🍋 Classic Homemade Lemonade

 

🍋 Classic Homemade Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar (reduce to ¾ cup for less sweetness) 

• 1 cup water (to make the simple syrup) 

• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (~6–8 lemons yields about 1½ cups, adjust to taste) 

• 2–3 cups cold water, to dilute

• Ice and lemon slices, for serving

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🧑‍🍳 Directions

1. Make simple syrup: In a saucepan, combine sugar with 1 cup water. Heat gently, stirring until sugar dissolves, then let cool. 

2. Juice the lemons, then strain the juice to remove seeds and pulp. 

3. Combine: Pour the cooled syrup into a pitcher, add lemon juice, then stir in 2–3 cups cold water. Adjust to your preferred sweetness/tartness.

4. Chill & serve: Add ice and garnish with lemon slices. Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate and serve later. 

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💡 Tips for Perfect Lemonade

• Use simple syrup instead of stirring sugar into cold water—it blends smoothly and avoids grittiness

• Fresh lemons are key—bottled juice lacks flavor. 

• Boost flavor by lightly muddling lemon zest in the syrup to release essential oils.

• Customize it: Freeze syrup + juice to make lemonade anytime; dilute with soda for fizzy versions; infuse with herbs like basil, mint, or lavender.

• Juicing hack: Roll lemons on the countertop or pop them in the microwave briefly to get more juice. 

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🧪 Flavor Variations

• Herb-infused: Add basil, mint, thyme, or lavender to the syrup for aromatic flavors. 

• Fruit blends: Stir in berry, peach, cucumber, or sparkling water for a twist. 

• Tea base: Combine with brewed tea (like iced tea or hibiscus) for Arnold Palmer–style refreshers.

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📋 Quick Recipe Summary

Step	What to Do
1. Make syrup	Dissolve sugar in hot water
2. Juice & strain	Fresh lemon juice, no seeds
3. Combine	Syrup + juice + cold water
4. Adjust	Add water/syrup to taste
5. Chill & garnish	Ice, lemon slices, optional herbs
6. Enjoy	Fresh, vibrant, perfectly balanced

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With just a few basic ingredients, this recipe yields a crisp, sweet‑tart lemonade that’s infinitely better than store‑bought. Fancy trying a flavored version next? Mint-lime, strawberry-basil, or a sparkling variation are all easy upgrades.