Warm days and cold, refreshing drinks are here — and this Perfect Lemonade is one of my favorites. Made with fresh lemon juice and a simple syrup, it strikes a lovely balance between sweet and tart. Utterly refreshing!
Did you ever run a lemonade stand as a child or stop to buy a paper cup from one? A lemonade stand is often a child’s first introduction to basic business sense, and there’s something timeless about a good glass of lemonade.
On a hot day we instinctively reach for acidic, cold drinks like lemonade. The tartness makes the first sip feel instantly quenching, and before you know it you’re reaching for another glass. Part of the appeal is temperature and flavor — cold, tart, and delicious — but keep in mind that very acidic and sugary drinks can be mildly dehydrating. If you need to rehydrate after hard work in the heat, water is best. If you’re relaxing on the porch, a tall glass of lemonade is a perfect treat.
For this recipe I make a simple syrup to ensure the sugar dissolves completely and integrates smoothly with the lemon juice. To make it, bring sugar, water, and lemon zest to a boil, simmer just long enough to dissolve the sugar, then remove from heat and cool while you juice the lemons.
How I Made It
Simple syrup…
Simple syrup is the trick to a smooth lemonade. Boil sugar, water, and a bit of zest for about a minute until the sugar dissolves, then set the syrup aside to cool while you prepare the lemons.
Fresh lemons…
I juiced enough fresh lemons to yield 2 1/2 cups of lemon juice and zested two of the lemons for extra brightness. Zesting and juicing fresh lemons gives a brightness you can’t get from bottled juice.
Combine the cooled simple syrup with the lemon juice and zest in a one-gallon drink dispenser or large pitcher. Add cold water to bring the volume up to nearly one gallon (leave room for ice), taste, and adjust sweetness as desired.
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Perfect Lemonade
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- Author: Cindy Gibbs
- Prep Time: 25 Minutes
- Cook Time: 5 Minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Cook
Description
This bright, homemade lemonade is an ideal thirst-quencher on hot days and far superior to the pre-made varieties on the shelf. It’s simple to make and full of fresh lemon flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 14–16 lemons (depending on size), enough for 2 1/2 cups lemon juice
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
- Zest of two lemons
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine the water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring, until the sugar dissolves to make a simple syrup. Remove from heat and cool completely.
- Juice enough lemons to yield 2 1/2 cups of lemon juice. Zest two lemons and add the zest to the juice.
- Pour the lemon juice into a one-gallon pitcher or drink dispenser and add the cooled simple syrup.
- Add cold water to bring the mixture up to nearly one gallon (leave room for ice). Stir well and add more sugar if you prefer it sweeter.
- Refrigerate until chilled, then serve over ice.