How to Make Homemade Lemonade

Learn how to make your own fresh-squeezed homemade lemonade that will quench your thirst on any hot summer day.

Lemonade is one of our favorite ways to cool down on a summer day, especially in the middle of summer when you bake in the heat from the time the sun comes up. The tartness of the lemons mixed with the hint of sweet hits the spot every time. And if you make it right, homemade lemon juice can both cool you down and keep you healthy.

Ingredients for Homemade Lemonade

It’s easy to think that lemonade is just lemon juice and water. And that’s not the worst way to get a quick electrolyte boost, but it’s probably not going to be the most refreshing drink, no matter how cold you can make it. The sour of the citrus needs to be balanced with a little sweetness. We’ve listed all the ingredients we use for our homemade lemonade below so you can see how they make the drink so refreshing!

Lemons

If you’re going to make lemonade, you need lemons! Not only are they the main ingredient of this juice, but lemons are also high in things like vitamin C and citric acid that promote a healthy body in various ways. Fresh lemons are preferred, but in a pinch you can also use pre-squeezed lemon juice. To get the most juice out of your lemons, you’ll want to roll them under your palm on a hard surface a couple of times to help get their juices flowing.

Honey

We like to use honey instead of sugar in our homemade lemonade. Honey pairs wonderfully with lemons and will help your lemonade stand out in front of a crowd. Honey is also anti-inflammatory and a great alternative for diabetics.

Vanilla

While adding vanilla isn’t necessary, we rarely make our homemade lemonade without it. The vanilla highlights the honey and lemon, making this beverage even more refreshing. If you have fresh vanilla beans, you can steep them in your boiled water for an even better taste.

Salt

Adding salt to your homemade lemonade is a must because it balances everything. It keeps the sweetener from becoming overpowering, cuts the acidity of the lemons, and adds an extra electrolyte boost! For the best flavor, try using non-iodized salt.

How to make your homemade lemonade unique

If plain lemonade isn’t your jam, you can always spruce it up! Some of our favorite additions to our homemade lemonade are rosemary, thyme, lavender, and mint. But remember, the possibilities are endless! If you use herbs, you can steep them in the boiled water and honey mixture for around 5–10 minutes (depending on how strong you want the herbal flavor to be). You can also experiment with adding different fruit juices or muddled raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, or oranges.

Homemade Lemonade

Yield: 1 Quart

Make the perfect glass of homemade lemonade to quench your thirst during those hot summer days.

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Ingredients

• 4 medium-sized lemons OR 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 1/2 cup boiled water
• 3 cups cold water
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Instructions

1. Add your honey and salt into a heat-proof quart-sized container.
2. Boil 1/2 cup of water. Once boiling, add the water to the honey and stir to incorporate the honey into the water.
3. Juice the lemons into the water and honey mixture.
4. Add in the remainder of the cool water.
5. Add in the vanilla and stir.
6. Allow to cool completely in the fridge and enjoy!

Notes

If you want a more tart lemonade, use 3/4 cups of lemon juice or roughly six lemons.