Beef Free Classic Lemonade
Bright, tangy, and endlessly refreshing, this from-scratch lemonade is the kind of drink that makes any afternoon feel like a celebration. The secret is a quick homemade simple syrup that dissolves perfectly into the juice, giving you that smooth, balanced sweetness you just can't get from a powder mix or a bottle. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice is the real star here — straining it through a fine-mesh sieve keeps things silky and clean, with none of the bitter pulp getting in the way. You can easily dial the sweetness up or down to suit your crowd, making it just as welcome at a kids' party as it is at a backyard happy hour. A handful of ice, a few lemon slices, and a sprig of fresh mint turn each glass into something that looks as good as it tastes. It's pure, plant-based simplicity at its finest — no animal products, no shortcuts, just real ingredients doing exactly what they're supposed to do.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the simple syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
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 the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool for 15 minutes.
- 2
While the syrup cools, juice the lemons and strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher to remove seeds and pulp.
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