Healthy Lemonade Recipe

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Lemonade is such a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. This healthy lemonade recipe is a great option for those hot days.

Try this delicious recipe for a lemonade free of refined sugars or processed sweeteners. Instead it is sweetened with real honey so you can feel good about enjoying it and serving it to your family!

light blue tray with two glasses of healthy lemonade and large pitcher with the lemonade.

This homemade lemonade is healthy and refreshing, and it is easy to make. We love it because it is super easy to make and the kids enjoy it after playing in the summer sun.

This is the best easy homemade lemonade recipe that doesn’t have any extra bad for you ingredients, extra flavors, or processed sugars.

So you can feel good about serving it to your family.

large glass pitcher of healthy lemonade with ice cubes and lemon slices.

Ingredients

This recipe is incredibly basic – you’ll only need 3 simple ingredients!

Here’s what you’ll need:

fresh lemons
filtered water
honey – or substitute with maple syrup or other natural sweetener of choice

ingredients for the healthy lemonade recipe on a light blue tray

Instructions

You won’t believe how easy it is to make this refreshing summer favorite. We’ll begin by zesting a little bit of lemon and setting it aside.

Next, add one cup of water with the honey or maple syrup into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and whisk until the honey dissolves into the water mixture.

Remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest and allow the simple syrup to cool down.

zest of the lemon in a small white bowl.

small sauce pan with the simple syrup and lemon zest

Use a citrus juicer to juice the lemons until you reach about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Combine the remaining cold water with the fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher. You can add a little more sweetness to taste, if desired.

Use a fine mesh sieve to strain the pulp and lemon zest if desired. Add ice cubes and fresh lemon slices for garnish.

measuring cup with fresh squeezed lemon juice.

large pitcher with the lemonade and whisk to the side

glass pitcher with lemonade, ice cubes, and lemon slices.

Serve your fresh lemonade immediately, pour over ice or cool down in the fridge until ready to enjoy.

Stir in additional natural sweetener to desired tartness is reached.

More serving ideas

You can really elevate this simple lemonade by stirring in fresh fruit or herbs.

Here are a few of our favorites:

fresh strawberries
fresh basil leaves
fresh mint leaves
other fresh fruit like peaches, raspberries, blueberries, or there favorite berry

🍅 Recipe tips

I wholeheartedly believe that good quality ingredients make for the best recipes! I don’t recommend any fake or overly processed ingredients and will usually recommend organic / non-gmo ingredients whenever possible.

Sourcing good quality ingredients can be difficult sometimes. Did you know that most of the olive oil in grocery stores aren’t truly authentic? Or that most seafood is farmed and sourced from China? These are just a couple of examples of confusing product labels.

How do we find the BEST ingredients? If you’re like me, then sourcing clean ingredients is important to you! So, I’ve created a favorite shop page with all of my recommendations. Here you can find all of the best places to source good quality ingredients!

VIEW PRODUCTS

pitcher and two glasses of lemonade on a light blue tray.

How to store fresh homemade lemonade

Enjoy the homemade healthy lemonade fresh or make it ahead and store in the refrigerator for just a few days. It can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days for best results.

FAQ (frequently asked questions)

Is drinking homemade lemonade good for you?

Yes, when made with a natural sweetener like raw honey or real maple syrup, it is much better for you than a conventional lemonade made of processed sugars. It also contains vitamin C, antioxidants, and is a great treat to hydrate during a hot summer day.

What type of lemonade is good for you?

Making homemade lemonade with a natural sweetener like maple syrup or raw honey is the best option. You have control over the ingredients that you’re using so there’s no unwanted processed ingredients in your drink!

want more recipes?

Check out the recipe index where you can discover more homemade recipes from my homestead!

go to recipe index

healthy lemonade in a glass pitcher with lemon slices and ice cubes inside.

Healthy Lemonade with Honey

This healthy lemonade recipe uses fresh-squeezed lemon juice, raw honey, and ice cold water to make a refreshing summer drink. This is an easy way to make a refreshing lemonade. It's smooth, sweet and a little tart, just the way we like it.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Serving Size

Equipment

Citrus Juicer

Ingredients

6 cups cold filtered water divided
½ cup honey
1 cup lemon juice (about 5 lemons) fresh squeezed, not from bottle.
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

In a small saucepan, make a simple syrup by combining 1 cup of the filtered water with the honey or maple syrup and heat over medium heat. Bring to a boil over medium heat and whisk until the honey dissolves into the water mixture. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest. Allow to cool.
Using a citrus juicer, squeeze 1 cup of fresh lemon juice and stir together with the remaining cold water in a large pitcher. Add the simple syrup mixture to the lemon & water mixture. Combine well.
Serve over ice and use fresh lemon slices or wedges for garnish if desired.