Give your day a fun kick in the pants with this fresh squeezed Old-Fashioned Lemonade. Just like your favorite summertime state fair lemonade, it’s the perfect lip-smacking way to add a splash of sunshine to your day. Just 3 ingredients, and your sweet oasis is ready for sipping!
When life friends give you lemons… {straight from the tree}, what do you do? You make this easy copycat Chick Fil A lemonade recipe, of course!
Cari writes: “Best recipe ever!!! And so easy!”
Now if you’re not already obsessed with lemonade, that’s about to change!
And if you already love a good old-fashioned lemonade? Prepare for an upgrade!!
My Aunt Dee in Southern California introduced me to this old-fashioned lemonade, made with fresh lemons from her own backyard. She served it up at my birthday party she was throwing me, and it was truly the best present of all!
Trust me… you’ve never tasted a better lemonade. It served up the ultimate sweet ‘n tangy refreshment!
Here’s the best part. She shared her fresh lemon lemonade recipe with me!
And now I am excited to share the favor by passing it along to you.
It truly is the BEST you’ll ever make, and you can make it with just 3 ingredients!
Then in just 10 minutes, you’ll find yourself with a classic old fashioned state fair lemonade recipe that both the kids and grownups will LOVE!
Seriously, this intensely tasty copycat Chick Fil A lemonade recipe will leave your taste buds screaming for more… and more! Just like when you make my sassy Homemade Raspberry Lemonade, nose tickling Italian Sodas Recipe, and sparkling Pineapple Mocktails.
Plus, if you need a gallon lemonade recipe, just double the recipe and you’ll have almost a gallon to serve at your big backyard parties and barbecues.
So do yourself a favor and grab some fresh lemons.
Because your summer deserves this easy homemade lemonade made with fresh squeezed lemon juice!
Ingredients
You’ll just need three simple lemonade ingredients to make the BEST old-fashioned lemonade!
And you may also want a hand or electric juicer, if you don’t like to juice lemons by hand.
- Fresh Lemons – Even though bottled lemon juice can seem like an easy shortcut, you’ll definitely want to use fresh squeezed lemon juice. The flavor makes ALL the difference!
- Sugar – Just your ordinary, white, granulated sugar.
- Water – You’ll need both hot and cold water for this fresh squeezed lemonade recipe.
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Pin ItHow to Make Old-Fashined Lemonade
You won’t believe how simple it is to make this copycat Chick Fila lemonade recipe.
Here’s what you’ll do to make one of your new favorite Copycat Recipes…
1. First you’ll want to roll your lemons on the counter or cutting board to loosen the juice.
2. Then cut your lemons in half.
3. Now squeeze the juice out of your lemons. (I’ll show you two different options below)
4. Dissolve your sugar in HOT water in the pitcher, then add your fresh lemon juice and the remainder of the water.
5. Finally, chill your pitcher of old-fashioned lemonade in the refrigerator… and you’re done!
This Chick Fil A lemonade recipe really is that crazy easy!
Scroll down for the printable old-fashioned lemonade recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.
Lemonade Ice Cubes
Frozen lemonade ice cubes are the secret trick for packing a punch of flavor without watering down your state fair lemonade recipe. Even after it’s served up in a glass!
1. Simply pour your old-fashioned lemonade made from the recipe below into an ice cube tray and freeze.
2. Then when you’re ready for your next glass of lemonade, just pop in a few lemonade cubes!
These lemonade ice cubes will keep your glasses of old-fashioned lemonade chilled, but not watered down as they begin to melt! (Feel free to use this trick on all your favorite Summer Drinks!)
Jennifer writes: “I made these and ended up using them in a fruit punch I made. Delicious use of leftover homemade lemonade I had!”
Melissa writes: “I used lemonade cubes in red Hawaiian punch for my son’s birthday party. Tasted great and wasn’t watered down! Thank you!”
Lemonade Variations
Want to change up the flavor a bit? Go for it!
I know you’ll love these tasty old-fashioned lemonade variations, too…
- Copycat Chick Fil A Strawberry Lemonade
- Arnold Palmer – Mix equal parts Old-Fashioned Lemonade with Unsweetened Iced Tea.
- Blended Strawberry Lemonade
- Sugar Free Lemonade Recipe – Oliv writes: “Works just as well with stevia! Made simple syrup and used 1 cup.” (See my Vanilla Simple Syrup Recipe for instructions.)
- Lemonade Punch – Perfect for a crowd!
Reviews
Here’s what your friends are saying about this easy lemonade recipe for kids…
One reader writes: “This super simple recipe was so easy the kids got in on the action!”
