Honey Free Classic Watermelon Lemonade
Few drinks capture summer quite like a tall glass of watermelon lemonade, and this version is as refreshing and vibrant as it gets. The sweetener here is a quick homemade simple syrup made from granulated sugar and water — no honey or alternative syrups involved — so it's completely straightforward for anyone avoiding bee-derived ingredients. Blending fresh watermelon cubes and straining out the solids gives you a silky, jewel-toned juice that pairs beautifully with bright, freshly squeezed lemon. The balance of tart citrus and sweet melon is genuinely hard to beat on a hot day. You can also adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding a little more simple syrup at the end, which makes it easy to tailor to your crowd. Served over ice with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice, it looks like something you'd pay too much for at a fancy café — but it comes together in your own kitchen in minutes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the simple syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
For the lemonade
- 6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes (about ½ small watermelon)
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 5–6 lemons)
- 1 ½ cups cold water
For serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
- lemon slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool for 10 minutes.
- 2
Add the watermelon cubes to a blender and blend on high until completely smooth, about 30–45 seconds.
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