresh fruit, soft pretzels, and simple desserts like cookies or lemon bars. It also complements light summer salads and easy picnic foods such as sandwiches, wraps, chips, and dips.
- Air Fryer Pork Loin RoastRecipe $10.27 / Serving $1.28
- Fruity Pebbles TreatsRecipe $4.23 / Serving $0.35
- Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker CrustRecipe $4.25 / Serving $0.18
- Blackened Chicken SaladRecipe $12.58 / Serving $6.29
❓ Creamy Lemonade FAQs
Lemon and dairy don't normally go together because that will lead to curdled milk and a sour taste. That said, condensed milk can be mixed with lemon juice like in this recipe and still be fine.
Lemonade is traditionally made with lemon juice, sugar, and water, but in our recipe, we replace the sugar with condensed milk for a creamy sweetness.
Traditional lemonade can be frozen, but this condensed milk lemonade should not be frozen. Freezing and thawing will lead to curdled milk and sad results. Freezing Creamy Lemonade into popsicles and eating them while frozen may work, though.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Single Serving LemonadeRecipe $0.89
- Strawberry Banana Orange SmoothieRecipe $1.67 / Serving $0.84
- Banana Oreo MilkshakeRecipe $2.15
- Purple Cow FloatRecipe $0.71
🐝 If you tried this creamy lemonade, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Creamy Lemonade
Equipment
- Large whisk or spoon
Ingredients
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk - ($1.86)
- 1 ½ cup lemon juice - ($0.88)
- 4 cups ice cubes - ($0.00)
- 2 cups water - ($0.00)
Instructions
- Combine base. Add the sweetened condensed milk to the bottom of a large pitcher, then pour in the lemon juice and whisk well, making sure to scrape the sides of the pitcher.
- Add ice and water. Fill the pitcher with ice cubes, then pour in cold water until the pitcher is full.
- Mix. Stir thoroughly with a long spoon or whisk until evenly combined.
- Serve. Pour into glasses and serve cold, optionally garnished with fresh lemon slices.
Notes
- Substitutions. Condensed coconut milk or full fat coconut milk can be used for a dairy free version.
- Recipe Tips. Use sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk. For a sweeter drink, add ¼ to ½ cup granulated sugar. To get more juice from fresh lemons, microwave for 10 to 30 seconds and roll before slicing. Lemon concentrate can be used to boost lemon flavor.
- Storage. Refrigerate for up to 2 to 3 days and stir before serving if separation occurs.
Nutritional Information
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we'll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Comments
No Comments