Fresh Homemade Lemonade Pitcher Recipe Easy Summer Refreshing Drink
A quick and easy homemade lemonade recipe that is refreshing, perfectly balanced, and ideal for summer gatherings. Made with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s naturally gluten-free and vegan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–8 medium-sized fresh lemons (to yield 1 to 1¼ cups fresh lemon juice)
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 5 cups (1.2 liters) cold water
- Ice cubes, plenty for serving
- Optional: handful of fresh mint leaves, lightly bruised
- Optional: 1 cup sparkling water (to substitute part of still water)
- Optional: lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the simple syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup (240 ml) water with 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 3-5 minutes. Avoid boiling. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
- Juice the lemons: Roll each lemon firmly on the countertop to loosen the juice. Cut in half and juice until you have about 1 to 1¼ cups (240-300 ml) of fresh lemon juice. Strain through a fine sieve to remove seeds and pulp if desired.
- Mix the lemonade: In a chilled pitcher, combine the cooled simple syrup and fresh lemon juice. Add 4 cups (960 ml) of cold water and stir well. Taste and adjust by adding more lemon juice if too sweet or more water if too tart.
- Add optional ingredients: If using mint, bruise the leaves gently and toss them in. For sparkling lemonade, substitute 1 cup of still water with sparkling water just before serving.
- Chill and serve: Add plenty of ice cubes to the pitcher or glasses. Garnish with lemon slices. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Stir before serving.
Notes
Chill the simple syrup before mixing to avoid wilting mint and diluting flavor. Strain lemon juice twice for less pulp. Adjust sweetness by tasting and adding more lemon juice or water as needed. Store lemonade in the refrigerator up to 2 days and stir before serving. Add ice last minute to avoid dilution.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (8 fl oz)
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 2
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Fiber: 0.2
Keywords: lemonade, homemade lemonade, summer drink, refreshing drink, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, easy lemonade recipe, vegan lemonade, gluten-free lemonade