• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

In the Kitch

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Guides
  • Tutorials
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Summer Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Guides
    • Tutorials
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    In the Kitch » Recipes » Drinks

    Updated: Apr 12, 2024 · Published: Jun 17, 2019 by Joss Dyckson · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    How to Make Lemonade

    Jump to Recipe
    Lemon squeezing into pitcher and lemonade in jars with text overlay that says 'how to make lemonade'.

    Whether it's for a party, a front yard stand, or just to cool off in the summer heat, this step by step guide for how to make lemonade from scratch, with real lemons, will knock your socks off.

    Lemonade in jars with basil and blue straws.

    Homemade, freshly squeezed lemonade is one of the childhood delicacies that you never truly grow out of. While it might just be a simple concoction of various parts lemons, water, and sweet things, mixing up a huge batch of this classic summer beverage is always a special occasion.

    This recipe is a slightly more sophisticated and gourmet take on the drink while still being just as quick and easy to put together. You're basically just infusing water with fruit without using a juicer, sweetening it and your lemonade is ready to go. It can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

    Jump to:
    • 🍋Ingredients
    • 📖Tweaks
    • 🥄Instructions
    • 💭Tips
    • ❓Lemonade Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️More Refreshing Summer Drinks
    • 📋Recipe

    🍋Ingredients

    Lemonade ingredients labeled.
    • ripe lemons - I like to work with room temperature lemons rather than cold from the fridge. They are actually easier to squeeze this way and I feel like I can get more juice out of them!
    • water - Cold tap water or filtered water.
    • sugar - I use white granulated sugar but you could also use a simple syrup so that the sugar is already dissolved ahead of time (check out how to make simple syrup here). This will help sweeten and tone down the tartness of the lemons.
    • vanilla extract (not pictured) - This is my secret ingredient that makes the BEST lemonade I've ever had.
    • basil leaves - The basil is completely optional and I don't always add it but sometimes it's nice for a bit of a flavor booster.
    • ice - Have to keep that lemonade nice and chilled.

    *Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.

    📖Tweaks

    One of the best things about it is just how easy it is to change up your classic lemonade.

    • Change the sweetener. You could make a version without sugar by swapping in honey.
    • Experiment with herbs. Try muddling the basil or other plants for a spicier and more herb-forward flavor or even try a Brazilian style lemonade.
    • Add strawberry flavor. Sometimes I will add strawberry-flavored sparkling water or strawberry purée for more fruity flavor, so you could even give that a try.

    So long as you're using quality ingredients with lemon juice straight from the fruit, you basically can't go wrong.

    🥄Instructions

    Lemon sliced in half on cutting board.

    Step #1. Cut the lemons. Cut the lemons into halves.

    Lemon getting squeezed into pitcher of water.

    Step #2. Add the water and lemon juice. Pour the water into a large pitcher and squeeze in the lemon juice.

    Chef's Note: Some lemons will have more juice than others so start out with a few, adding more to taste. You want it to have a good amount of lemon flavor.

    Sugar pouring into pitcher of water.

    Step #3. Sweeten the lemonade. Add the sugar and vanilla extract to the pitcher.

    Wooden spoon mixing lemonade in pitcher.

    Step #4. Stir the lemonade. Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.

    Ice in glass.

    Step #5. Fill glasses with ice. Add ice cubes or crushed ice to individual glasses.

    Lemonade pouring into ice-filled glass.

    Step #6. Pour the lemonade. Pour the lemonade into the glasses. You can add some basil leaves to serve, if you wish.

    Lemonade in jars with blue lids and straws.

    Step #7. Serve. Serve immediately! A single sip of this stuff will so thoroughly outpace the stuff you buy in a can or mix up from a powder that you might even forget there was a way to do it besides making it fresh.

