"When life gives you lemons, make the Best Lemonade Ever! This aptly named recipe is as good as it gets: Sweet, tart, easy to throw together, and oh-so refreshing. Sweeten your day with a glass of history!"
"Lemonade is easy to make, but getting the ratios right is pretty critical. Too much lemon and it will be too tart and basically undrinkable; too much water and it’s, well, watered down and taste like you added a quirt of lemon to your water at a restaurant . What I’m sharing today is a perfectly balanced lemonade recipe that started when I was a kid. My mother would make it when the summer was at it's peak. A sip of this and childhood memories come rushing in... This is a recipe that everyone is going to love."
Damn Good Lemonade
Servings: 16-8 ounce servings = 1 gallon of lemonade
Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups white sugar
1 cup hot water
10-12 medium lemons, or more as needed
4 medium oranges
14 cups ice-cold water
ice cubes
lemon and orange slices, for garnish
Directions:
Combine sugar and 1 cup hot water in a small bowl. Stir to dissolve all granuals of sugar. Set aside to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, roll lemons and orange around on your counter to soften. Trust me this makes them much easier to juice. Cut in half crosswise, and squeeze into a liquid measuring cup. Add pulp (if you prefer) to the juice, but discard any seeds. Continue juicing until you have 1 3/4 cups fresh juice and pulp.
In a large pitcher, pour in cooled sugar water mixture, add lemon/orange juice mixture with pulp (if using), slowely pour in ice-cold water. Stir to combine all ingredients.
You can refrigerate for a couple hours or serve immediatly over ice.
Fill a glass with ice cubes, slowly pour lemonade over ice. Garnish each glass with an orange and lemon slice.
Notes:
Can I make lemonade using bottled lemon juice?
Yes, you can make this lemonade recipe using bottled lemon juice.
What can I add to homemade lemonade?
Fresh mint, rosemary, and lavender are all delicious pairings with homemade lemonade! You can even try combos like; jalapeno peppers, strawberries, or blueberries and crushed mint leaves. Or, maybe even some rum or vodka! 🍹🤓
Nutrition:
Calories: 103 | Carbohydrates: 27g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 32mg | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin C: 16.5mg | Calcium: 60mg
"Not too tart and not too sweet; the balance of lemon and sugar is just right. Pairs well with iced tea to make an Arnold Palmer."
CWT is not a certified dietician or nutritionist. Any nutritional information shared on this site is an estimate counted through measurements and package nutritional information used in each recipe. If calorie, macro counting and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend running the ingredients through your choice of nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary depending on national brands used per recipe.