Put a fun colorful twist on your favorite summer drink with this orange lemonade recipe. Made with orange juice and lemonade, you already know it's going to be good!
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This orange juice lemonade is truly refreshing and wonderful. We put a spin on Old Fashioned Lemonade and just can't get enough.
While all lemonade is wonderful and beautiful, the colors in every glass look like sunshine. I still can't decide if I like the appearance and taste of this Orange Lemonade or my Strawberry Pink Lemonade more.
Homemade orangeade is not only tasty but also a money-saving drink. Making it at home is affordable because the recipe is simple and uses basic ingredients.
Instead of buying ready-made drinks, you can squeeze fresh oranges and lemons, ensuring good quality without the extra cost of processing and packaging. Oranges and lemons, are usually cheap, especially when they're in season.
If you like this Orange Lemonade and want more frugal lemonade recipes, make sure to check out my Pickle Lemonade, Whipped Frozen Lemonade, and Single Serving Lemonade.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. Made with basic ingredients, this lemonade recipe is very simple and easy to throw together. This recipe is almost as easy to make as our Blue Raspberry Lemonade!
- Quick to make. Just a few moments in the kitchen and you'll have a pitcher full of Orange Lemonade ready to drink.
- Easy to double. Have a larger pitcher and looking to make enough for a party or to last a few days? Don't worry because this recipe is very easy to double or even triple as needed.
🛒 Ingredients
Orange juice. You can use freshly squeezed orange juice or find orange juice at the grocery store where there are no added ingredients. I like to use Florida's best orange juice (without pulp).
If you still have orange juice leftover try making some Strawberry Banana Orange Smoothies.
Fresh lemon and oranges- For garnishes, you can use fresh lemons and oranges that have been sliced into circles or wedges.
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.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use bottled lemon juice. Fresh lemons taste great, but bottled lemon juice is much cheaper and works perfectly in Orange Lemonade, especially when making bigger batches.
Buy orange juice on sale. Store-brand orange juice or frozen orange juice concentrate is often far more affordable than premium brands and tastes just as refreshing when mixed into lemonade.
Skip the garnishes. Fresh orange and lemon slices look pretty but aren't necessary. Omit them to save a few extra dollars.
Dilute to stretch portions. For parties or large families, add extra cold water or ice to stretch the batch without sacrificing flavor.
🥄 Instructions for Orange 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 orange juice.
Step 4: Add in the lemon juice.
Step 5: Now add in the water and enough ice cubes to fill the pitcher. Stir to combine.
Step 6: Add sliced fruit for garnishes, if desired.
Pour into drinking glasses and enjoy cold.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
Tip for squeezing more juice out of fresh lemons. I like to microwave 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.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Store your orange lemonade in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir before serving if it settles.
Make Ahead: If preparing ahead, mix the Orange Lemonade and chill it without the ice or garnishes. Add ice and sliced fruit right before serving to keep the drink fresh and prevent it from getting watered down.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Orange lemonade pairs well with grilled chicken, salads, fruit trays, sandwiches, or light summer snacks. It also tastes great alongside baked goods like muffins, cookies, or sweet breads.
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❓ Orange Lemonade FAQs
I highly recommend it. Dissolving the sugar in warm water only takes a moment, but if you add the sugar to the pitcher with cold water, you'll be stirring for quite some time to dissolve the sugar in instead. If you don't want to use sugar you can use condensed milk like in my Creamy Lemonade.
You can add in just about anything and have it taste great! Adding in a little fruit juice or fresh fruits can really add a lot of flavor and color. You can even add in fresh herbs like mint for a refreshing spin.
Honestly, it can be cheaper to buy pre-bought lemonade than it is to squeeze your own lemons for lemonade. That said, homemade is healthier because you are in control of the ingredients and can omit preservatives and reduce sugars as desired.
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🐝 If you tried this orange lemonade, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Orange Lemonade
Ingredients
- 3 cups water, divided - ($0.00)
- 1 cup granulated sugar - ($0.36)
- ½ cup orange juice - ($0.03)
- 1 cup lemon juice - ($0.88)
- ice cubes - ($0.00)
Optional Garnishes
- 1 small lemon, sliced - ($0.58)
- 1 small orange, sliced - ($0.88)
Instructions
- Make syrup. Combine 1 cup water and the sugar in a small saucepan and cook just until the sugar dissolves, then let cool.
- Build lemonade. Pour the cooled simple syrup into a pitcher, then add the orange juice and lemon juice.
- Finish. Add the remaining water and enough ice cubes to fill the pitcher, then stir well to combine.
- Garnish and serve. Add sliced lemon and orange if desired, pour into glasses, and serve cold.
Notes
- Substitutions. Lemon juice may be replaced with lemon concentrate. Use pure orange juice without additives.
- Recipe Tips. Microwave lemons briefly and roll before slicing to extract more juice.
- Make Ahead. Refrigerate without ice or garnishes and add just before serving.
- Storage. Store sealed in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutritional Information
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