Description
Refreshing, tangy homemade lemonade inspired by Chick-fil-A. Made with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup for a perfect sweet-tart balance.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 large lemons (enough to yield about 2 cups of lemon juice)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 8 cups cold water, plus more as needed
Instructions
- Select lemons that are heavy for their size and have smooth, thin skin.
- Wash the lemons thoroughly under cold water.
- Roll the lemons firmly on the countertop to break down the membranes inside.
- Cut each lemon in half crosswise.
- Juice the lemons using a citrus juicer or your hands, removing any seeds.
- Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove pulp and seeds. You should have about 2 cups of juice.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and 1 ½ cups of the cold water.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- (Optional) Simmer for a minute or two after the sugar is dissolved.
- Remove from heat and let the simple syrup cool completely.
- In a large pitcher, combine the cooled simple syrup, lemon juice, and remaining water.
- Stir well until everything is combined. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness as needed.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve over ice with lemon slices or wedges.
Notes
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential for the best flavor.
- Adjust the amount of sugar in the simple syrup to suit your taste.
- For a sweeter lemonade, use Meyer lemons.
- Try adding fresh berries, herbs, or sparkling water for variations.
- Lemonade can be frozen for later use.
- If lemonade is too tart, add more simple syrup. If it’s too sweet, add more lemon juice or water.
- If lemonade is bitter, try adding a pinch of salt.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes