Lemonade with Simple Syrup and Lemon Juice – Perfect Summer Drink

When summer heat hits or you just want something that makes you feel fresh, then you should make a glass of lemonade with simple syrup and lemon juice. 

You won’t need sugar granules floating or sinking at the bottom of your glass. You will just use simple syrup in lemonade; it will make all the difference.

I’ve made this version many times, sometimes just for myself and other times when I’ve had guests. 

 

How to Make Lemonade With Simple Syrup And Lemon Juice

Lemonade with simple syrup and lemon juice is a refreshing drink. It’s made with fresh squeezed lemon juice, water, and sweetened with a sugar syrup.

Ingredients

This part is very important because the way you choose ingredients will completely decide how your lemonade made with simple syrup tastes.

• Fresh Lemon Juice – 1 cup: This is the hero of the recipe. You should use fresh lemons, not bottled lemon juice. You’ll need around 5 or 6 medium lemons for 1 cup of juice. If you want something sweeter and less sharp, you can use Meyer lemons.
• Simple Syrup – 1 cup: This is just sugar dissolved in water, but here is where you can play. The standard ratio is 1:1 (equal sugar and water), but if you want it thicker and sweeter, you can go 2:1. And, you don’t need to make it every time — I always keep a small bottle in my fridge for quick drinks.
• Cold Water – 4 cups: Use filtered water for the cleanest taste. If you want fizz, you can replace half with sparkling water. Sometimes I even like using coconut water for extra hydration — it will give a tropical flavor.
• Ice Cubes – as needed: Crushed ice chills lemonade faster. If you want to avoid dilution, you can freeze lemonade into cubes and use those.
• Garnishes – Lemon slices & Mint leaves: Lemon slices will make it look appealing, and mint will add freshness. You can also use basil or rosemary for a herb twist.

Instructions

This process is straightforward, but little details matter to get café-style taste.

Step 1: Make the Simple Syrup

• Combine 1 cup sugar + 1 cup water in a saucepan.
• Heat gently on medium until sugar dissolves. Stir continuously.
• Don’t let it boil vigorously. You just want a clear syrup.
• Let it cool before using.

Tip: For flavored lemonade, infuse herbs (mint, basil, rosemary) or spices (ginger slices, cinnamon) while the syrup is hot. Remove before cooling.

Step 2: Juice the Lemons

• You have to roll lemons on a flat surface. After that, cut them and squeeze.
• If you want to save effort, consider using a citrus juicer.
• Strain that juice to remove all pulp, though I sometimes leave pulp because I like a better look, and I also like eating.

Step 3: Mix Lemon Juice and Syrup

• You want to take a pitcher and add 1 cup of lemon juice and 1 cup of simple syrup.
• You want to stir it properly. And then taste it. This will be your concentrated lemonade base.

Step 4: Add Cold Water

• You have to add 4 cups of cold water.
• Taste test again. If you feel it’s too strong, you can dilute it with more water. And, if it’s too sharp, just add more syrup.

This is where your lemonade with simple syrup ratio comes in. For my taste, I like a ratio of 1:1:4 (juice:syrup:water). It is perfect, but everyone has different tastes, so you can adjust it as you like.

Step 5: Chill and Serve

• Fill glasses with ice.
• Pour lemonade, garnish with lemon slices and mint.
• Serve immediately.

Ingredient Substitutes and Options

• Sugar-free option: You can use stevia syrup, monk fruit syrup, or erythritol syrup; they all work well if you want low calorie lemonade with simple syrup.
• Flavor twists: You want to steep lemon zest in your syrup before cooling, or add vanilla, lavender, or ginger.
• Fruit add-ins: Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries can be mashed and added.
• Lemon juice replacements: If lemons aren’t available, lime or calamansi works.

Pro Tip: If you like creamy drinks, you can balance this recipe with snacks like bakery style oatmeal chocolate chip muffins. Sweet baked goods with cold lemonade are a summer combo that works every single time.

 

Variations Of Lemonade With Simple Syrup

This is where you can really have fun. I experiment with different flavors depending on mood and season.

1. Sparkling Lemonade

You can replace half the water with sparkling water. Serve in tall glasses with lots of ice. 

This version will feel like soda but healthier.

2. Strawberry Lemonade

Blend 1 cup fresh strawberries with lemon juice before mixing with syrup. 

