Homemade Lemonade Concentrate

a pitcher and glasses of lemonade with sliced lemons on a board.

5 from 1 rating

This delicious from-scratch lemonade concentrate is a refreshing homemade drink. Made with freshly squeezed lemons and lightly sweetened to your preferences, this is a tasty beverage that the whole family will love.

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Total Time10

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Fusion

Keyword: homemade lemonade concentrate

Servings: cups

Author: Sarah Cook

Equipment

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice {~5-7 large lemons}
1.5 cups sugar {add up to an additional 1/2 cup if desired}

Instructions

Roll lemons on the counter while applying pressure to soften them.
1 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Cut lemons in half and squeeze until you have produced 1 1/4 cup. Remove any seeds

Strain to remove pulp if you'd like.

In a medium saucepan combine sugar and lemon juice over medium heat until all the sugar has dissolved. Stir often to prevent the sugar syrup from boiling over.
1.5 cups sugar
Cool the mixture and serve 1 tbsp of lemonade concentrate with 8-12 oz of flat or sparkling water.

Notes

If you love a bold, intense lemon taste, add 1-2 tbsp of lemon zest to the lemon juice and sugar mixture while it is heating.
Don’t leave the kitchen while the lemon and sugar are simmering. Anytime you’re heating sugar, it has the potential to boil over and cause a giant mess.
If you'd like to serve this right away, fill a glass with 1-2 tbsp of concentrate, 8 oz of water, and 4 oz of ice cubes.
Storage
1. Fridge: Allow the concentrate to cool and store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
2. Freezer: Will keep in the freezer for 3-6 months.

Nutrition