This Homemade Watermelon Lemonade is made using fresh chunks of fruit and fresh lemon juice. This is a refreshing drink that combines the sweet, juicy flavor of watermelon with the tartness of lemonade. It's a perfect summer drink to cool down on a hot day, and it can be served over ice with fresh mint leaves or a slice of watermelon as a garnish.
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Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Refreshing Flavor: Watermelon and lemon are both refreshing flavors on their own. Combining them creates a unique taste that is perfect for hot summer days or any time you need a refreshing beverage.
- Hydration: Watermelon is naturally high in water content, and lemonade is a hydrating drink. Mixing them together creates a beverage that not only tastes good but also helps keep you hydrated.
- Nutritional Benefits: Watermelon is rich in vitamins A and C, while lemons are a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Crowd Pleaser: This drink is a hit at parties, barbecues, or gatherings with friends and family. Its vibrant color and refreshing taste make it a crowd-pleasing option for guests of all ages.
How to Select the Watermelon
You can grab a whole one or pre-cut. Pre-cut has already been sliced or cut into smaller pieces, typically sold in plastic containers in grocery stores. The pre-cut is often seedless, making it a lot more convenient. I almost always grab this. I love that it's seedless.
Pre-cut is usually more expensive than buying a whole watermelon. Keep in mind that pre-cut fruit can lose its texture and flavor more quickly due to exposure to air. If you grab this be sure to use it quickly after purchasing.
If you're going to grab a whole watermelon, choose one that is ripe. A ripe watermelon will be heavy for its size and have a deep, hollow sound when you thump it. Look for one that is uniform in shape. Irregular bumps or indentations may indicate that the watermelon didn't grow evenly and may not be as sweet.
Avoid watermelons with bruises, cuts, or dents. These are signs that the watermelon is not fresh. Check the field spot. The field spot is the area of the watermelon where it was resting on the ground. It should be a creamy yellow color, indicating that the watermelon is ripe. If the field spot is white or green, the watermelon may be underripe.
How to Prep the Fruit
If you're using a whole one, you will need to prep it first. You will need:
- A ripe watermelon
- A sharp knife
- A cutting board
- Wash the watermelon thoroughly.
- Use a sharp knife to cut it in half.
- Scoop out the flesh of the watermelon.
- Cut the watermelon into chunks.
I wouldn't worry too much about pulling out the seeds. When you strain the watermelon, the strainer should catch the seeds.
What Type of Sweetener to Use
You can use standard regular table sugar or any sugar-free alternative you want.
I use organic monkfruit in this recipe to keep it sugar-free. It measures 1:1 like regular table sugar. It has zero calories, no carbs, and won’t spike your blood sugar.
Feel free to use your preferred sweetener. If you use stevia, maple syrup, or artificial sweeteners, you will have to convert the servings. Since monkfruit measures 1:1 you can follow your standard method for calculating it.
Key Ingredients:
- Watermelon
- Lemons
- Water
- Sweetener or Sugar
How to Make Watermelon Lemonade
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Pour 2 cups of water into a pan on medium-high heat. Add in the sweetener and stir.
- This will create a simple syrup. Continue to stir until the mixture is clear..
- Add the watermelon to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Use a strainer to strain the pureed watermelon and extract the juice into a bowl.
- Add the strained watermelon juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup from the pan to the blender. Blend until combined.
Simple Syrup
This recipe includes instructions on how to make simple syrup from a combination of water and sweetener that you heat on the stove.
It is made by dissolving granulated sugar or sweetener in an equal amount of water over low heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved. This creates a syrupy liquid that is sweeter than regular sugar and dissolves easily in cold liquids, making it perfect for sweetening iced drinks like lemonade.
Can You Use Bottled Lemon Juice
Sure, you can if you want. I'm not a fan of the taste, so I don't buy it. Bottled lemon juice is a product made from freshly squeezed lemon juice that has been pasteurized and packaged in bottles for convenience and extended shelf life.
How to Store it/How Long it Will Last
- Refrigerate lemonade as soon as possible after making it. This will help to prevent the growth of bacteria.
- Store lemonade in an airtight container. This will help to keep the lemonade fresh and prevent it from absorbing other flavors from the fridge.
- Label the container with the date you made the lemonade. This will help you to keep track of how long it has been stored.
- Lemonade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 to 7 days. Note, after 3 days, the quality of the lemonade will start to decline.
Freezer Tips
To freeze lemonade, pour it into freezable trays and freeze. Once the lemonade is frozen, transfer the ice cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen lemonade can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Pair With These Recipes
How to Grill Burgers
How to Grill Chicken Wings
Traeger Smoked Ribs
Smoked Crab Legs
More Watermelon Recipes
Watermelon Salad with Feta
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Watermelon Margarita on the Rocks
More Drink Recipes
Sugar Free Lemonade
ChickFilA Frosted Lemonade
Frozen Blended Strawberry Lemonade
Easy Strawberry Lemonade
Caramel Apple Spice Cider
Watermelon Water
Watermelon Lemonade
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Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups sweetener
- 5 cups fresh watermelon
- 1-1 ½ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice This was 4-5 lemons for me.
- additional water to adjust to taste I added 5-6 cups.
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups of water into a pan on medium-high heat. Add in the sweetener and stir.
- This will create a simple syrup. Continue to stir until the mixture is clear. Set the simple syrup aside.
- Add the watermelon to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Use a strainer to strain the pureed watermelon and extract the juice into a bowl. (You can use the pulp for smoothies!)
- Add the strained watermelon juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup from the pan to the blender. Blend until combined.
- Here is where you taste the lemonade repeatedly and make adjustments as needed. It should be super sweet at first. Start with 1 cup and add additional water until the lemonade suits your taste. If you like more lemon flavor, add additional lemon juice. If you like it sweet, make it sweeter.
Notes
- The number of lemons you will need will vary based on the size of the lemons you use and how much juice you can get from each.
- You can use bottled lemon juice if you want. I do not like the taste, so I don't use it.
- If you are having trouble juicing the lemons, place them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. This will help soften them up.
- Adjust this recipe to suit your taste and needs. If you like really sweet lemonade, add more sweetener.
- You can heat the simple syrup in the microwave if you wish. Heat it until the mixture turns clear, timing will vary.
- The macro nutrients noted assume zero calorie monkfruit is used. If you're using table sugar feel free to calculate the nutrition using the calculator of your choice.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Diane says
alcohol?
staysnatched says
Add it if you want it.