Homemade Lemonade Sweet Tangy (Printer-Friendly)
A tangy and sweet citrus drink, perfect for cooling on warm days, made with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.
# What You'll Need:
→ Citrus
01 - 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 4 to 6 lemons)
→ Sweetener
02 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
→ Water
03 - 4 cups cold water
→ Garnish (optional)
04 - Lemon slices
05 - Fresh mint leaves
06 - Ice cubes
# How to Make It:
01 - Combine sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
02 - In a large pitcher, combine freshly squeezed lemon juice, cooled simple syrup, and remaining 3 cups cold water. Stir thoroughly.
03 - Taste the mixture and adjust sweetness or tartness by adding more sugar or water as preferred.
04 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or serve immediately over ice.
05 - Optionally, add lemon slices and fresh mint leaves before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It turns ordinary lemons into a perfectly balanced sweet and tangy treat you'll want to share with everyone.
- The easy syrup step makes sweetening smooth and foolproof, no gritty sugar left behind.
02 -
- Simple syrup is the real MVP here: skipping it means gritty sugar at the bottom, and no one wants that.
- Adjusting the sugar and water makes this recipe versatile, perfect if lemons vary in tartness.
03 -
- Always taste your lemons before squeezing; some have unexpected sharpness that changes your balance.
- The secret to a smooth lemonade is fully dissolving your sugar to avoid that sneaky crunch.