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A tall glass pitcher filled with lemonade, ice, and lemon slices stands on a white wooden table, accompanied by two smaller glasses also containing lemonade and lemon. A lemon wedge is placed beside the glasses. A white cloth is draped in the background.

Southern Lemonade

Chef Jenn
I love how bright, tangy, and refreshing Southern Lemonade is! Made with fresh lemon juice, water, and just the right amount of sugar, this timeless drink is the perfect way to cool off on a hot day. Serve it over ice for a crowd-pleasing summer favorite that’s sweet, tart, and oh-so-satisfying.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Beverage, Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 95 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ⅔ cup white granulated sugar
  • 4 ⅔ cups water
  • 8 lemons plus 1 extra garnish thinly sliced for a garnish
  • ice cubes for serving

Instructions
 

  • Combine ⅔ cup water and sugar. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until the sugar completely dissolves.
  • Remove from heat and stir again to ensure there are no sugar crystals. Let it cool in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
  • Squeeze the lemons until you have 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
  • Pour the juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove any seeds and excess pulp.
  • Combine 4 cups of cold water, the strained lemon juice, and the cooled simple syrup. Stir well.
  • Drop in lemon slices for extra flavor.
  • Serve over ice right away, or refrigerate for at least 4 hours for a deeper citrus taste.

Notes

Chef Jenn's Tips

  • Choose lemons that feel heavy and have a slight give when squeezed—they’ll have the most juice.
  • Store lemons at room temperature, and roll them on the counter while pressing down to release more juice.
  • For extra juiciness, microwave halved lemons for 10–15 seconds before squeezing.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 1gFat: 0.4gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 149mgFiber: 3gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 57mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

Keyword easy lemonade, fresh lemon drink, Southern lemonade, summer drink
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