Homemade Lemonade 3 Ingredients

With a fine balance of sweet and tart, this lemonade recipe is easy to customize and makes for a refreshing drink for BBQs, picnics or a casual weekend in your backyard! My family enjoys freshly squeezed lemonade all year round. We prefer our homemade version to the store-bought since we can control the sugar and customize it to our liking. Many times I end up making it with honey instead of sugar since honey is relatively low on the glycemic index.

The best part about this fresh lemonade recipe is that it comes together with just 3 ingredients that you most likely already have on hand. I make a big batch of lemonade concentrate, and freeze it in ice cube trays for later use. It’s such a simple and convenient way to enjoy this refreshing drink whenever the craving strikes. With a quick simple syrup which takes just 5-7 minutes to make, you get restaurant-style lemonade right in your kitchen. It’s an easy homemade lemonade recipe that’s easy to customize or even add a fun twist to. For example, add a bunch of mint leaves or basil leaves, or sneak in a few slices of ginger in the simple syrup- the possibilities are endless.

Ingredients- Notes & Substitutions

Large juicy lemons and a sweetener is all we need in addition to water for the best lemonade recipe. Let’s checkout some notes and alternatives:

Lemons: Pick ripe and juicy lemons for this recipe. Look for lemons that are plump with a tender skin. When comparing lemons, the heavier ones are more juicy than others. I wouldn’t recommend the bottled concentrate for this recipe. Sugar: I prefer to use cane sugar as that is slightly less processed than granulated sugar. But they are interchangeable in this recipe. However, if you’re looking for a low-glycemic sweetener, use honey instead (instructions in notes).Water: We need water in two steps here. First to make the concentrate, and later to make lemonade. Chilled water is always a great start to a delicious lemonade. Garnish: These are optional but add to the visual appeal of this classic summer drink. I use a few halved slices of lemon and mint leaves for a quick and summery garnish for each glass.

Try a Variation

Mint Lemonade: Add mint leaves to the simple syrup right after turning off the heat. The mint leaves will infuse their flavor as the syrup cools. Discard them before combining with lemon juice. Sparkling lemonade: For a fizzy lemonade use sparking water or soda water instead of plain water. Add it just before serving though.Ginger lemonade: Add sliced ginger while making simple syrup. Remove the slices when combining with water.

How to Make Homemade Lemonade

Here are the step by step instructions to make homemade lemonade from scratch. The quantities in this recipe make about 2 ¼ cups of lemonade concentrate (36 tablespoons). Scroll below for the printable recipe card with ingredient quantities and process.

How to Store & Freeze

Store: You can prepare the lemonade concentrate 2-3 days ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to use. Alternatively, you can prepare the lemonade a few hours ahead of time and refrigerate. Remember not to add ice as that will dilute the drink. Lemonade should last in your fridge for up to 3-4 days. How to Freeze homemade lemonade: You can freeze lemonade concentrate in ice cube trays. After a few hours, pop the cubes and transfer them to freezer safe ziplock bags. Label and date the bag and freeze for up to 3 months.