BHA & BHT Free Classic Lemonade
Bright, tart, and genuinely refreshing, this from-scratch lemonade is the kind of drink that makes a hot afternoon feel instantly better. Store-bought lemonade and many flavored beverages sneak in synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT to extend shelf life, so making your own is one of the easiest ways to sidestep those additives entirely. Every ingredient here is exactly what it sounds like — fresh lemons, sugar, and water — with zero hidden extras to worry about. The homemade simple syrup dissolves smoothly into the lemon juice, giving you that perfectly balanced sweet-tart flavor that no bottled version quite manages to nail. You can tweak the sweetness to your own taste right in the pitcher, which is a small but genuinely satisfying touch. Served over ice with a few lemon slices and fresh mint, it looks as good as it tastes. This is the kind of recipe you'll come back to all summer long.
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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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