BHA & BHT Free Orange Cinnamon Lemonade
Bright citrus and warm spice come together in this refreshing blended drink that feels equally at home on a summer afternoon or as a cozy cool-weather treat. The base is built entirely from fresh-squeezed lemon and orange juice, so there's no relying on bottled concentrates or store-bought mixes that often sneak in synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT to extend shelf life. Instead, a homemade cinnamon-maple syrup does the sweetening — just maple syrup, water, and whole cinnamon sticks simmered until fragrant, with nothing artificial in sight. Blending everything together with ice gives it a slushy, frothy texture that makes it feel far more special than a standard glass of lemonade. Straining it through a fine-mesh sieve keeps the finish smooth and clean, and a quick taste-and-adjust step means you can dial in the tartness exactly to your liking. It's the kind of drink that looks impressive garnished with a citrus slice but honestly couldn't be simpler to pull off.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the cinnamon-maple syrup
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
For the lemonade
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 6–7 lemons)
- 1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 3 medium oranges)
- 2 cups cold water
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- lemon or orange slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the maple syrup, 1/2 cup water, and cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the syrup is fully dissolved. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3–4 minutes, until the mixture is fragrant and lightly infused with cinnamon. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool for 15 minutes, then discard the cinnamon sticks.
- 2
Add the cooled cinnamon-maple syrup, lemon juice, orange juice, cold water, and ice cubes to a blender. Blend on high for 20–30 seconds, until the ice is fully crushed and the drink is uniformly slushy and frothy.
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