Paraben Free Sweet Classic Lemonade
Tart, sweet, and endlessly refreshing, this from-scratch lemonade is the kind of drink that makes any afternoon feel like a special occasion. Many store-bought lemonades and flavored beverages contain preservatives and synthetic additives that can be a real concern for anyone avoiding parabens, so making your own is genuinely the smartest move. Here, everything is completely transparent — just sugar, water, and fresh lemon juice, with zero hidden extras to worry about. The simple syrup comes together in minutes on the stovetop, and straining the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve keeps the final drink silky smooth and clean-tasting. A quick taste-and-adjust step at the end means you can dial in exactly the right balance of tart and sweet for your crowd. Poured over ice and finished with lemon slices and fresh mint, it looks as good as it tastes — no artificial anything required.
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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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