Grab some lemons and your largest pitcher because we're about to fill it up with some old fashioned lemonade. Made with lemons, sugar, and water, it doesn't get any simpler than this summer drink recipe!
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If you love the taste of lemonade, then you're going to love this old fashioned homemade lemonade. Nothing is better than the classics, and this drink really hits the spot!
Packed with sweet and tart lemon flavor in every sip, this lemonade is a favorite for a reason. Make a pitcher full or make a Single Serving Lemonade and its guaranteed to not last long either way.
We love our lemonade and often buy lemon concentrate in bulk to justify this summer expense. But that's okay because, with so many tasty variations like Blue Raspberry Lemonade, Strawberry Pink Lemonade, and Orange Lemonade, we really make sure we never get bored.
If you're looking for something a bit more chilled, try this Whipped Frozen Lemonade!
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Minimal ingredients. You only need 4 ingredients to make this drink, making it perfect for when you want something quick and easy.
- Tangy and sweet. This drink is honestly perfect. Not too sweet and not too tart, this lemonade is strong and well balanced.
- Easy to follow steps. The steps needed to make this recipe are simple and easy, making it perfect for everyone to give it a try! Dissolve the sugar and mix it all in a pitcher. Add ice and serve.
🛒 Ingredients
Sugar- You will need some granulated sugar to sweeten this drink. If you don't have sugar you can try some sweetened condensed milk like in my Creamy Lemonade.
Water- Water is the base of the lemonade and will help to dissolve the sugar so that it doesn't turn out grainy. I often use a little warm water, until the sugar is dissolved and then fill up the rest of the pitcher with cold water so it lasts longer.
Lemon juice- You can use freshly squeezed lemons or lemon juice concentrate. Fresh lemons give a better flavor, but the concentrate is great for when you're in a pinch (plus it's cheaper). If you have a bunch of lemons on hand, check out my Raspberry Lemon Bundt Cake for an awesome dessert to serve alongside your drink.
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 instead. You can also use it to bring the fresh lemon juice up to the required measurement so you can keep that strong lemon flavor.
🥣 Recipe Add-Ins
The BEST part about lemonade is that you can add just about anything to it and still have it taste great! For example:
- Add blue raspberry syrup for Blue Raspberry Lemonade
- Add in pickle juice for Pickle Lemonade
- Add in orange juice for Orange Lemonade
- Adding strawberry puree will give you Strawberry Pink Lemonade
Swap out sugar for sweetened condensed milk, honey, or maple syrup. Brown sugar also works well too.
There are so many different options available you can have a pitcher of unique lemonade recipes in the fridge all summer long.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy lemons in bulk. A bag of fresh lemons is cheaper per pound than buying them individually. If you find them on sale, juice and freeze the extras for later.
Use bottled lemon juice in a pinch. While fresh tastes best, bottled lemon juice is a great budget option that still delivers plenty of flavor.
Add ice, not water. Ice cubes help stretch your lemonade without diluting it as much as adding extra water upfront.
Repurpose lemons. After juicing, toss the rinds into your garbage disposal or vinegar cleaner for a natural fresh scent. My All Purpose Citrus Vinegar Cleaner works great with lemons!
🥄 Instructions for Old Fashioned Lemonade
Step 1: Prepare the simple syrup by cooking 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in a small pot just until the sugar has dissolved.
Allow to cool before use. Alternatively, you can make microwave simple syrup.
Step 2: Pour the simple syrup into your pitcher.
Step 3: Add in the lemon juice.
Step 4: Now add in the water and enough ice cubes to fill the pitcher. Stir to combine.
Step 5: Add sliced lemon for garnishes, if desired.
Pour into drinking glasses and enjoy cold.
Keep stored in the fridge. Enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- How to get more juice from lemons. To squeeze more juice out of fresh lemons a tip I like to use is microwaving them for about 10-30 seconds. Then before slicing in half, roll them back and forth along the counter while pushing down on them, like you're rolling out a dough log. This helps to get more juice out of the lemons.
- No stove? No problem. If desired, you can make Microwave Simple Syrup instead of cooking it on the stovetop.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Store homemade lemonade in a covered pitcher or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir before serving, as natural separation may occur.
Make Ahead: Prepare the lemonade base ahead of time by mixing the lemon juice, sugar, and water according to the recipe, but wait to add ice or garnishes. Store the base in the fridge for several hours or up to a full day, then add ice and fresh slices of lemon or mint right before serving to keep it bright and flavorful.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve old-fashioned lemonade with grilled foods, sandwiches, or picnic favorites like potato salad and fruit. It pairs perfectly with barbecue dishes, summer desserts, or light snacks such as cookies and muffins. For a refreshing twist, add fresh mint or a few berries when serving.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
The main ingredients in traditional lemonade are lemon juice, water, and sugar. Anything "extra" is exactly that.
Yes, absolutely! I often find myself using bottled lemon juice for lemonade instead of fresh lemons because it's much cheaper and easier to store. The lemon flavor might be more pronounced with concentrate so you may need some additional sweetener.
Your homemade lemonade can last about 5-7 days if kept stored in the fridge. Note that if storing lemonade in a plastic pitcher you may notice discoloration on the pitcher after a few days due to the acidity of this drink.
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🐝 If you tried this old fashioned lemonade, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 cups water, divided - ($0.00)
- 1 cup granulated sugar - ($0.20)
- 1 cup lemon juice, fresh or bottled - ($0.88)
- ice cubes - ($0.00)
Garnish
- 1 small lemon, sliced - ($0.58)
Instructions
- Make syrup. Add 1 cup water and sugar to a small saucepan. Heat just until the sugar dissolves, then remove from heat and let cool.
- Combine base. Pour cooled simple syrup into a pitcher. Add lemon juice and stir to combine.
- Dilute. Add remaining water and enough ice cubes to fill the pitcher. Stir well.
- Garnish. Add sliced lemon if using.
- Serve. Pour into glasses and enjoy cold.
Notes
- Juice Options. Fresh lemon juice is ideal, but bottled lemon juice or concentrate can be used to reach the full 1 cup.
- Juicing Tip. Microwave lemons 10 to 30 seconds and roll on the counter before squeezing to release more juice.
- Make Ahead. Prepare lemonade without ice and garnish. Refrigerate up to 24 hours, then add ice and lemon slices before serving.
- Storage. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
Nutritional Information
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Joyce says
Always like a recipe from scratch, authentic ingredients are always best.