Jesse writes: “Love it – it’s awesome”
Maria writes: “This lemonade is SO GOOD! I make it all the time now”
Stephanie writes: “This is soooooo good! I have made this recipe 10 times already and it never fails to amaze me with its awesome flavor!”
One reader writes: “Made this with my 4 year old. It was so easy!”
Steph writes: “This is my go-to lemonade recipe”
Grace writes: “This lemonade was so good, I loved it”
Valerie writes: “Perfect lemonade!”
Cari writes: “Best recipe ever!!! And so easy!”
Bree writes: “My family loved it! My husband said it tasted just like the lemonade from Teds Montana Grill (our favorite lemonade)!”
Hannah writes: “This recipe is really amazing!”
Laurynn writes: “Totally a hit! Not too sweet, not too tart. Thank you!!!”
Lee writes: “It was perfect and so easy!”
Loretta writes: “I love this recipe! Fresh lemonade is the best! This is quick and easy!”
Brigitte writes: “Excellent “Lemonade Stand” lemonade!”
Cheri writes: “A tasty state fair treat without all of the crowds”
Sadie writes: “This is so yummy! I steep some Tazo Passion Tea in it and it. is. delicious.”
Tammy writes: “This was a super simple recipe! It was really tasty. We used raw coconut sugar and while it tinted it slightly, tasted like heaven. I’ll never spend time on a simple syrup again.”
Olivia writes: “I made simple syrup with stevia and it worked just as well!”
Donna writes: “My granddaughters and I make this recipe every Summer. Thanks so much for sharing. We also like to add puréed raspberries when raspberries are in season. Yum!”
More Sweet Drinks To Make At Home
Did You Enjoy This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a comment & review below!
Old-Fashioned Lemonade
Doubling Recipe Tip
If doubling or tripling recipe with buttons below, ingredient notes found after comma will not adjust. Increase ingredients as needed.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice, approximately 4 – 5 medium lemons
- 1.5 cups White Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Hot Water
- 4 cups Cold Water
Instructions
- Gather your old-fashioned lemonade ingredients.
- Roll lemons on cutting board to loosen juice.
- Cut lemons in half, and squeeze out fresh lemon juice. You can either squeeze by hand, or use a manual or electric citrus juicer.
- Make sure to remove and discard any seeds that may appear when squeezing.
- In a pitcher, dissolve 1.5 cups sugar in 1 cup HOT water, and stir well.
- Pour in fresh squeezed lemon juice.
- Add in 4 cups cold water and stir.
- Store your pitcher of old-fashioned lemonade in the refrigerator to chill, and let 2 thin slices of lemon float on top as garnish.
- Garnish: If serving this old-fashioned lemonade at a party, you can add thin lemon slices as garnish to float on top of the lemonade in the pitcher. Each glass can be garnished with a thin slice of lemon, too!
Notes
- Gallon Lemonade Recipe: Simply double this old-fashioned lemonade recipe to make just less than a gallon of lemonade.
- Lemonade Ice Cubes: Pour some of your easy homemade lemonade into an ice cube tray and freeze. When serving lemonade, pop in a few lemonade cubes so the flavor stays strong as the ice melts!
- FAQ’s: For answers to Frequently Asked Questions or tips for common substitutions and variations, please refer to the detailed information above this recipe card.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
You just can’t beat a good old-fashioned glass of lemonade on a hot summer day! This one is perfectly refreshing and has just the right amounts of sweet and tart!
Thank you so much Melissa… and I totally agree!
The best lemonade ever that all that needs to be said (just maybe a little less sugar)
I’m so glad you loved it, Ali! Have a beautiful day!
I never usually leave a comment on recipe blogs but WOW this recipe is so simple yet soo delicious! My husband never wants to buy store lemonade. He only wants fresh lemonade I make with this recipe. Such a great balance between the tart lemon flavor and just enough sweetness! Plus I can make a gallon of lemonade for a lot cheaper!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share that, Brittany. You just made my day! 🙂
This lemonade is very good. It’s just the right amount of tartness and so easy to make!
Thanks, Donna… I’m so happy to hear you liked the lemonade! 🙂
So easy and delicious! Our California neighbors have trees full of lemons that they share so generously. Yum! Thanks!
That’s amazing, Christine! Your neighbors sound SO sweet… nothing beats fresh lemons straight from the tree!
That looks super refreshing and delicious! I love lemonade and I love it even more when it’s freshly squeezed!
Thanks, Christie… it really is so perfectly tangy and delicious! 🙂