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–+ servings
A large glass pitcher filled with homemade lemonade, ice cubes, and lemon slices, with filled glasses beside it, all ready to serve.
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5 from 2 votes

Old-Fashioned Lemonade

Tart, lemony, perfect. This is an easy method that gives you the best lemonade EVER.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: classic lemonade, Lemons, Summer
Servings: 6
Calories: 137kcal
Author: Katie

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

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.)
    squeezed lemon juice in measuring cups
  • 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.
    bowl of sliced lemon and sugar before and after mashing
  • Mix. Add water and lemon juice and stir, until the sugar completely dissolves. (This may take a few minutes!) Remove lemon slices.
    A bowl of lemonade mixture on a kitchen counter with a wooden spoon, showcasing the blend of lemon juice and sugar, ready to be stirred.
  • Chill the lemonade. Refrigerate the lemonade until cold, or serve immediately over ice.
    The same bowl of lemonade mixture now being stirred, with bubbles forming on the surface, indicating the sugar dissolving into the juice.
  • Garnish and serve. Serve the lemonade with fresh lemon slices and mint leaves for garnish.
    Close-up of a glass of homemade lemonade with ice, garnished with a lemon slice and mint leaf, showing the refreshing texture and cool condensation on the glass.

Notes

You must use fresh lemons! There are no substitutes.
Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar according to your taste.
If you need to chill it fast: fill a larger bowl with ice and cold water. Place your container of lemonade in it. Stir to help it cool down faster.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg