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Lemonade is summer staple, no doubt. Whether you drink it to cool down or slim down, there really isn’t a better drink than lemonade on a hot summer day. There are so many different recipes and unique variations on this American classic, you might be surprised by the number of ways you can drink this sweet and sour concoction.
We’ll start with the basics, of course, and then walk you through a few fresh lemonade recipes. From there, we’ll get a little fruity with strawberry lemonade recipes, maybe introduce a few new ideas for you to try. Of course, no lemonade guide would be complete without lemonade diet recipes.
Whether you’re interested in drinking the lemonade yourself or coming up with an inventive take on the lemonade stand, you’re sure to find something here.
Health Benefits of Lemons
Not only is lemonade tasty, but lemons have a lot of health benefits, too. The ancient Egyptians believed that eating lemons or drinking the juice protected you from a variety of health issues. There are a number of reasons people still believe this today.While eating a straight lemon might be too much for most people, making yourself a delicious glass of lemonade is the perfect way to get the health benefits while also enjoying a delicious drink. Not to mention that it’s a great way to cut out soda. You can still enjoy a tasty beverage, but get fewer calories and chemicals than you would with other soft drinks.
But beyond that, there are other benefits to enjoying a glass of lemonade. The most obvious benefit is that lemons are high in Vitamin C and other flavonoids that help your immune system fight against colds and flus.
For a sore throat or cough, you can even try making a warm lemonade with honey instead of sugar so that you’re helping that cough while boosting your immune system at the same time. It’s a win-win all around! In fact, honey and lemon might even help that cough better than over-the-counter cough syrups that are full of medicines and chemicals. For children who are unable to take cough syrup, a simple, hot lemonade with honey can help them sleep better at night without the risks that come with medicines.
In addition to Vitamin C, lemons also contain B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and fiber. In fact, lemons contain more potassium than either apples or grapes.
For centuries, people have used lemons for their antibacterial and immune-boosting power. In addition, people use it as a digestive aid and liver cleanser. For this reason, lemons are often used as a weight-loss aid (see our recipes for diet lemonade recipes further down in this guide).
So drink up! Not only does lemonade taste great, but many people believe that consuming lemons will help a variety of problems ranging from acne to anxiety.
How to Pick a Good Lemon
When life hands you lemons, well, you know what to do. But for those times when you have to pick up your own lemons for lemonade, it’s important to know what to look for. Lemonade tastes best with fresh, ripe lemons, and to make sure your lemonade isn’t bitter, you should look for lemons that are a vibrant shade of yellow. Here are a few tips that will help you get the juiciest, sweetest lemons money can buy:
- Look for a heavier lemon. These lemons will be sweeter and have a higher mineral content, while also having a thinner skin. Thicker skinned lemons tend to weigh less and not taste as yummy.
- Also look for lemons with a finely grained texture to the peel. These will have the most juice, which is better when making lemonade!
- Lemons should be a vibrant yellow. Any with a green tinge to them are not fully ripe and will taste bitter. Over-ripe lemons will not be as vibrant in color, and will have some wrinkling in the peel.
- Lemons stay fresh for seven to ten days when kept at room temperature. You can refrigerate them in a crisper for up to five weeks.
Fresh Lemonade Recipe
The ingredients may be basic (lemons, water, and sugar), but there’s something so delightful about fresh-squeezed lemonade. If you’re looking for the classic homemade lemonade recipe, look no further than this one. Sure, you can spice it up with some mint or other fine ingredients (maybe some vodka?); we will build upon the original recipe to give you a few variations to try.For a simple fresh lemonade, you’ll need:
- 10 Lemons
- 3 Cups Water
- 2 Cups White Sugar
- 4 Cups Ice, crushed
If you prefer a sweeter lemonade, you can always add more sugar to taste. You can also water it down a bit if it’s too strong. If you’re looking for a diet-friendly drink, substitute artificial sweetener for the sugar and add to taste. And there you have it, a very simple and easy fresh lemonade recipe.
Frozen Lemonade Recipe
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Arnold Palmer Recipe
Ice tea and lemons go hand-in-hand already, but if you’re the type of person who likes her tea heavy on the lemon, perhaps you should try your hand at a very simple Arnold Palmer. All you have to do is take sweet tea and mix it with an equal part lemonade. Sure, there are more grown-up ways to drink this, too, but we’re saving those recipes for later on in the guide.
Pink Lemonade Recipes
Childhood wouldn’t be complete without pink lemonade. And who knew it was so simple to make? Country Time, move over, because while your brand is good, it sure doesn’t beat the homemade version.The Classic Pink Lemonade Recipe
If you’re looking for something with a little more zing, perhaps you want to try your hand at a pink lemonade recipe? Pink lemonade isn’t that much harder to make.
Take the fresh lemonade recipe above and simply add in ½ cup of cranberry juice. It’s really that simple. Garnish your beverage with a mint leaf or a lemon or orange slice for a little more class. Great to serve at kids ‘birthday parties because which child doesn’t like pink lemonade? And for the adults, well, it’ll remind you of childhood days gone by. Again, as with above, you can always add more sugar, switch the sugar out for artificial sweetener (to taste), or add more water if the beverage is too tart.
While these are the basics, maybe you’re a true lemonade lover and would like to branch out into other lemonade recipes? Well, we’ve got you covered!
Hot Pink Lemonade Recipe (Blueberry Lemonade)
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You’ll need:
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 Cups White Sugar
- 2¼ Cups Lemon Juice, Fresh (11-12 lemons)
- 7 Cups Cool Water
- 2 Cups Ice
- ¾ Cup Blueberries
Pink Honey Lemonade Recipe
Take your love of pink lemonade to a whole other level with this interesting take on an old favorite. Not only is it fruity and sour, there’s also a nice honey flavor throughout. Wow your guests with a new take on an old-fashioned beverage.
All you’ll need is the following:
- 8 Cups Water
- 3 Fresh Strawberries, Sliced
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 ts Honey
- 1¾ Cups Lemon Juice (about 9-10 lemons)
- 2 Orange Slices
To make this beverage more grown up, try mixing in a little rum. Also, one idea is to blend with ice and 3 ounces of coconut cream rum for a frozen adult beverage.
Fruity Lemonade Recipes
Fruit, especially berries, complements lemons perfectly. It’s a nice balance between sweet and sour that takes lemonade above and beyond the ordinary. There are a few obvious combinations like strawberries and raspberries, but there are also others that perhaps you hadn’t considered. All of these make perfect drinks for a Sunday brunch. Mix in some vodka (perhaps even fruity flavored vodkas for an added punch) and you’ve got a perfect dinner cocktail!Here’s something fun to consider… Add in some seltzer water to make any of these drinks bubbly, because seriously, who doesn’t like sparkling lemonade? It can take your regular recipe from ordinary to formal in no time at all.
Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
Strawberries are delicious, and they’re the epitome of summer goodness. Refreshing, flavorful, sweet, and lemonade’s perfect mate. Try this simple strawberry lemonade recipe for a drink that tastes like summer in a glass.
You’ll need:
- 8 Large Strawberries, Halved
- 2 ts White Sugar
- 7 Cups Water, Divided
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- 2 Cups Lemon Juice
Raspberry Lemonade Recipe
If you’re in the mood for a different kind of berry, perhaps raspberries are more your style? This refreshing drink can be served anytime, sure, but it also offers a touch of class if you’re entertaining or even hosting a fancy summer event outdoors. Very similar to the strawberry lemonade, you just need to replace the berries and voilĂ – another great summer drink recipe to add to your arsenal!
Note: You can swap out blackberries or other small berries, or mix and match, for even more fun.
If you’d like the full details, check out this recipe that serves 12:
- ¾ Cup Raspberries
- 9 Cups Water
- 2 Cups Lemon Juice, Freshly Squeezed (about 12 lemons)
- 2 Cups Superfine Sugar
Watermelon Lemonade Recipe
Yet another summer staple. Watermelon is one fruit that simply belongs at BBQs and if you’d like a lemonade recipe to go along with your ribs and corn on the cob, look no further than this delightful watermelon lemonade.
Here’s what you need for watermelon lemonade:
- ½ Cup White Sugar
- ½ Cup Water
- 4 Cups Watermelon, Cubed
- 3 Cups Cold Water
- ½ Cup Lemon Juice, Fresh
Cherry Lemonade Recipe
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For this cherry lemonade recipe, you’ll need:
- 1¼ Cups Water
- ¾ Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Lemon Juice, Freshly Squeezed (about 6 large lemons)
- 6 Cups Cold Water
- ½ lb Cherries, Pitted and Halved
Pomegranate Lemonade Recipe
Pomegranate juice is very popular right now and with good reason! Not only is it delicious, but pomegranates are chock full of antioxidants. In fact, there may be more antioxidants in pomegranates than are in cranberries or green tea. Plus, did we mention it’s delicious? Add some flavor and antioxidants to your lemonade with this delicious recipe.
For this pomegranate lemonade recipe, you’ll need the following:
- 3 ts Sugar
- ¼ Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Cup Pomegranate Juice (such as POM Wonderful)
- 2½ Cups Water
- Crushed Ice
Triple Citrus Lemonade Recipe
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For this triple citrus lemonade recipe, you’ll need:
- 4 Cups Cold Water
- 1 Cup Orange Juice
- ½ Cup Pink Grapefruit Juice
- 1 Cup Lemon Juice, Freshly Squeezed
- 2 Cups Sugar
- Garnish: 1 Cup Fresh Citrus Slices (orange, lemon, and grapefruit)
- Ice for Serving
Hawaiian Lemonade Recipe
Are you in the mood for something more tropical than usual? Then why not try this recipe that will remind you of a luau on the beach!
- 6 oz. Lemon Juice (or frozen lemonade from concentrate)
- ¾ Cup Water
- 1 (12 oz.) Can of Apricot Nectar
- 1 (12 oz.) Can of Pineapple Juice
- 1¼ Cups Ginger Ale
- Ice
- Sugar (to taste if using fresh-squeezed lemon juice)
Herbal Lemonade Recipes
There are many delicious herbs you can add to lemonade, some you may not have considered before. In addition to the nutrients already found in the lemonade, you’ll also get other health benefits from the herbs.Lavender Lemonade Recipe
Lavender is not only delicious, it’s also used to treat restlessness, nervousness, and depression. In addition to the anti-anxiety effects of lemon, you can get an added dose by tossing some lavender in your lemonade. Lavender has a sedating effect, helping you to relax and calm down. After a long, stressful week, it might be nice to curl up with a good book and a glass of lavender lemonade.
For this lavender lemonade recipe, you’ll need:
- 2 Cups Boiling Water
- 1 Cup Lavender Flowers
- 2 Cups Cold Water
- 1 Cup Lemon Juice
- 1 Cup Sugar
Basil Lemonade Recipe
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What you’ll need for this basil lemonade recipe:
- ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/3 Cup Lemon Juice (2 large lemons)
- ¼ Cup Basil Leaves
- Water
- Ice
Ginger Lemonade Recipe
Ginger is an exotic spice that’s used in dishes all over the world, and for good reason, too. Ginger is often used to treat stomach issues and motion sickness. In fact, some people believe it’s better than conventional treatments for both of these health issues. One of the chemicals found in ginger is used in common laxatives, anti-gas, and antacid medications, so that should say something about the health benefits.
If you’re looking to spice up your lemonade and give it a kick, try this recipe for ginger lemonade!
You’ll need the following ingredients:
- 3 Cups White Sugar
- 4 Quarts Water
- 14 Slices of Fresh Ginger Root
- 4 Cups Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 Lemons, Sliced
Green Tea Mint Lemonade Recipe
Green tea is packed with antioxidants that can help you lose weight and fight free radical damage. And there’s nothing better than fresh green tea with mint… Add in some lemonade, and you have a refreshing, healthy beverage that’s nothing like lemonade you’ve had before.
For this recipe, you’ll need the following:
- ½ Cup Packed Fresh Mint
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Cups Water, Divided
- 1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
- 8 Cups Ice Green Tea (or other ice tea)
Rosemary Peppercorn Lemonade Recipe
Source via www.pinterest.com
You’ll need the following:
- 1 Cup Lemon Juice, Freshly Squeezed
- 1 Cup Sugar (Or 2/3 Cup Agave Nectar)
- 6 Cups Water
- 2 Large Sprigs Fresh Rosemary
- 10 Black Peppercorns
Alcoholic Lemonade Recipes
When you’re looking for something a bit more grown-up for that BBQ, there’s nothing more fitting than an alcoholic lemonade to give your guests a little more kick. Lemons go great with liquor, so it’s only natural that there are many alcoholic lemonade recipes out there for you to enjoy. Sometimes it’s as simple as spiking your regular lemonade with some vodka, but there’re more creative ways to play with your lemonade recipes, too.Hard Lemonade Recipe
Sure, you can just add vodka to your lemonade and call it a day, but what if you’re looking for something more from your drink? There are some really nice flavored vodkas out there, too – some that would go especially well with your lemonade like melon, cranberry, passion fruit, blueberry and more. Mix and match to find your favorite, or keep several on hand for when guests come over.
