Ingredients
Lemonade Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup lemon juice (from 4-6 lemons)
- 1 cup simple syrup (1:1 ratio of sugar to water)
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Make the Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Stir to dissolve the sugar and bring to a simmer until the mixture becomes a clear syrup. Allow it to cool completely before using. You can prepare this in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
- Juice the Lemons: Extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons to yield approximately 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Using an electric juicer will make this process quicker and easier, but manual juicing methods work well too.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large jug or bottle, combine the fresh lemon juice, 3 cups of cold water, and 1 cup of the cooled simple syrup. Stir well to mix all the flavors evenly.
- Serve and Garnish: Pour the lemonade over ice cubes if desired, and optionally add fresh herbs like mint or slices of other fruits as garnish. Serve immediately for best freshness and flavor.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of simple syrup used.
- Simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month for quick use in other beverages.
- For a fizzy version, replace the water with sparkling water right before serving.
- Fresh lemon juice is essential for the best flavor; bottled lemon juice is not recommended.
- To reduce prep time, use an electric citrus juicer if available.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