This will make it pink and fruity. It reminds me of strawberry white chocolate mocha — sweet and tangy together.

3. Mint Lemonade

Muddle a handful of mint leaves with lemon juice before mixing. Very cooling in hot weather.

4. Ginger Lemonade

Simmer ginger slices in your syrup. 

This will give a spicy kick that cuts through the sweetness.

5. Frozen Lemonade

Blend ice cubes directly with the lemonade until slushy. Kids especially love this.

6. Lavender Lemonade

Add dried lavender to the syrup while boiling. 

It infuses floral notes and makes a beautiful purple-tinted drink.

 

What To Serve With Lemonade

Because this drink is so light and tangy, it pairs best with snacks, including sweet and savory flavors.

• Cookies & Chocolate Treats: You can try with copycat nuts.com chocolate covered Oreos for a sweet pairing.
• Fruit-based snacks: White chocolate cheesecake stuffed strawberries are a classy pairing.
• Light cakes: Rice flour brownies with cocoa powder give you chocolate richness that balances lemon tartness.
• Savory: Chocolate Popcorn, salted nuts, Chocolate pretzels, or feta pastries.

 

Pro Tips To Get The Best Result

Follow these things, and if you do that, you’ll get perfect lemonade every time.

• You have to taste as you go. Lemons can be sweeter or tart depending on the season.
• You wanna chill the syrup before mixing — it will help the lemonade cool instantly.
• Use flavored ice cubes (lemon juice or mint frozen) so your drink doesn’t get watered down.
• For parties, you can prepare syrup and lemon juice ahead, then mix with water only when serving.

 

Storage Instructions

I prefer fresh, but here is what you can do when it comes to storing.

• Fridge: You have to store lemonade in glass pitchers or bottles; it will be okay for 3 to 4 days. Stir before serving.
• Freezer: You can freeze in ice cube trays. Drop cubes into sparkling water for instant lemonade flavor.
• Avoid sunlight: Lemon juice can taste bitter if left out too long.

 

Nutritional Value (Per Glass)

Here is the nutrition you will get when you drink a glass of this lemonade.

• Calories: 120–140
• Carbs: ~30g
• Sugar: 24–28g
• Vitamin C: High (from lemon juice)

If you replace sugar syrup with honey or stevia, you can cut calories by 30 to 40%.

 

Conclusion

It was a lemonade with simple syrup and lemon juice recipe. It’s made with fresh lemon juice, some sugar, and water.

It will give you smooth sweetness in every sip, no sugar crystals at the bottom, and you can easily make one glass for yourself or even a big pitcher for your whole family.

And this isn’t only a regular lemonade recipe, because you can keep changing it. 

Add mint, add strawberries, even make it sparkling, frozen, or spiked for adults. Every time you’ll feel like a new drink, but it’s still very easy.

 

FAQs About Lemonade With Simple Syrup And Lemon Juice

These are some important questions with their answers.

How much simple syrup for a glass of lemonade?

For one tall glass, I usually take around 3 tbsp lemon juice + 3 tbsp simple syrup, and then fill with cold water and ice. 

But you can taste and change, because sometimes lemons are very sour and sometimes they’re mild. 

So there isn’t one fixed answer, you just wanna balance sweet and tart until it feels right.

What kind of drink can I make with simple syrup?

Simple syrup is not only for lemonade. You can use it in iced tea, iced coffee, cocktails, mocktails, and even desserts. 

I sometimes add it to my iced mocha latte recipe when I want a sweet balance. So once you make a bottle, you’ll keep using it in different drinks.

What’s the secret to perfect lemonade?

The secret is always balance. If you add too much lemon, it will be too sharp, if you add too much syrup, it will be heavy sweet. 

So you wanna keep tasting as you mix, until it feels bright and refreshing. 

Another small secret is chilling the syrup before using, because it will make your lemonade instantly cold and smooth, no need to wait.

How do you make lemonade with sugar syrup?

It’s very easy. First, you make sugar syrup (equal sugar and water, heat until it dissolves). Then you just take lemon juice, mix it with the syrup, add cold water, and stir. 

Put ice and lemon slices, and you have your lemonade made with simple syrup ready. 

You don’t need to keep stirring sugar in cold water anymore.