Easy Homemade Lemonade (Only 3 Ingredients!)

Learn how easy it is to make 3 ingredient lemonade with lemons, water, and sugar. Perfect to enjoy a tall glass of homemade lemonade on a hot summer day.

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Pursuing real food without the sketchy ingredients (I’m looking at you, high fructose corn syrup) can take effort and intentionality. On rare occasions, the swap to real ingredients is a no-brainer!

Just like my homemade Italian coffee creamer, this homemade lemonade recipe is effortless. Plus, it tastes better than any store-bought lemonade by leaps and bounds! 

Why You’ll Love Homemade Lemonade

• Refreshing – Is there anything tastier than a tall glass of old-fashioned lemonade on a hot summer day? The delightful balance of sweet and tart makes it the perfect drink for pool days, errands, or summer get-togethers! 
• Simple ingredients – With just 3 ingredients, this simple recipe is easy to multiply for a crowd. 
• Adjustable – Reducing the sugar creates a lemonade with an extra zip of tartness, while increasing the sugar in the simple syrup makes a sweeter drink! A great recipe is always one that can be tailored to your taste preferences. 

Equipment

• Citrus juicer
• Pitcher
• Measuring cups or kitchen scale
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Sauce pan
• Spoon

Ingredients 

• Lemon juice – Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice for a brighter flavor. If you live in a place warm enough to grow lemon trees, what better way to use them! I personally find the bits of lemon pulp that come from this method to be the best part of real lemonade. However, lemon juice from a bottle works just as well. 
• Water – If you enjoy drinking tap water from your faucet, then use it in the lemonade. Otherwise, use filtered water or bottled water.
• Sugar – Regular granulated sugar works just fine, but you could also substitute caster or cane sugar.

How to Make Homemade Lemonade with Lemons

1. Make Simple Syrup

Combine 100 g (½ cup) sugar and 240 g (1 cup) of water in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from the heat and set aside while you prep the lemon juice. 

2. Juice Fresh Lemons

Roll a room-temperature lemon on a flat work surface to soften it. Next, wash and cut the lemons in half through the thickest part of the lemon.

Use a juicer to extract the juice until you have 125 g (½ cup) of lemon juice. Strain the juice through a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds or pulp.

3. Combine

Pour the fresh lemon juice into a pitcher. Add the cooled simple syrup. 

Add the remaining 540 g (2 ¼ cups) of cold water and give it a good stir to combine. Pour over ice and serve, or transfer to the refrigerator and allow to chill for several hours before serving.

The homemade lemonade recipe, as stated, makes enough to fill a quart-size mason jar. This is the perfect way to pack a quart (or two!) for summer picnics.

3 Ingredient Lemonade Tips

• Double or triple the recipe and pour into a large pitcher to serve a crowd. 
• Add fresh lemon slices to garnish each glass for a bright pop of color. 
• Add mint leaves or fresh berries for extra flavor.

Lemonade Concentrate

Lemonade concentrate is my favorite lemonade hack!

Add the simple syrup mixture and lemon juice to a jar and seal. Place in the refrigerator or freezer, making sure to leave enough headspace for the mixture to expand as it freezes. When ready to serve, add the remaining water.

• Easy to transport – Bring juice to a party? Don’t lug more water than you need to. Simply add the water once you get to the party and enjoy.
• Prep for large gatherings – I like to make plenty of lemonade for open houses and parties. Make multiple jars of concentrate so refilling your pitcher or dispenser is quick and easy.
• Have plenty of time before you plan to use the concentrate? Add the sugar, water, and lemon juice to a jar and shake. The sugar will dissolve over a few hours, saving you time since you don’t have to make the simple syrup. This comes in handy when you’re multiplying the recipe by 10 or 15!

FAQs

Can I use bottled lemon juice? 

Yes! You can make homemade lemonade with lemon juice from a bottle, and it’s just as delicious! Bottled lemon juice makes homemade lemonade possible, even if you don’t have fresh lemons. I like to keep a few bottles of lemon juice in my pantry for an easy beverage option when the kids have their friends over. 

How many lemons do I need to make lemonade?

On average, it will take 3 to 4 medium-sized lemons to make 1/2 cup of juice. Do note that the size of the lemons will vary, which can affect the exact number of lemons you will need. 

Can I use honey instead of sugar? 

​While this recipe uses whole ingredients, using honey as a sugar alternative creates a feel-good option for those searching for a healthy lemonade recipe. Since honey is sweeter than sugar, you’ll need less honey than the original recipe calls for.