Nutmeg Free Classic Ginger Lemonade
Bright, zingy, and deeply refreshing, this ginger lemonade is the kind of drink that makes you wonder why you ever bought the bottled stuff. The star of the show is a homemade ginger syrup — fresh ginger slices simmered with sugar and water until the liquid turns fragrant and slightly silky. Steeping the ginger off the heat lets the flavor deepen without any bitterness, so every sip has that warm, spicy kick balanced perfectly by tart fresh lemon juice. Because everything here is made from scratch with whole ingredients, you never have to second-guess what's actually in your glass. Spiced drinks and syrups can sometimes sneak in unexpected additions, but this one keeps things clean and straightforward — ginger, lemon, sugar, water, done. Serve it over a big pile of ice with a mint sprig and a lemon wheel, and it looks as good as it tastes. It's equally at home at a backyard cookout or a quiet afternoon on the porch.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the ginger syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 oz fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
For the lemonade
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 6–8 lemons)
- 3 cups cold water
For serving
- ice, for serving
- lemon slices, for serving (optional)
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine 1 cup water, the sugar, and the sliced ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes.
- 2
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until the syrup is slightly thickened and fragrant with ginger.
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