There is nothing like an ice-cold lemonade on a hot summer day. Whip up a batch of fresh squeezed homemade lemonade for one recipe any time you want! The best part, there is no need to wait in line at the county fair, go to the grocery store, or open up a bottle with ingredients you cannot pronounce. Making this easy lemonade recipe is a great way to skip making an entire pitcher of lemonade when you only need a single serving!
My love of lemons runs deep. I dream of having a lemon tree in my backyard when I no longer live in the tundra someday. I add fresh lemon juice to iced tea, Diet Coke, Bloody Marys, and of course, fresh lemonade.
The recipe is simple, almost too simple. Fresh lemon juice brings the tart, puckering flavor we all love. The sugar brings in the sweetness and easily dissolves in the hot water, so there is zero grit. Pour it all over a tall glass of ice—simple ingredients for the perfect lemonade.
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Lemonade Ingredients
- Lemons - Fresh lemons are the best.
- Sugar - Plain old white granulated regular sugar.
- Water - Gold ole H2O. Both hot and cold - keep reading for all the details.
- Ice Cubes - Nobody wants to drink hot lemonade unless you do, then carry on.
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions. Selected ingredients are based on current serving sizes measured by the Monash FODMAP App at the time of publishing. As always, follow your gut and modify as needed.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Heat the ¼ cup of water in the microwave for thirty seconds. If you do not have a microwave, use a small saucepan on the stove. It is important to use hot water to be sure the sugar dissolves.
Pour the warm water into a mason jar and add the white granulated sugar. Mix sugar into the hot water until it completely dissolves. This step is basically making a simple syrup recipe for a single glass of lemonade.
Grab some large lemons. Slice them in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. Squeeze out as much juice as you can. Pick out any seeds and discard them. If you do not want pulp in your lemonade, strain the juice with a fine mesh strainer.
Add the lemon juice, and the rest of the water to the glass. Stir until combined. Taste the fresh lemonade. Is it too sweet? Add more water, starting with one tablespoon at a time. Is it too tart? Add some more white sugar, one teaspoon at a time. Do not add too much sugar otherwise, it will not dissolve. It is best to start over, add more sugar to the hot water, and adjust from there.
Add ice cubes to the mason jar and some thin lemon slices to garnish. Serve immediately. It is a perfect drink for a hot day!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Lemons - If your grocery store doesn’t have real lemons, you can substitute bottled lemon juice, but it will not be the same. However, it is a lemonade emergency. Make it work!
- Sugar - Use a stevia/sugar combo for a lower-sugar option or leave out the sugar entirely and create infused lemon water.
Variations of Lemonade
- Limes - Create a limeade instead of lemonade. Replace the lemon juice with lime juice.
- Strawberry Lemonade - Add some crushed strawberry to flavor your lemonade with strawberries and turn it into pink lemonade.
- Presentation Options - Freeze some sweet lemonade in ice cube trays. Add fresh fruit to each cube before freezing. Blueberries, raspberries, or diced strawberries would be beautiful and delicious. Once frozen, add the ice cubes with your favorite sparkling water flavors.
Low FODMAP Notes
Lemons are a low FODMAPers best friend. According to Monash Food App, lemon juice is safe at ½ cup per serving. Enjoy a glass or two of fresh-squeezed lemonade!
Storage
If you have leftovers from your single serving, store them in the refrigerator and keep them cold. Remove ice cubes from your glass so they do not melt, and water down your lemonade.
Adults-Only Summer Drinks
Add 1 ounce of your favorite vodka to your glass of freshly squeezed lemonade.
Try a Blueberry Vodka Lemonade Cocktail! Using fresh blueberries to level up your cocktail game. It is perfect for summers on the patio!
Recipe
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons White Granulated Sugar
- ¼ cup Hot Water
- 3 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- ¾ cup Cold Water
- Ice Cubes
Instructions
- Heat ¼ cup of water in the microwave for thirty seconds. If you do not have a microwave, use a small saucepan on the stove. It is important to use hot water to be sure the sugar dissolves.
- Pour the warm water into a mason jar or regular glass and add the sugar. Mix sugar into the hot water until it completely dissolves.
- Grab some large lemons. Slice them in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. Squeeze out as much juice as you can. Pick out any seeds and discard them. If you do not want pulp in your lemonade, strain the juice with a fine mesh strainer.
- Add the lemon juice and the rest of the water to the glass. Stir until combined.
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