Xanthan Gum Free Orange Cinnamon Lemonade
Bright citrus and warm spice come together in this refreshing blended drink that tastes like summer and a cozy café had a very good idea. Fresh-squeezed lemon and orange juice form the backbone, balanced by a homemade cinnamon-maple syrup that adds just enough sweetness and depth without any processed additives. Because everything here is built from scratch — real fruit, real maple syrup, whole cinnamon sticks — there's nothing hidden in the ingredient list to worry about, making it a genuinely clean pour. Many flavored syrups and bottled lemonades sneak in stabilizers or thickeners, so making your own is the smartest move for anyone keeping a close eye on what goes into their glass. The blender step crushes the ice into a satisfying slush, and straining it through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a smooth, frothy texture that feels almost fancy. It comes together quickly and the cinnamon-maple syrup can be made ahead, so you're only minutes away from a pitcher worth sharing.
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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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