Description
This State Fair Lemonade uses lemon zest-infused sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice for an intensely citrusy drink. It is bright, refreshing, sweet, tart, and perfect for summer gatherings.
Ingredients
8 fresh lemons, scrubbed, rinsed, and dried, divided
1⅓ cups granulated sugar
6 cups water, divided into 4 cups hot water and 2 cups cold water
Ice, for serving
Instructions
- Roll the lemons firmly on the counter under your palm to soften them and make them easier to juice.
- Zest 6 lemons and combine the zest with the granulated sugar in a small bowl. Stir and press the zest into the sugar to release the citrus oils.
- Cover the lemon-sugar mixture tightly and let it rest at room temperature for 2 hours.
- Transfer the infused sugar and zest to a large heat-safe bowl.
- Pour 4 cups of steaming hot water over the mixture and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, cut the 6 zested lemons in half and juice them, yielding approximately 1 cup or slightly more fresh lemon juice.
- Once the lemon-sugar mixture is chilled, stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl or pitcher to remove the zest, seeds, and pulp.
- Stir in the remaining 2 cups of cold water and adjust the sweetness or tartness to taste if desired.
- Cut the remaining 2 lemons into thin rounds.
- Fill a pitcher with ice, add the lemon slices, and pour in the lemonade. Serve immediately while cold.
Notes
For sparkling lemonade, replace some or all of the final 2 cups of cold water with chilled sparkling water and add it shortly before serving.
Fresh mint or basil can be added for an herbal variation.
For berry lemonade, muddle strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries and stir them into the finished lemonade.
For a more tart lemonade, reduce the sugar slightly or add additional fresh lemon juice. For extra sweetness, stir in simple syrup after chilling.
Freeze lemonade in ice cube trays and use the cubes for serving to keep the drink cold without diluting it.
Store leftover lemonade covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. For best results, store without ice and remove fresh lemon slices before extended storage to prevent bitterness.
Stir refrigerated lemonade before serving and add fresh ice just before drinking.
- Prep Time: 4 hours 18 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Infused
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
