Looking for a refreshing drink to cool you down on a hot summer day? Look no further than this easy homemade lemonade recipe. No simple syrup to make. Try it today.

We all agree that homemade Lemonade and summer belong together just like grilling and summer. But let’s face it, when there are multiple steps involved in a recipe, we tend to procrastinate those recipes. That’s why my fresh-squeezed homemade lemonade uses a recipe cheat.

This is easily the best lemonade recipe you will ever find. It’s ah-amazingly delicious y’all. Once you learn to make it this way, you’ll never go back to making simple syrup.

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Equipment Needed

• Fruit juicer
• 2-quart pitcher
• Cutting Board
• Knife
• Mesh strainer
• Tall Stirring Spoon, wooden spoon is recommended

Ingredients for Homemade Lemonade

You can’t beat a recipe that only requires a few simple ingredients. I expect you probably already have the water and sugar so the only thing you need to add to your grocery list is a few fresh lemons.

Lemons

If you can find Meyer Lemons at your grocery store, those make great home made lemonade. Meyer’s lemons are not too tart and have just a hint of sweetness.

Sugar

Granulated sugar is all you need. Nothing special. The same sugar you use to make sweet tea.

• 5 or 6 Fresh ripe large lemons
• Water (warm tap water)
• Sugar

See my product recommendations under the recipe

Step 1 Juice the lemons

Slice and juice your lemons. Cut a few lemon slices for adding to the pitcher and glasses for decoration.

Tips for juicing lemons

Roll your lemons on the counter using the palm of your hand until you can feel the lemon loosen up a little. This is one of the best ways to help you get the most juice to flow more freely.

You can use either a bowl juicer (pictured), hand held juicer, an electric juicer like this one, or a reamer like this.

My fruit juicer is a vintage glass one. It was my Mom’s and I love using it. Juicing lemons requires a little elbow grease but it isn’t hard to do. You squeeze the lemon while pressing down and watch the juice ooze out, seeds and all.

Step 2 Strain Out The Seeds and Pulp

Pour the juice into a 2 quart pitcher through a fine mesh strainer to exclude the pulp and seeds.

Tips for straining seeds and pulp

A mesh strainer is such a handy tool to have in the kitchen.

When your juicer bowl is getting full, just pour the contents through the strainer which catches all of the pulp and seeds saving you the struggle of fishing out seeds.

No matter which method and tool you use to squeeze the juice from the lemons, you will still want to strain out the pulp and seeds.

I love that my mesh strainer rests perfectly on top of my vintage glass pitcher. My strainer is vintage with an almond-green handle from the 70s.

Step 3 Adding Sugar and Water

Once you are finished squeezing the lemons for your homemade lemonade it’s time to add sugar and water.

Add to a 2-quart pitcher, with the lemon juice already in the bottom, one cup of granulated sugar. Then turn the kitchen hot water faucet on and allow the water to get nice and warm. Fill the pitcher a little more than 2/3 of the way full with warm tap water, stirring while adding. The warm water helps the sugar to dissolve. Keep stirring until all of the sugar dissolves.

Although my recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of sugar, I’m going to teach you how to measure for your own personal taste below.

Step 4 Taste Test

Time for a taste test. I’m expecting you to want more sweetness right now. Add 1/4 cup of sugar and continue to stir while filling with more warm tap water. Do Not Fill The Pitcher Up To The Top With Water Just Yet.

How To Taste Test Your Lemonade recipe

Do not fill your pitcher too full with water just yet! If you add more sugar, the liquid level will rise.

Give yourself another taste test by dipping out a good sip into a small cup or glass. Taste and decide if you want more sugar. If you are a fan of really sweet lemonade, you need a little more room for the lemonade to rise in the pitcher when add more sugar. At this point, I’d only add more sugar in 1/4 cup increments, taste testing after stirring well.

Just keep stirring and adding sugar followed by a taste test until you have reached the perfect level of sweetness you know your crew will love.

Write it down y’all. If you squeezed 5 medium lemons and wound up using 2 cups of sugar, make a note of that. Chances are excellent, this will be your personal taste every time you make Homemade Lemonade in your pitcher.

Want tart lemonade?

Use less sugar. It’s so easy. Adjust the sugar in this simple lemonade recipe to suit your own taste.

Serve and enjoy!

Tip

The secret is to use warm tap water to dissolve the sugar. You do that by adding sugar in small increments, stirring after each. Then adding more warm tap water, stirring until you have the pitcher full of your delicious homemade lemonade.

Add lemons to your grocery list and surprise your crew with a big cold pitcher of sweet homemade lemonade.

Fresh homemade lemonade is the perfect refreshment on a hot day. Fresh cut lemon slices floating in the pitcher makes a pretty addition to a summer table.

Add a lot of ice to your mason jars. Pour your fresh squeezed homemade lemonade over the ice in a chilled glass. Add a straw. Relax and enjoy!

Why drink lemonade?

Lemons are a source of Vitamin C and they also provide a natural source of antioxidants. This delicious homemade lemonade recipe is the perfect drink on a hot summer day.

More Summer Beverage Recipes

• Southern Sweet Tea Recipe
• Vanilla Milkshake with Sprinkles Best Ever Summer Dessert
• Watermelon Mint Lemonade recipe
• Homemade Chocolate Filled Ice Cream Soda Recipe
• Southern Brewed Ginger Peach Sweet Iced Tea Recipe
• Fall Coffee Bar In the Kitchen

Homemade Lemonade and summer belong together just like grilling and summer. Learning to make it the lazy way using this easy lemonade recipe is a must for busy cooks.

More Ways To Make Summer Special

Need an extra side table for outdoor sitting in the summer. I made this one using Dollar store supplies and it’s been perfect for porch sitting and sipping.

It’s hot in the summer and the kids want to play in the water. Make this Water Tarp Game for hours of outdoor water play in your yard. Easy tutorial for you to make your own.

Have you seen the popular pub game called Ring and Hook? We played it at someone’s home and had to make our own. It’s addictive and an easy way to play outside for people of all ages.

What to do with the kiddos in the summer? Grandma Camp, that’s what. This Grandma came up with an entire plan to keep the tweens occupied all summer long. Her ideas are right here.

Is there a beach vacation in your summer plans? Take our Beach Scavenger Hunt printable with you. This will keep the kiddos busy.

Summer means yard and garden time. We love planting pretty flowers to enjoy, don’t you! See our list of 15 Best Annual Flowers for Full Sun then plan your flower beds.