Easy Homemade Frozen Lemonade Concentrate Recipe
This Easy Homemade Frozen Lemonade Concentrate recipe offers a refreshing and zesty base for quick lemonade drinks. Utilizing fresh lemon juice, zest, and a simple sugar syrup, this concentrate freezes into easy-to-use cubes perfect for making iced lemonade on demand. It’s a bright, tangy, and sweet solution ideal for hot days or whenever you crave a classic lemonade with natural ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes (including freezing time)
- Yield: 10 servings (about 10 ice cube tray cubes)
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Fresh Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh lemon juice plus lemon zest (from about 10-12 lemons)
- 1/2 lime (juice only)
Sweetener & Liquid
- 1 cup granulated sugar (white, superfine, or granulated)
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare the lemons and zest: Peel or zest two lemons carefully to collect the lemon zest, setting it aside for later use in the syrup.
- Juice the citrus: Slice all the lemons and the half lime in half, then squeeze out the juice, collecting approximately 2 cups of lemon juice along with the lime juice.
- Make the sugar syrup: Combine the sugar, water, and reserved lemon zest in a medium-sized pot. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture is clear.
- Cool and combine fresh juice: Remove the pot from heat and allow the syrup to cool for about 5 minutes. Then stir in the freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice to the syrup gently.
- Strain the mixture: Pour the combined syrup and juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any pulp, zest bits, or seeds, ensuring a smooth concentrate.
- Freeze the concentrate: Carefully pour the strained lemonade concentrate into ice cube trays. Cover with lids or plastic wrap and freeze for at least a few hours or preferably overnight until solid.
Notes
- The concentrate cubes can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months for best quality.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the sugar amount according to taste before freezing.
- Use the frozen lemonade cubes to quickly prepare drinks by mixing with cold water or sparkling water.
- Fresh lime juice adds a subtle tang and complexity but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Make sure the sugar is completely dissolved in the warm water before adding lemon juice to prevent graininess.
