Home / Recipes / Lemonades & citrus coolers
Classic lemonade
Fresh-squeezed lemonade by the gallon. Making the sugar into syrup first means no gritty bottom.
- 20 min active
- Serves 12
- Lemonades & citrus coolers
- Kid-friendly
Instructions
- Make syrup. Stir the sugar into the hot water until dissolved.
- Mix. Combine the syrup, lemon juice, and cold water in a large dispenser.
- Taste. Add more water if it's too tart, or more syrup if it's too sour.
- Serve. Add lemon wheels and pour over ice.
Hosting tip: Plan on 10 to 12 lemons per batch. Roll them on the counter and microwave for 10 seconds before juicing to get more juice.
Make it ahead
Make up to 3 days ahead. Add ice only when serving.
Great for
Serve it at kids' parties and game day. Planning the whole drink table? See how to set up a mocktail bar, and use the party calculator to figure out how much to make.
What you'll need
- 2-gallon drink dispenserHolds a full batch
- Citrus juicerSaves your hands when juicing a dozen lemons
- Mason jar glassesClassic for lemonade
- Reusable strawsWashable and party colors
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Questions
How many lemons or limes do I need?
One lemon gives about 3 tablespoons of juice and one lime about 2 tablespoons. Buy a few extra, since fruit varies.
Can I make it for more people?
Yes. Use the servings button next to the ingredients. Every amount updates automatically, from 1 glass up to 200.
