Carrageenan Free Sweet Classic Lemonade
Bright, tangy, and refreshingly simple, this classic lemonade is the kind of drink that makes any afternoon feel like a celebration. Many store-bought lemonades and flavored drinks sneak in additives and thickeners — including carrageenan — that can be hard to spot on a label, so making your own is genuinely the smartest move. This recipe keeps things completely clean: just fresh-squeezed lemon juice, a quick homemade simple syrup, and cold water. The simple syrup comes together in minutes on the stovetop, and straining the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a smooth, seed-free pour every time. You can dial the sweetness and tartness to exactly where you want it before serving, which is something no bottled version can offer. Poured over ice with a few lemon slices and 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 until it reaches room temperature.
- 2
Juice the lemons through a fine-mesh strainer set over a measuring cup until you have 1 cup of strained juice, discarding any seeds and pulp.
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