Old-Fashioned Lemonade
Tart, lemony, and just sweet enough. This lemonade recipe is easy to make with no straining, no syrups, and 3 basic ingredients.
It’s kind of a weird technique, but you’ll never go back to another method after you try this one. It’s the absolute best way to get the freshest lemon flavor and will be a hit with anyone who loves lemon recipes.

Old-Fashioned Lemonade
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice about 10-12 lemons
- 1 lemon sliced thin
- 1½ cup granulated sugar
- 8 cups cold water
- lemon slices for garnish
- fresh mint leaves optional, for garnish
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Instructions
- Squeeze the lemons. Juice the lemons to make 2 cups of lemon juice and set aside. (Remember you need 1 sliced lemon for step 2.)
- Mash sliced lemon and sugar. Using a potato masher, mash lemon slices and sugar in a deep bowl until slices release their juice and sugar begins to dissolve.
- Mix. Add water and lemon juice and stir, until the sugar completely dissolves. (This may take a few minutes!) Remove lemon slices.
- Chill the lemonade. Refrigerate the lemonade until cold, or serve immediately over ice.
- Garnish and serve. Serve the lemonade with fresh lemon slices and mint leaves for garnish.
Notes
This easy, refreshing recipe is the classic lemonade you’ve always wanted. So many recipes are too sweet or just don’t taste like lemon. Not this one! It’s just right.

You can try adding other fruits and substituting things. But I love it best just the way it is.
What You’ll Need
Just the basics here, folks.
Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice. Fresh lemons are absolutely vital.
Granulated Sugar. You can use honey or agave syrup as a healthier alternative. It will slightly alter the flavor.

Mint Leaves (optional). Fresh mint leaves are available in the produce or herb section. But honestly they’re just about the easiest thing to grow!
Lemon Slices for Garnish. Just to make it beautiful!
Citrus Juicer. A citrus juicer is essential for squeezing the most of the juice from lemons.
Potato Masher. A potato masher meant for mashing lemon slices with sugar. It helps release the oils and essence from the lemon rind.
G.E.T. P-4090-PC-CL-EC Shatterproof Plastic Lemonade/Margarita Pitcher, 90 Fluid Ounce, Clear, Set of 1Mustry Glass Drink Dispenser for Parties, 1 Gallon Beverage Dispenser with Stand and Spigot Solid Stainless Steel, Used as Lemonade Dispenser Sun Tea Jar Kombucha Jar, Set of 2Amici Home Bee Hiball Glass | 16 Oz | Italian Made, Recycled Glass with Green Tint | Drinking Glass with Embossed Bee Design for Water, Juice, Cocktails (Set of 6)Sage+Stitch Adjustable Designer Kitchen Apron for Adults | 100% Machine Washable Cotton Cooking Apron with Pockets and Adjustable Neck Buckle | 27Certified International Citron 14 oz. Mugs, Set of 4 Assorted Designs, 4 Count (Pack of 1), Multicolored
Fine Mesh Strainer. A fine mesh strainer is crucial for removing the lemon seeds and pulp.
Large Pitcher. It should be big enough to hold the entire batch.
Lemonade Tips
Lemon Selection: Choose lemons that are firm, heavy for their size, and have a bright yellow color.
Room Temperature Lemons. Before juicing, bring your lemons to room temperature. Or, roll them on the countertop.
Taste as You Go: Lemon sizes and flavors vary, so it’s important to taste your lemonade as you mix it. Adjust the sugar and water according to your taste preferences.
Serving Options: For a pretty touch, serve the lemonade in chilled glasses. You can also rim the glasses with sugar or salt if you’re super fancy.
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
- Refrigeration: Pour the lemonade into a clean container or pitcher. Store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for about 5-7 days.
- You can freeze lemonade. Pour it into a freezer-safe container. Leave some space at the top because the liquid will expand when frozen. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays for easy, portion-sized servings. Frozen lemonade can last for up to 4 months. When you’re ready to drink it, thaw the lemonade in the refrigerator overnight.
Homemade Drinks You’ll Love
Homemade lemonades and teas are easy to make and always worth the effort. Here are some more recipes you’ll love.
- Homemade Blackberry Sweet Tea is sweet and fruity.
- For those of you who prefer a sweeter drink, try Freckled Strawberry Lemonade.
- This Pink Lemonade uses a different method, is a bit sweeter, and is super popular with the little ones in your life.
This classic recipe is perfect for parties, having a few friends over, or just tucking into the fridge for your family. I hope you love it and it becomes your new go-to lemonade recipe ❤️.


By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.