Easy Homemade Lemonade Pitcher Recipe 3-Ingredient Refreshing Drink
A quick and simple homemade lemonade recipe using just fresh lemons, sugar, and water. Perfectly balanced, refreshing, and ready in under 10 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 medium fresh lemons (about 1 cup or 240 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice)
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 5 cups (1.2 liters) cold water
- Optional: fresh mint leaves or thin lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Roll lemons firmly on the counter, cut in half, and juice to get about 1 cup (240 ml) lemon juice. Strain to remove seeds and pulp if desired.
- In a heatproof bowl or small pot, dissolve 3/4 cup (150 grams) sugar in 1 cup (240 ml) hot water by stirring until fully dissolved to make simple syrup.
- In a large pitcher, combine the lemon juice, remaining 4 cups (960 ml) cold water, and the warm simple syrup. Stir thoroughly.
- Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes to chill and allow flavors to meld. Adjust sweetness or tartness by adding more sugar syrup or water as needed.
- Serve over ice cubes and garnish with lemon slices or fresh mint if desired.
Notes
Dissolve sugar in warm water first to avoid gritty texture. Chill lemonade before serving for best flavor. Adjust sweetness and tartness by tasting and adding more sugar syrup or water. Use large ice cubes to prevent quick dilution. For a fizzy version, replace half the water with sparkling water just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (8 fl oz / 240
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 27
- Sodium: 2
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 0.2
Keywords: lemonade, homemade lemonade, refreshing drink, summer drink, easy lemonade, 3-ingredient lemonade, simple syrup lemonade