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    Home » Recipes » Snacks & Drinks

    Published: Apr 29, 2022 by Misty · This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.

    Easy Lemonade Concentrate (homemade!)

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    Glass pitcher of lemonade with lemonade slices inside and text overlay on top.
    Clear glass jar of yellow lemonade concentrate with text overlay on top of photo.

    This Lemonade Concentrate recipe is sweet, tangy, and super simple to make! Made with just two ingredients, the concentrate will be ready to pop in the fridge or freezer in under 10 minutes. Add water and serve for the perfect treat on a hot summer day!

    Clear glass jar of yellow lemonade concentrate with yellow straws laying beside it.
    This easy lemonade concentrate makes the best homemade lemonade!
    Skip to:
    • 🏅 Why this recipe is great
    • 🍋 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍓 Variations
    • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd
    • 🙋 Questions and Answers
    • 👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks
    • 📖 More great recipes 
    • 👋🏻 Connect with us!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    My favorite treat to make over the summer is homemade lemonade. It’s extra tangy and has that fresh lemon flavor that you just can’t buy. But even better is this homemade lemonade concentrate recipe! 

    Making concentrate is a must if you have lemons going bad or want to prep ahead for a special occasion. Just pop it out of the fridge or freezer, add water, and voila!

    While you’re at it, make this iced tea concentrate for a tasty Arnold Palmer or use the concentrate for this Easy Frozen Lemonade Recipe - you've already done the hard work, might as well!

    🏅 Why this recipe is great

    • Only 2 ingredients
    • Done in under 10 minutes
    • Amazing flavor - way better than Minute Maid!
    • Refrigerate or freeze

    🍋 Ingredients

    Overhead view of a pile of lemons and a bowl of white sugar with text labels.
    Choose lemons that are bright yellow, heavy, and have a slight give when squeezed.
    • Lemons: Whatever type of lemon from your grocery store is fine (likely Meyer, Lisbon, or Eureka). You will need both lemon zest and fresh lemon juice. Don't skip the zest! The lemon peel is a powerhouse of flavor.
    • Sugar: Just regular granulated sugar. You can also substitute pure cane sugar.

    🔪 Instructions

    Overhead of saucepan with lemon juice before cooking (picture 1) and concentrate after cooking (picture 2).
    Cook the mixture gently until all the sugar is dissolved and it is relatively transparent.

    Start by zesting the lemons with a microplane (affilate). Then juice the lemons. I use an electric citrus juicer (affiliate), but you can also use a hand juicer (affiliate).

    Combine sugar, juice, and zest in a medium saucepan on the stove. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is translucent. You are essentially making a lemon simple syrup with equal parts juice and sugar.

    Do not overheat or it will change the flavor of the lemon juice. It should not simmer or boil. Once translucent, remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. If you don’t like zest, you can strain it out.

    Refrigerate or freeze the concentrate. When ready to use, mix 1 part concentrate to 3 parts water (preferably filtered water).

    🍓 Variations

    To add flavors to your prepared lemonade, try using an immersion blender to zoom in fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries. You can also mix lemonade with fruit juices - use cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, or other favorite fresh juices. Top it off with a sprig of fresh mint.

    Clear glass jar of yellow lemonade concentrate with yellow straws laying beside it.
    Store in the fridge or pop it in the freezer for frozen lemonade concentrate.

    👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd

    Lemonade is a real crowd pleaser, especially on a hot day! This recipe makes 3 cups of concentrate, which becomes 12 cups of lemonade with water. You can easily double or triple the recipe to serve more. 

    🙋 Questions and Answers

    How to choose juicy lemons? 

    Look for fresh lemons that are bright yellow (no green spots) and slightly heavy for their size. They should be firm, but give slightly when you squeeze them. If there is no give, it likely has an extra thick rind and less juice. 

    How to store lemonade concentrate? 

    Store the concentrate in mason jars or an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.

    How to freeze lemonade concentrate? 