    💭Tips

    • Catch the seeds. To avoid getting seeds in the pitcher: 1) either use a citrus juicer or 2) squeeze the juice through a small metal strainer 3) squeeze the juice through your clean hand with fingers slightly spread. Your hand will catch the seeds and the juice will pour through.
    • Adjust to taste. You can adjust to your taste by adding more water, lemon juice and/or sugar.
    • Make it strong. The secret to a good lemonade is to make it strong so that you can serve it nice and chilled over ice. It will remain full of that sweet, lemony flavor when the ice starts to melt into the drink.
    • Get more out of your lemons. Try rolling the lemons on the countertop before juicing. This will help loosen the inside of the lemons.
    • Add ice to the glass, not the pitcher. Don't add ice to the pitcher. Add it to individual glasses when serving for best results. This way your lemonade won't get watered down.

    ❓Lemonade Recipe FAQs

    How much lemon juice is in one lemon?

    While it does vary, each regular size lemon will have approximately 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

    How many lemons does it take to make lemonade?

    This too will vary, but I use at least 1 lemon per cup of water. It will depend on how much juice is in each lemon and how strong you like your lemonade.

    How do you store freshly squeezed lemonade?

    The lemonade should be stored in the fridge and will last for up to one week.

    ❤️More Refreshing Summer Drinks

    • Strawberry juice in a glass jar with a white straw on the side.
      Homemade Strawberry Juice
    • Passion fruit mojitos with fresh mint in glasses.
      Passion Fruit Mojitos
    • Watermelon basil cocktail in wine glass with watermelon swizzle stick.
      Frozen Watermelon Basil Cocktail
    • Mojito mocktail with mint and lime in glass.
      Classic Mojito Mocktail

    Do you have a favorite way to drink lemonade? 🧊 On the rocks by itself? Relaxing by the 🏖️ beach? If you tried this recipe tutorial for 🍋 How to Make Lemonade Step by Step or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!

    📋Recipe

    Lemonade in jars with basil and blue straws.

    How to Make Lemonade

    Joss Dyckson
    My recipe tutorial for how to make lemonade from scratch is a slightly more sophisticated and mature take on the drink while still being just as easy to put together. Whether it’s for a party, a front yard stand, or just to cool off in the summer heat, this delicious summer drink with real lemon will knock your socks off.
    5 from 11 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 228 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4-6 lemons - depending on taste
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ice
    • basil leaves - optional

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the lemons into halves.
      Lemon sliced in half on cutting board.
    • Pour the water into a large pitcher and squeeze in the lemon juice. Some lemons will have more juice than others so start out with a few, adding more to taste.
      Lemon getting squeezed into pitcher of water.
    • Add the sugar and vanilla extract to the pitcher.
      Sugar pouring into pitcher of water.
    • Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
      Wooden spoon mixing lemonade in pitcher.
    • Serve in individual glasses with ice. You can add some basil leaves to serve, if you wish.
      Lemonade in jars with fresh basil.

    Equipment

    • Pitcher

    Notes

    • Adjusting to taste. You can adjust to your taste by adding more water, lemon juice and/or sugar. Sometimes I will add strawberry-flavored sparkling water, so you could even give that a try.
    • Make it strong. The secret to a good lemonade is to make it strong so that you can serve it nice and chilled over ice. It will remain full of that sweet, lemony flavor when the ice starts to melt into the drink.
    • Ice tip. Don't add ice to the pitcher. Add it to individual glasses when serving for best results.
    • Storage. Lemonade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
    • Catch the seeds. To avoid getting seeds in the pitcher: 1) either use a citrus juicer or 2)squeeze the juice through a small metal strainer 3) squeeze the juice through your clean hand with fingers slightly spread. Your hand will catch the seeds and the juice will pour through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 228kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 15mgPotassium: 152mgFiber: 3gSugar: 53gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 57mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

    Want to see our recipes in action?Subscribe to our channel on Youtube!

