Honey Lemonade Recipe

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on May 21, 2025

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A simple, naturally sweetened Honey Lemonade recipe that brings together the bright acidity of fresh lemons and the floral sweetness of honey for the ultimate refreshing beverage.

A glass of pale yellow honey lemonade with honey drizzled on the rim and a lemon slice garnish, sits on a wooden surface next to a bowl of honey and more lemon slices in the background.

🍋 From casual family dinners to sophisticated summer gatherings, this honey lemonade fits every scenario. Serve it in a beautiful pitcher with lemon slices and mint sprigs for an elegant presentation, or pack it in a thermos for picnics and beach days!

My 2 Best Tips For Making Honey Lemonade
Honey Lemonade Recipe Recipe
Recipe FAQs
More Yummy Drink Recipes To Try

My 2 Best Tips For Making Honey Lemonade

Warm Water is the Secret: As highlighted in the recipe notes, using warm water to dissolve the honey first is crucial. Cold water causes honey to seize up and makes it nearly impossible to blend smoothly. This simple step ensures your honey integrates perfectly into the lemonade without sinking to the bottom.

Best Lemon-Squeezing Technique: To extract the maximum juice from your lemons, roll them firmly on the countertop with the palm of your hand before cutting. This breaks down the internal membranes and releases more juice. Additionally, lemons yield more juice when they’re at room temperature rather than cold from the refrigerator.

🩷 Melissa

With just five ingredients and a few minutes of your time, this honey lemonade comes together easily. The simple technique of dissolving honey in warm water first ensures a perfectly blended drink every time.

Unlike traditional lemonade that relies on processed sugar, this honey lemonade harnesses the natural sweetness and complex flavor notes of honey. Each sip delivers subtle floral undertones from the particular honey used!

Whether you prefer your lemonade tangy with just a hint of sweetness or abundantly sweet with mild lemon notes, this recipe is easily adjustable. The flexible honey measurement (½ to ¾ cup) allows you to tailor the sweetness level exactly to your preference.

A glass pitcher of iced lemonade with lemon slices sits on a wooden board, next to two empty glasses, a bowl of honey with a dipper, and sliced lemons. A green dish holds a whole lemon nearby.

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Honey Lemonade Recipe

By: Melissa Griffiths

A simple, naturally sweetened Honey Lemonade recipe that brings together the bright acidity of fresh lemons and the floral sweetness of honey for the ultimate refreshing beverage.

Prep: 10

Total: 10

Servings:

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Ingredients

▢ ½ to ¾ cup honey, to taste
▢ 1 cup warm water, *warm enough to dissolve the honey
▢ 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, from about 4–6 lemons
▢ 2 cups ice
▢ 3 cups cold water

Instructions

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the honey and warm water. Stir until the honey is fully dissolved.
In a large pitcher, add the lemon juice, ice, and cold water.
Pour in the honey-water mixture and stir well to combine.
Taste and adjust the sweetness by adding more honey if needed.
Serve chilled over ice.

Notes

Warm Water: The water you are stirring the honey with doesn’t have to be hot, just use warm tap water. Stirring the honey with some warm tap water first helps it stir into the cold water much better. Just adding the honey to the cold ice water makes it really hard to stir in.

Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is so great but if you are taking a short cut, get a good brand of lemon juice so that it’s not bitter. Costco sells an organic lemon juice from Italy that is delightful and I use it all of the time for lemonade.

Adjusting Sweetness: You can adjust the honey to taste, start with the 1/2 cup and go up from there.

Make It Even More Special: Transform your basic honey lemonade into an impressive signature drink by adding fresh herbs like mint, basil, or rosemary. You could also add thin slices of cucumber, strawberries, or other berries for color and additional flavor. Serve in mason jars with paper straws and lemon slices for a picture-perfect presentation.

Create Honey Lemonade Cubes: Make ice cubes from the honey lemonade itself rather than plain water. This prevents your drink from becoming diluted as the ice melts. Simply pour some of your prepared lemonade into ice cube trays and freeze. These flavored cubes are perfect for keeping your drink cold without watering it down.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 96kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 0.5g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g, Sodium: 14mg, Potassium: 63mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 8IU, Vitamin C: 19mg, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 0.3mg

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Recipe FAQs

Can I make honey lemonade ahead of time?

Yes! Honey lemonade keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store it in a sealed container or pitcher. The flavors may even develop and improve after a few hours in the fridge. Just give it a good stir before serving as the lemon pulp may settle.

Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh?

Yes, you can use bottled lemon juice in a pinch, but as noted in the recipe, quality matters significantly. Look for a high-quality, preferably organic bottled lemon juice without additives. The recipe recommends Costco’s organic lemon juice from Italy if you need a reliable store-bought option. However, fresh lemon juice will always provide the brightest, most vibrant flavor.

Can I use a different sweetener instead of honey?

Absolutely! While honey gives this lemonade its distinctive flavor profile, you can substitute maple syrup, agave nectar, or even simple syrup made with regular or coconut sugar. Each alternative will impart its own unique flavor. If using maple syrup, start with about ⅓ cup as it tends to have a stronger flavor than honey.