Classic Fresh Lemonade with Mint and Citrus Ice
A bright, refreshing lemonade made the old-fashioned way—infused with fresh lemon juice, zest, mint, and just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect for summer parties or everyday sipping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (about 6-8 lemons)
- 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
- Zest from 1 lemon
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water (for simple syrup)
- 4–5 cups cold water or sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh mint leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 ½ cups sugar with 1 ½ cups water and lemon zest. Stir until sugar dissolves completely to make a simple syrup. Remove from heat and cool.
- In a large pitcher, combine the fresh lemon juice and cooled syrup. Stir well.
- Add 4 to 5 cups of cold water (or sparkling water for a fizzy version) and mix.
- Fill glasses with ice and lemon slices. Pour lemonade over and garnish with mint leaves.
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust sweetness by adding more or less sugar to taste.
- Use sparkling water for a fizzy, festive version.
- Chill syrup fully before mixing for best flavor.
- Fresh mint adds aroma and visual appeal—don’t skip it!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg