Lemonade Recipe
Make Lemonade Recipe in just 40m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Simple Syrup
Lemonade
Method
Simple Syrup
- 1
Combine sugar and water
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water. If using lemon zest, add it to the pan now.
- 2
- 3
Cool and strain
Remove from heat. If you used lemon zest, let the syrup steep off heat for 10 minutes for extra lemon flavor, then strain out the zest. Allow the simple syrup to cool to room temperature before using (about 20–30 minutes) or refrigerate to speed cooling.
Lemonade
- 4
Juice the lemons
Roll the lemons on the counter to loosen juices, then cut and juice until you have 1 cup (about 4–6 medium lemons) of fresh lemon juice. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup to remove seeds and excess pulp if a smoother beverage is desired.
- 5
Mix lemonade base
In a 2-quart pitcher, combine 1 cup fresh lemon juice, 1 cup cooled simple syrup, and 4 cups cold water. Stir thoroughly and taste.
- 6
Adjust sweetness/tartness
If the lemonade is too sweet, add up to 1/2 cup more lemon juice, a tablespoon at a time. If too tart, add additional simple syrup 1–2 tablespoons at a time or a little more cold water until balanced to your preference.
- 7
Chill and serve
Add ice to the pitcher or to individual glasses (about 2 cups ice total). Pour lemonade over ice, garnish each glass with lemon slices and a sprig of mint if using. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for up to 2 days (store syrup and juice separately for longest freshness).