Just the word “lemonade” brings back childhood memories of lazy, country summer days in Elberton, Ga. We went there every summer to visit family and if you asked for something to drink, you’d better believe it was gonna be well water, sweet iced tea or a chilled mason jar full of old fashioned , homemade lemonade!
My great grandfather would down sweating glasses of lemonade back to back while sitting on the porch, swatting flies and spittin’ tobacco. That was one of his favorite ways to past time.
A pitcher of good old fashioned, homemade lemonade was one of the first drinks I learned how to make as a child. I pretty much taught myself. I mean how hard is lemons, sugar and water, ya know. The hardest part is getting that perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
Simmering the zest creates a really pretty yellow color without having to use a powdered mix or food coloring and it also add a nice tang to the lemonade.
This homemade lemonade recipe is such a classic. It creates one amazing pitcher of sweet, tart, and refreshing lemonade!
And while you’re at it don’t forget to check out my recipe for old fashioned strawberry lemonade!
Watch me make this easy homemade lemonade from start to finish!
The Recipe
Easy Homemade Lemonade- My FAVORITE!
By Divas Can Cook
Ingredients
- 8 lemons, plus more for garnishing if desired
- 1½ - 2 cups sugar
- 6 cups water, divided
Instructions
- Wash lemons thoroughly.
- Roll lemons firmly on a hard surface until they become soft. This will make them easier to juice.
- Zest 2-3 lemons. Set aside
- In a pot over medium heat, add sugar, lemon zest and 2 cups of water.
- Simmer lightly for about 5 minutes or until sugar has dissolves and the mixture has a light yellow color. Do not boil.
- Remove from heat.
- Juice the lemons.
- Strain the lemon juice into a large pitcher.
- Strain the sugar mixture into the large pitcher.
- Add in 4 cups of cold water.
- Taste to make sure it's not too sweet for ya, if so add more water.
- Fill chilled glasses with ice and pour in the lemonade!
- Garnish each glass with sliced lemons.
- Store in the refrigerator.
Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe! Even my daughter, who is a countrytime fan 🙁 , loves it. My husband should be home in about an hour; hopefully it will last that long.
I love the look of this recipe but how much sugar do you use? I watched the video and read and re read the recipe and can’t see the quantity of sugar anywhere. AM I missing something?
2 cups of sugar but this is way too sweet for my liking.
The recipe calls for 11/2-2 cups sugar. Go with the lower amount if 2 cups is too sweet. Heck you can put in however much you want until your sweetness level is reached.
I LOVE Monique! This recipe was Wonderful! I just found this website and made this lemonade this evening! Love it! like a previous reviewer mentioned about the tartness and sweetness- it is simply just the perfect blend! I am making 5 old fashion latch back glass bottles full of this lemonade for my brothers for fathers day! Making them the HARD version;) They will love it! Thanks so much! I love you girl!
As we have a lemon tree, and hate to see waste. I made my first batch of your lemonade recipe 3 weeks ago, it was so delicious and refreshing with a bite. My family and friends think so too….So easy to make. This is a definite must to do every week whilst in season. Thank you.