🍳DailyRecipes
Drinks

Classic Fresh Homemade Lemonade

Nothing beats a glass of cool, refreshing lemonade made with real lemons and a smooth simple syrup.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 American· July 14, 2026
Classic Fresh Homemade Lemonade
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
10 minutes
Cook
5 minutes
Total
15 minutes
Serves
6

Making your own lemonade from scratch is one of those simple pleasures that truly tastes better than anything you can buy at the store. Once you try this method using fresh juice and simple syrup, you will never want to go back to the powdered mixes again.

The secret here is the simple syrup, which makes sure your drink is perfectly sweet without any gritty sugar settling at the bottom of your glass. It is a wonderful treat to have on hand for sunny afternoons or backyard gatherings.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water (for the syrup)
  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 to 6 lemons)
  • 3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)
  • Ice cubes for serving
  • Lemon slices for garnish

Instructions

  1. 1

    Combine the sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat.

  2. 2

    Stir the mixture occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved, then remove the pan from the heat and let it cool down.

  3. 3

    Squeeze your fresh lemons until you have 1 cup of juice, being sure to remove any seeds.

  4. 4

    In a large pitcher, combine the cooled simple syrup, the fresh lemon juice, and 3 cups of cold water.

  5. 5

    Stir the lemonade well and taste it to see if you prefer it a bit more diluted or tart, adding more water if needed.

  6. 6

    Serve your lemonade over plenty of ice and add lemon slices to the pitcher for a pretty look.

💡 Tips

You can keep this lemonade in the fridge for up to five days. If you want to get creative, try muddling a few fresh strawberries or mint leaves into your glass before pouring the lemonade over them.

#drinks#refreshing#vegetarian#vegan#gluten free

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.

You might also like