- 2 Cups Water
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 8 Cups Ice
- 4 oz. Flavored Vodka
- 1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Lemon, Sliced into rings
- 1 Lime, Sliced into Rings
Electric Lemonade Recipe
Source via www.pinterest.com
For this electric lemonade recipe, you’ll need:
- 50 ml Vodka
- Juice from Half a Lemon
- 50 ml Orange Juice
- 25 ml Blue Curacao
- 50 ml Lemonade (make your own with our recipe at the beginning of this guide)
- Ice Cubes
- Lemon Slices
This recipe can also be blended with ice and made frozen. Just put all the ingredients into a blender instead of a shaker with some ice. It’s easy as that!
Lynchburg Lemonade Recipe
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- 1½ Shots of Whiskey
- 1 Shot Triple Sec
- 1 Shot Lemon Juice, Freshly Squeezed
- Top with Lemonade/Citrus Soda
Spiked Arnold Palmer Recipe
An Arnold Palmer is simple – it’s just half sweet tea and half-lemonade. The alcoholic version is just as simple thanks to a lovely invention known as sweet tea flavored vodka. You can add as much or as little sweet tea vodka to your lemonade as you like. Some even go all the way and do 50/50 on the ratio, but trust us when we say that sweet tea vodka is strong. A little bit goes a long way in your lemonade.
Firefly Lemonade Recipe
Source via www.pinterest.com
Here’s what you need for the Firefly Lemonade recipe:
- 6 oz Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
- 6 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur
- Lemonade
- Water
- Cranberry Juice
- Orange Juice
- Sliced Lemons
Lemonade Remedies
Hot Lemonade RecipeRemember when we mentioned that a mug of hot lemonade could soothe a sore throat or cough? Well, you wouldn’t think we’d not share an easy recipe for that, now would you? This is great for kids, especially with the dangers of cough syrup, but do not give it to children under the age of one since they’re not supposed to have honey. Otherwise, just heat up a glass of this lemonade and hopefully they’ll feel better in no time. Some experts believe that honey coats your throat better than conventional cough syrups, and the warm lemon is soothing.
Note: This is not a cure for any diseases; only something to relieve symptoms of a cold or flu.
You’ll need:
- 1 Cup Hot Water
- 2 ts Honey
- 1 ts Lemon (or more to taste)
Diet Lemonade Recipes
The Lemonade Diet, otherwise known as The Master Cleanse, has taken the weight-loss community by storm. BeyoncĂ© has talked about using the diet to lose weight quickly; she managed to lose 20 pounds in 14 days. It’s one of the oldest and most popular cleansing diets around mainly because, as we mentioned earlier, lemons are natural cleansers.Of course, one thing to keep in mind before trying the lemonade diet is this: It’s meant for short-term dieting only. Since you greatly limit calories, it’s important not to stick to the diet long-term. You do not get proper nutrition through the lemonade diet nor do you consume enough calories to prevent your metabolism from crashing. So stick to it for short-term dieting only, and remember that you may gain some of the weight back over time if you don’t keep up a healthy eating and exercise routine. Talk to your doctor before starting any weight-loss journey – especially if you have underlying health conditions such as diabetes or metabolic disorders.
But if you want to know what the lemonade consists of, well, you’re in luck. It’s very simple really, and the diet literally consists of drinking nothing but a homemade lemonade concoction that’s easy to put together.
Some people argue that it’s less about weight loss and more about detoxing your body. If you’re interested in a quick detox, well this might be what you’re looking for as well. Just remember, don’t stick to this long-term, otherwise your body will simply go into starvation mode and you’ll gain back all the weight you lost as soon as you eat like a normal person again.
Here’s the lemonade diet recipe, otherwise known as the master cleanse:
- 10 oz. Purified Water
- 2 ts Fresh-Squeezed Lemon Juice (organic if possible)
- 2 ts 100% Dark Maple Syrup (organic if possible)
- 1/10 ts Cayenne Pepper (organic if possible)
And there you have it, a quick and dirty guide to the lemonade diet to finish out this ultimate lemonade recipe guide.
Hopefully this summer guide will come in handy for the rest of those scorching hot afternoons! As mentioned several times already, play around with the recipes, adjusting sugar and water as needed, mixing in different fruits, and switching out regular water for seltzer or sparkling mineral water. Lemonade is so versatile – more so than you’d probably ever imagined. Whether you’re using it for a detox or if you’re looking for a unique cocktail, lemonade is a great, healthy option!
Replace a few cans of soda with a glass of lemonade, and eventually, you may not even miss the soda. With less sugar, no caffeine and packed with Vitamin C, your body will thank you for it. Your taste buds will, too.
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