    For frozen lemonade concentrate, store in an airtight freezer-safe plastic container or airtight zipper bags in the freezer (freezer bags are best). You can freeze the whole recipe for a larger batch, or freeze in 1 cup measurements for 3 smaller batches. Frozen lemonade concentrate will last for 2-3 months in the freezer. 

    How to turn lemonade concentrate into lemonade? 

    When you’re ready to serve, combine 1 part of concentrate with 3 parts of water. For a whole recipe, that means 3 cups of concentrate and 9 cups of water. Pour in a serving glass with ice.

    Glass pitcher of lemonade with lemonade slices inside and fresh mint laying on the side.
    When ready to serve, just add water. Easy!

    👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks

    • Use fresh, real lemons. You should not substitute store-bought lemon juice concentrate in this recipe. 
    • Don’t overheat while cooking. If the mixture gets too hot, it changes the flavor of the lemon juice. It should not simmer or boil while cooking.

    📖 More great recipes 

    • Fruit Salad Dressing
    • Key Lemon Pie with Raspberry Sauce
    • Lemon Broccoli Pasta
    • Moist Orange Loaf Cake
    • Electric Skillet Lemon Chicken
    • Easy Lemon Bundt Cake

    👋🏻 Connect with us!

    If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food!

    📋 Recipe

    Clear glass jar of yellow lemonade concentrate with yellow straws in background.

    Easy Lemonade Concentrate

    This Lemonade Concentrate recipe is sweet, tangy, and super simple to make! Made with just two ingredients, the concentrate will be ready to pop in the fridge or freezer in under 10 minutes. Add water and serve for the perfect treat on a hot summer day!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3 cups of concentrate (12 cups lemonade)
    Calories: 138kcal
    Author: Borrowed Bites

    Equipment

    • Microplane zester
    • Electric juicer optional
    • Hand juicer optional

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon lemon zest about 2 large lemons
    • 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice about 8 large lemons
    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Lemonade Concentrate

    • Zest the lemons. Squeeze the lemon juice.
      2 tablespoon lemon zest, 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • In a medium saucepan, combine the zest, juice, and sugar. Cook on medium heat, stirring often, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is transparent. Do not overheat - If it simmers or boils, turn down immediately.
      2 tablespoon lemon zest, 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 cups granulated sugar
    • Once sugar is dissolved, remove from the heat and cool. If desired, strain out the zest. Store concentrate in the fridge or freezer until ready to use (see notes for more details on storing).

    Making the Lemonade

    • To make the lemonade, combine 1 part concentrate with 3 parts water. For this full recipe, that will be 3 cups of concentrate and 9 cups of water.
    • We love comments! Please come back and leave us one after you’ve tried this recipe.

    Notes

    Tips & Tricks
    • Use fresh lemons - You can’t substitute store-bought lemon juice in this recipe. 
    • Don’t overheat while cooking - If the mixture gets too hot, it changes the flavor of the lemon juice. It should not simmer or boil while cooking.
    How to Store in Fridge
    Store in a jar or air-tight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. 
    How to Freeze
    Store in a plastic Tupperware or a zipper freezer bag in the freezer. You can freeze the whole recipe for a larger batch, or freeze in 1 cup measurements for 3 smaller batches. Frozen lemonade concentrate will last for 2-3 months in the freezer. When ready to use, thaw slightly to release from container. Then add to pitcher with 3 parts water and combine. 

    Add Your Own Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes. They will only be visible to you. If you clear your browser's cache, they will be lost.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup lemonade | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

    All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating or pin it for later!

    Please note that all nutrition and daily value information is an estimate only. This recipe has all natural ingredients and natural flavors. It is not a good source of dietary fiber as there is not much pulp.

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    Hi! We are Danielle and Misty: a mom and daughter with a serious passion for seeking out the best recipes to serve again and again to those we love. With a mix of everyday favorites and indulgent weekend fare there is something here for you and yours as you develop your own family traditions.

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