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A refreshing glass of Homemade Lemonade sits ready to quench your thirst.

Best Homemade Lemonade Pitcher Ever

This recipe creates the most refreshing homemade lemonade, perfect for a hot summer day. It uses fresh lemons and a simple syrup to achieve the perfect balance of sweet and tart, surpassing any store-bought mix.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Calories: 120
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 10-12 medium-sized lemons yielding about 2 cups juice
  • 8 cups water, divided
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Equipment

  • Citrus juicer
  • Large Pitcher (at least 2 quarts)
  • Small saucepan
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Stirring spoon
  • Refrigerator

Method
 

  1. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar.
  2. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved (about 3-5 minutes).
  3. Remove from heat and let the simple syrup cool completely. Refrigerate to speed up the cooling process.
  4. Wash and dry the lemons.
  5. Juice the lemons using a citrus juicer. Aim for about 2 cups of lemon juice.
  6. Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any seeds and excess pulp.
  7. In a large pitcher, combine the cooled simple syrup and the strained lemon juice.
  8. Add 7 cups of cold water.
  9. Stir well to combine.
  10. Taste the lemonade and adjust the sweetness as needed. Add more simple syrup (a tablespoon at a time) if too tart, or more lemon juice/water if too sweet.
  11. Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes (or longer) to allow the flavors to meld.

Notes

For Strawberry Lemonade: Muddle fresh strawberries and add them to the pitcher before refrigerating. For Raspberry Lemonade: Use raspberries instead of strawberries. For Lavender Lemonade: Add a few drops of culinary lavender extract or steep dried lavender flowers in the simple syrup. Homemade Lemonade is best when consumed fresh, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container.