How to Make Lemonade with Lemon Juice

No time to squeeze lemons? You can easily make lemonade with lemon juice instead. This is a delightfully refreshing summer drink and while purists insist on using fresh-squeezed juice, using bottled lemon juice produces an almost equally delicious beverage.

Since sugar doesn't dissolve well in cold water, the trick is to make a sugar syrup first -- which is very easy to do. Here's how to make lemonade with lemon juice.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp lemon extract
• 4 cups ice water

1. Sugar

   Pour 1 cup water and the sugar in a small saucepan on medium low heat. Mix occasionally until sugar is completely dissolved into the water. Allow to cool.

   This is a simple syrup that will sweeten your lemonade, and it works by dissolving the sugar before adding it to the chilled water.

2. 

   In a large pitcher, combine cooled syrup and lemon juice. Add lemon extract and mix to incorporate.

   Sliced citrus or other fruit, washed well before slicing, can also be added to the beverage for flavor and presentation.

3. Fresh lemonade

   Fill pitcher with ice water and stir well. Serve your lemonade made with lemon juice in tall glasses, garnished with a slice of real lemon if available.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add an extra 1/4 cup of sugar in the syrup-making stage if you prefer sweeter lemonade.

• You'll be spoiled after making your own lemonade and you won't want to use those powdered drink mixes again!

Resources

• Pure lemon extract
• Le Creuset Stoneware 2-Quart Blue Pitcher