Easy Simple Lemonade Recipe from Scratch 3-Ingredient Refreshing Drink
A quick and easy homemade lemonade recipe using just fresh lemons, sugar, and water. Perfectly balanced, refreshing, and ideal for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 medium-sized fresh lemons (about 1 cup or 240 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice)
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 4 cups (960 ml) cold water
- Ice cubes (optional, for serving)
- Fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
- Lemon slices (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Roll 4-6 lemons on the counter to soften, then cut them in half. Using a citrus juicer or reamer, extract about 1 cup (240 ml) of fresh lemon juice. Remove any seeds but keep pulp if desired.
- In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, combine 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar with 1 cup (240 ml) warm water. Stir gently until the sugar fully dissolves, about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the fresh lemon juice and the cooled simple syrup into a large pitcher. Stir gently to combine.
- Add 3 cups (720 ml) of cold water to the pitcher and stir well. Taste and adjust by adding more water or simple syrup if too tart, or more lemon juice or water if too sweet.
- Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes. Serve chilled over ice cubes with optional lemon slices or fresh mint leaves for garnish.
Notes
Use fresh lemons for best flavor. Dissolve sugar in warm water to avoid graininess. Adjust sweetness gradually. Chill lemonade before serving. For sparkling lemonade, replace cold water with chilled sparkling water just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces (240 ml)
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 2
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Fiber: 0.3
Keywords: lemonade, homemade lemonade, refreshing drink, simple lemonade, summer drink, easy lemonade recipe