    More Drinks

    • Cocktail syrups infusing in bottles.
      How to Prepare Cocktail Syrups
    • Gingerbread latte and gingerbread coffee syrup.
      Gingerbread Coffee Syrup (+ Latte)
    • Grilled pineapple juice in stemless wine glass with grilled pineapple wedge garnish.
      Grilled Pineapple Juice
    • Fog cutter cocktail in tall glasses.
      Fog Cutter Cocktail
    75 shares
    • Share20
    • Tweet
    • Email
    • Bluesky
    • Reddit

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 11 votes (4 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Vanessa says

      June 12, 2023 at 7:25 pm

      This is really good lemonade. The lemon flavor was strong and the vanilla made it taste amazing.

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        June 17, 2023 at 9:46 am

        Thanks Vanessa!

        Reply
    2. Colleen says

      August 24, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      There's nothing more refreshing than homemade lemonade, and I definitely need to try the vanilla addition. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        August 24, 2021 at 1:57 pm

        Thanks Colleen!

        Reply
    3. nancy says

      August 22, 2021 at 2:55 pm

      What a great idea on adding some vanilla - i've never done that! Thanks for the tip

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        August 22, 2021 at 2:58 pm

        I love the vanilla. Thanks Nancy!

        Reply
    4. Bernice says

      August 19, 2021 at 9:23 pm

      What a lovely post. Mixing up homemade lemonade is such a treat and something I do on a regular basis. I love being able to control the sugar level because I love mine extra 'puckery'.

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        August 20, 2021 at 12:18 pm

        Thank you Bernice. It's been our treat too, all summer!

        Reply
    5. Shelby says

      August 18, 2021 at 5:11 am

      The basil would be so refreshing! This is perfect for the end of summer on the last warm days.

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        August 18, 2021 at 9:58 am

        It's definitely a good way to soak up the end of summer. Thanks Shelby!

        Reply
    6. Nat says

      August 17, 2021 at 9:51 pm

      Wow! I’ve never tried to add vanilla extract and basil leaves to my lemonade. What a great idea!

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        August 18, 2021 at 9:57 am

        The vanilla in it is the best! I won't have it without it now. And the basil is nice and refreshing. Thanks Nat!

        Reply
    7. Vanessa says

      August 17, 2021 at 8:10 pm

      Love this kicked up version of lemonade! Also tastes great in cocktails!

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        August 17, 2021 at 8:29 pm

        Wait a minute Vanessa, did you know that I was having a cocktail with this lemonade as the comment came through? lol. So good! Thanks so much for the comment and I'm glad you love it!

        Reply
    8. Sierra says

      August 07, 2021 at 9:22 pm

      I think this might be the best lemonade I’ve ever had. The vanilla really adds to it! My kids loved it.

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        August 08, 2021 at 9:23 am

        Thank you so much Sierra!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Joss D author image.

    Hi, I'm Joss!

    I am the creator and editor of In the Kitch. I am inviting you on this food journey with me to learn, grow and bring out that inner chef in you. I hope to inspire you to get creative in your own kitchen!

    More about me →

    Summer Recipes

    • Melon prosciutto skewers with toothpicks.
      Melon Prosciutto Skewers (Summer Appetizer)
    • Watermelon basil cocktail in wine glass with watermelon swizzle stick.
      Frozen Watermelon Basil Cocktail
    • Bison Tacos
    • Watermelon salad with basil in black salad bowl.
      Watermelon Basil Salad
    • Grilled bison ribeye steak sliced on cutting board with spices on the side.
      Grilled Bison Ribeye Steaks
    • Strawberry crumble in tart dish with vanilla ice cream and spoon.
      Easy Strawberry Crumble

    Popular

    • Strawberry slushy margarita with mint leaves.
      How to Make a Slushy Margarita
    • Cake pop frosting in bowl with spatula.
      Cake Pop Frosting & Coating
    • Sliced candied limes on wooden counter.
      How to Candy Limes
    • Hamburger scrambled eggs in cast iron pan.
      Hamburger Scrambled Eggs
    • Electric skillet fried chicken in a dish.
      Electric Skillet Fried Chicken
    • Electric skillet pot roast with vegetables on serving tray.
      Electric Skillet Pot Roast

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    In the Kitch

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Statement

    About

    • About
    • The Team

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 In the Kitch

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.