Lemonade is so refreshing on a hot summer day. It tastes great, gives you hydration, and is a favorite for all ages. Ditch the powdered mix and make it with honey in five minutes!
Depending on your age and where you grew up, you likely had those summer days where you roamed with the local kids all day long. Then someone's mom would bring out a pitcher of brightly-colored drinks to share. I'm here to show you how easy it is to make a thirst-quencher that doesn't have dyes or TONS of sugar!
Why You Need This Recipe
- Sweetened with honey, you get to control how sweet this is.
- You have everything on hand!
- Make this for a crowd - it's super easy to double or triple.
Key Ingredients
Lemon juice - It wouldn't be lemonade if you didn't start with lemon juice! And NO guilt about using the bottle here - that's what I do!
Honey - Local honey, raw honey, store honey. Whatever ya got.
Salt - Just a touch of salt ties everything together. I like to use Real Salt.
How to Make Fresh Lemonade
Step 1
Add all ingredients to a half gallon jar or pitcher.
Step 2
Pop on a lid and shake it like ya mean it!
Step 3
Top off the jar with ice and cold water and give it a quick stir before serving.
Tips and Tricks
- It's essential to start with hot water. This allows the honey to dissolve so that it disperses through the entire jar.
- You can definitely juice your own lemons. I just find that citrus is one of the hardest fruits to get fresh up here, and there's nothing wrong with the bottled juice. Plus this way it's always on hand!
Variations
Make limeade! Just use lime juice instead of lemon.
Do you can your own fruit? Use that syrup for some or all of the honey to make some really fun flavours! Combine canned cherry syrup with lime juice for a fun treat.
What about using Rhubarb Mint Syrup? That would be a fun cocktail - the adults could add a little something to their glass if desired.
FAQs
You get the most juice from citrus when it's room temp, so if you've had them stored in the fridge, let them sit on the counter a while before using. A citrus juicer will get the most out, but you can always hand-squeeze over a strainer to catch seeds. Perfect for kids to do.
I'm all about the more natural options, which is why I reach for honey. But if you're fresh out you can dissolve cane sugar in hot water as well, like a simple syrup. Some people keep simple syrup on hand for mixed drinks and you can easily make lemonade that way as well.
How to Serve Honey Lemonade
I love to make this up when we have a party, playgroup, or if you're in the suburbs just for kids coming over to play. Make something for everyone and also have large jars of iced tea and iced coffee ready to go.
Set out jars and mugs and everyone can make their own cuppa. Mint leaves work great as garnish for both tea and lemonade, and don't forget fresh cream for the coffee. Then just set out some crackers, veggies, and ranch dip and everyone will be smiling.
More Summer Recipes You'll Love
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If you like this recipe, I’d love if you reviewed it so others can find it easier. Sharing this recipe on Facebook or Pinterest is another way you can help us out at no cost to you. Thanks, xo Kate
Honey Sweetened Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1 cup hot tap water
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup lemon juice or lime juice bottled or fresh-squeezed, whatever works best for you
- ⅛ teaspoon good salt
Instructions
- In a 2qt/half gallon jar add all of the ingredients.
- Shake well to dissolve honey, then top up with cold water. Enjoy immediately or store in fridge for later.
Notes
- Jazz it up by serving with frozen fruit as ice cubes, mint leaves, lemon or lime slices, or just in a good ol' jar full of ice.
- Do you can your own fruit? Add the syrup from the bottle instead of honey for a new flavour experience.
Kim
I have been making this regularly once or twice a week, usually using lime juice. It is so delicious! I feel good letting my kids drink it because I know what’s in it.
katehosie
Lime juice would be so delicious!
Rebecca W
Love this recipe!!!!
April
This lemonade is so refreshing when it's hot outside!
Mikaela
Living in Texas where the temps dangle in the triple digits for MONTHS, this is such a healthy and refreshing alternative to sports drinks. It hydrates and replenishes minerals and is super tasty! My dancers love it after a hard workout!
Daphne
Made with Meyer lemons and used enough hot water for a warm drink - delicious and cheerful on a cold day!
Amber
We love lemonade here. Since I have a citrus juicer now. We make lemonade often during the summer months. Such a refreshing drink! I add a bit more honey to ours.
RachelCornelsen
This was a go-to for us in the summer and so easy for my kids to make too! We would sometimes even mix it with Iced tea to make it Iced tea lemonade 🙂 Yum!
Julia
Hi Kate! Is this the same as your recipe for an electrolyte drink?
Thanks!
Julia
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Hi Julia, the recipe I use for electrolyte replacement (aka Labouraide) has equal amounts of honey and lemon juice. I use less water to make it as a concentrate.
Linda Sandusky (lgsandlot)
This is a summer staple at our house now....it’s my husbands go-to drink for work. Thanks for sharing it!
Allison
Made this today and it's my new go to!
Alana
I finally made this today after saving it a couple months ago. It’s so good, definitely going to be drinking this during the 3rd trimester to stay hydrated.
Meghan
One of our absolute favorites! Always in the fridge during summer.
Allison
Made this yesterday and it is no my new go to!
Khali
So, so good! Light and crisp - I can see this being perfect on hot days when we have been working hard outside!
michelle grover
this is delicious. perfect with the salt!
Michelle
Best lemonade ever! Quick, easy and tastes delicious! Tried with bottled lemon juice but fresh lemons are defiantely the way to go.
Candra
Hey Kate,
I haven't tried the recipe yet, but I just wanted to let you know that it is not safe to drink hot tap water, unless maybe you have an on demand hot water heater.
Otherwise the water sits in the heater for hours and can leach metals, as well as carry a baterial load that can be harmful.
I just though you would like to know for yourself and also so you can change the recipe.
I think this is something a lot of people are unaware of and can be one of the causes of many people having elevated lead levels and not being able to figure out why.
Anyway, I am excited to try the recipe with warmed up water (not too hot because also you shouldn't heat honey too much ?) and many of your other recipes.