How to Make Homemade Lemonade
On a warm summer day, pouring out and sipping on a simple, yet refreshing glass of lemonade is hard to bargain with. And by mixing up a traditional lemonade recipe at home, you can reduce the large abundance of sugars and other preservatives generally added to prepackaged and store-bought lemonade packets and bottled products. But one of the greatest parts? Its ease of preparing it is anything by sour!
Ingredients
- 6 cups drinking water
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 medium-sized lemons or 6 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions
- In a large saucepan, heat the water and bring to a boil.
- Turn off stove top, stir in honey until dissolved, and allow to cool.
- If using fresh lemons, lightly roll across the counter to loosen some of the juice. Slice lemons in half and juice into a large pitcher, making sure to remove seeds.
- Add honey water into large pitcher with the lemon juice.
- Stir together, chill, and serve!
9 Fun, New Lemonade Recipes
1. Honey Sweetened Strawberry
The natural sweetness of strawberry and honey compliments tart lemon in this healthier alternative to sugary lemonade drinks! Feel free to swap out strawberries with other favorite berries, including blueberries, raspberries, or even a compilation of them all!
2. Cucumber Basil
Start by making the traditional lemonade detailed above, stopping at step #4. To the lemon juice and honey water mixture, add a half cucumber (thinly sliced) and 10 torn fresh basil leaves. Stir together and chill in the fridge for at least two hours prior to serving.
3. Roasted Peach
Take a unique trip to peachy flavortown with this peachy lemonade! While an oven is preheating to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, place five sliced and pitted peaches on a baking sheet, with skin facing down. Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon and a drizzle of honey and roast for approximately 25 minutes. Remove the skins and mix the edible peach flesh with cardamom in a blender or food processor until pureed. Pour peach mixture into the traditional lemonade, stir, and chill. Stir again before serving!
4. Mint and Ginger
Ditch sugar-laden beverages for the refreshing tastes of mint, ginger, and lemon! Find the energetic and easy lemonade recipe here. Alternatively, heat up the lemonade for a soothing drink!
5. Orange Sunshine
Nature’s sunshine fruit reinvigorates this refreshing lemonade drink! Utilizing freshly squeezed lemon and orange, honey, and little salt, this unique way to enjoy lemonade also poses as a post-workout drink to replenish lost electrolytes without all the unnecessary sugars and additives.
6. Lemon and Lime
Ditch the lemon-lime soda for a refreshing, healthy beverage! Start by squeezing four limes and four lemons, making sure to strain the seeds, into chilled club soda for an easy lemonade recipe. Enhance and alternate the flavor by adding a splash of pure cherry juice to resemble a cherry limeade!
7. Vanilla Bean
The slightly unusual pairing or vanilla and lemonade coerce into one desirable beverage. Relish the sweet and sour flavors of this vanilla bean lemonade recipe! To reduce the amount of sugar, swap with an alternative sweetener, or lightly sweeten with honey or agave.
8. Watermelon Jalapeno
If looking to be extra adventurous, look no further than this watermelon jalapeno lemonade recipe! Since the watermelon is naturally-sweetened on its own, feel free reduce added sugars or add more watermelon as desired.
9. Lemonade Popsicles
Lemonade goes beyond the pitcher and can be enjoyed in the form of homemade popsicles! All indicated lemonade recipes can be frozen into popsicle molds and enjoyed on a warm day!
