Honey Free Classic Lemonade
Bright, tart, and refreshingly simple, this from-scratch lemonade is the kind of drink that instantly makes any afternoon feel like a occasion. Many store-bought lemonades and even some homemade recipes sneak in honey as a sweetener, so making your own with a straightforward granulated sugar syrup is the cleanest way to keep things completely free of it. The simple syrup comes together in just a few minutes on the stovetop, dissolving the sugar into a smooth, neutral base that blends seamlessly with fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Using real lemons — strained to remove seeds and pulp — gives the final drink a clean, vibrant citrus flavor that no bottled concentrate can match. You can easily dial the sweetness up or down right in the pitcher, making it as puckery or as mellow as you like. Poured over ice with a few lemon slices and a sprig of fresh mint, it looks as good as it tastes.
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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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