Jul 14 2026

Homemade Lemonades Recipe

Time25m
Serves6

Make Homemade Lemonades Recipe in just 25m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Classic Lemonade

Method

Classic Lemonade

  1. 1

    Make simple syrup

    Combine 1 cup water and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium until sugar dissolves and the mixture just comes to a simmer, stirring occasionally (about 3–5 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

  2. 2

    Assemble lemonade

    In a pitcher, combine 1 cup fresh lemon juice and the cooled simple syrup. Add 3 cups cold water and stir well. Taste and adjust sweetness or dilution by adding more water or sugar syrup as desired.

  3. 3

    Serve

    Fill glasses with ice, pour lemonade over ice, garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves if using, and serve chilled.

Strawberry Lemonade

  1. 4

    Make strawberry syrup

    In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup hulled strawberries, 1 cup water, and 4 tablespoons granulated sugar. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 5–7 minutes until strawberries are soft and syrup is fragrant. Mash with a spoon or transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh sieve for a clear syrup, pressing solids to extract flavor. Let cool.

  2. 5

    Assemble strawberry lemonade

    In a pitcher, combine 1 cup fresh lemon juice and the cooled strawberry syrup. Add 2 cups cold water and stir well. Taste and adjust by adding more water or syrup for sweetness and intensity.

  3. 6

    Serve

    Fill glasses with ice, pour strawberry lemonade, garnish with lemon slices and a halved strawberry on the rim, and serve chilled.

Ginger Honey Lemonade

  1. 7

    Infuse ginger

    In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water and 2 tablespoons sliced fresh ginger. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes to extract flavor. Remove from heat and let steep for another 5–10 minutes for a stronger infusion. Strain out the ginger slices, reserving the ginger-infused water.

  2. 8

    Sweeten with honey

    While the ginger water is still warm (not boiling), whisk in 3 tablespoons honey until fully dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.

  3. 9

    Assemble ginger honey lemonade

    In a pitcher, combine 1 cup fresh lemon juice and the cooled ginger-honey infusion. Add 3 cups cold water and stir to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness or ginger intensity by adding more honey or a splash of ginger infusion.

  4. 10

    Serve

    Serve over ice, garnish with extra ginger slices or crystallized ginger if desired, and enjoy chilled.

Sparkling Lemonade

  1. 11

    Prepare base

    If you already have the simple syrup from the Classic Lemonade (1 cup water + 3 tbs sugar reduced), use 1 cup of that cooled syrup. Otherwise, make a quick syrup by dissolving 3 tablespoons sugar in 1 cup warm water and cooling it.

  2. 12

    Assemble sparkling lemonade

    In a pitcher, combine 1 cup fresh lemon juice and 1 cup cooled simple syrup. Add 3 cups cold sparkling water and stir gently to avoid losing fizz.

  3. 13

    Serve

    Pour over ice into glasses, garnish with lemon twists, and serve immediately to preserve carbonation.

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