Making homemade lemonade is a lovely nostalgic nod to old-fashioned picnics.
Sweet, tart, and refreshing, this 3 ingredient drink is a fantastic summer picnic drink and easier to make than you might think.
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Why I Love This Drink
With only 3 ingredients, you can whip up a refreshing drink for a few or a crowd.
It’s a favorite for spring picnics when lemons are becoming plentiful and Easter picnics, where you often need to cater for a crowd.
Homemade lemonade is also very adaptable – I give you many ways to make it seasonal or celebratory. If you have leftover lemons, whip up a batch of chewy Lemon Sugar Cookies.
Ingredients
See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements and notes.
Recipe Variations
Lemonade is such a versatile drink you can get quite creative with this old school classic. Whether you’re looking for something fruity, herbal, fizzy, or even boozy, these are some delicious variations you can make to your basic lemonade recipe:
- Fruit-Infused Lemonades: Blending fruit like watermelon with lemons makes a refreshing summer drink. Add cranberry juice for a sweet-tart pink lemonade. Add fruit purees as with my Blended Strawbery Lemonade recipe. You can also use raspberry or peach for a sweet and tangy flavor.
- Herb-Infused Lemonades: Herbs like mint, lavender, or basil can add a refreshing and aromatic dimension to your lemonade. Add the herbs to the simple syrup once the sugar is dissolved to create a beautifully complex flavor. Turn the heat off and let them steep for 15 minutes to infuse, then strain.
- Sparkling Lemonade: To give your lemonade a refreshingly fizzy lift, substitute some or all of the water with soda water.
- Alcoholic Lemonade: For an adult twist, adding a splash of vodka or your favorite spirit can transform your lemonade into a refreshing cocktail. A simple mix of 1 cup lemonade with a ¼ cup vodka can make for a tangy and easy-to-drink picnic cocktail, a great idea for birthday celebration picnics.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Lemons – Cut the lemons in half and use a juicer to extract the juice.
Strain to remove any seeds or pulp.
Step 2: Make the Simple Syrup – Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool.
Step 3: Combine the lemon juice and sugar syrup in a pitcher. Stir well to ensure the sugar is evenly distributed throughout the lemon juice.
Step 4: Add cold water to the pitcher and stir again to ensure it is well-mixed. Reduce the amount of water used if you prefer a more intense lemon flavor.
Step 5: Place the pitcher of lemonade in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes or pour directly over ice. Garnish with mint and lemon rounds for an even fresher taste.
Tip for serving cold lemonade at a picnic: Lemonade should be served icy cold. Pre-chill your lemonade and transport it in a large insulated drink bottle to keep it cold. Use another insulated chiller jug for ice. Pour the lemonade over ice at the picnic.
I don’t like to put the ice in the same container as the lemonade as it can dilute it. This also gives you ice for other drinks.
Expert Tips
- Simple Syrup for Consistency: Some recipes will give you shortcuts, such as dissolving the sugar directly into the lemon juice or using warm water. By making the simple syrup, you ensure that your lemonade is smooth and not grainy. The syrup prevents sugar crystals from settling at the bottom of your pitcher.
- Adjusting Sweetness and Tartness: One of the best parts of making lemonade is adjusting the sweetness and tartness to your liking. After mixing your basic ingredients, add the water incrementally and adjust with more sugar, water, or lemon, depending on your taste.
- Boost the Lemon Flavor with Zest: Adding lemon zest to your simple syrup can infuse your lemonade with an extra layer of lemon flavor (as you would with herbal infusions). Just be sure to strain out the zest before adding it to your lemonade to avoid bitterness.
- Storage and Make-ahead Tips: Lemonade can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze the lemon juice and simple syrup and defrost them as needed—just add water.
- Serve it Super Chilled: Lemonade is best served super chilled.
More Picnic Ideas
Did you try this Homemade Lemonade?
Please leave me a ⭐ rating below and let me know in the comments how you enjoyed it.
Easy Homemade Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 3-4 cups cold water
- mint garnish - Optional
Instructions
Prepare the Lemons
- Cut the lemons in half and use a juicer to extract the juice. Strain to remove any seeds or pulp.
Make the Simple Syrup
- Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool.
Make the Lemonade
- Combine the lemon juice and sugar syrup in a pitcher. Stir well to ensure the sugar is evenly distributed throughout the lemon juice.
- Add cold water to the pitcher and stir again to ensure it is well-mixed. Reduce the amount of water used if you prefer a more intense lemon flavor.
- Place the pitcher of lemonade in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes or pour directly over ice.
- Garnish with mint and lemon rounds.
Notes
- Simple Syrup: Don’t shortcut this step. The simple syrup ensures your lemonade isn’t grainy and has sugar crystals at the bottom of your pitcher.
- Adjusting Sweetness and Tartness: After mixing your basic ingredients, add the water incrementally and adjust with more sugar, water, or lemon, depending on your taste.
- Boost the Lemon Flavor with Zest: Adding lemon zest to your simple syrup can infuse your lemonade with an extra layer of lemon flavor. Strain out the zest before adding it to your lemonade to avoid bitterness.
- Storage and Make-ahead Tips: Lemonade can be made and stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze the lemon juice and simple syrup and defrost them as needed—just add water.
- Serve it Super Chilled: Lemonade is best served super chilled.
Nutrition
Coleman 1 Gallon Chiller Jug
A great way to carry ice for drinks to a picnic.
Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Drink Bottle
One gallon insulated drink container will keep drinks cold for up to 36 hrs.
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