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Orange Lemonade

5 from 5 votes
Time: 40 minutes
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Skip store-bought lemonades! This homemade Orange Lemonade recipe is tart, sweet, and perfect for warmer weather. It has the ultimate citrus flavor with fresh squeezed orange juice, lemon juice, and a zest infused citrus syrup.

Still thirsty? Try my Watermelon Lime Slush!

Two glasses of Orange Lemonade with a large pitcher of more in the background and lemons and oranges on the side.

The spring and summer months are all about citrus! And what better way to celebrate warmer weather than with a large pitcher of freshly squeezed Orange Lemonade. You will only need a few minutes and 4 simple ingredients- oranges, lemons, sugar, and water.

Why This Orange Lemonade Recipe Will Become Your Go To:

  • A light and refreshing summer citrus drink- This one is a thirst quencher! The best part, it can easily be transformed into summer mocktail, ice cream float, or bubbly punch (recommendations below).
  • Easy to mix up and keep in the refrigerator all week long. Or you can make a big batch for pool parties, barbeques, church picnics, and beyond.
  • It has a few health benefits- Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, citric acid, and even fiber. Despite the little bit of sugar syrup, it is still a better option than soda.

Let’s Make It Together! Watch My Quick Video Below:

Orange Lemonade Ingredients

You will only need 4 ingredients to make this lemon orange flavored lemonade! But don’t be fooled, we use fresh squeezed juice and zest which takes it to a whole new level.

  • Oranges: For this recipe I used Valencias. We will use both the freshly squeezed orange juice and their zest so be sure to clean them. Other oranges good for this lemonade are Navel, Cara Cara, or blood oranges.
  • Lemons: Standard lemons work great. But, if you can get your hands on some Meyer lemons use those. Meyer lemons tend to be sweeter and less acidic. Again, we are using the fresh squeezed lemon juice and the zest so clean your lemons.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to the lemonade while balancing out the bitter and sour notes. You can also use cane sugar or even allulose sweetener for a sugar free lemonade.
  • Water: This is used to make both the citrus syrup and the lemonade. Tap water, spring water, any type of water will do.

Equipment Needed

  • Juicer: I recommend using a heavy duty glass juicer or a juicing machine. Handheld juicers will work, but they are not the easiest (especially when you have a lot of citrus to juice).
  • Zester Grater: I like this one because it doubles as a cheese grater. If you do not have a zester grater, peel a few pieces of the citrus rind to use (just be careful of the white pith because that part is bitter).
  • Small Saucepan: I like using stainless steel pans like this is for making the deliciously zippy citrus syrup.
  • Fine Mesh Strainer: To help strain the zest from the citrus syrup and pulp from juicing the oranges and lemons.
  • Large Pitcher: Whenever you can, use glass pitchers and drink containers. Plastics can seep toxins and chemicals into lemonade.
Ingredients and equipment. Oranges, lemons, water, and granulated sugar with saucepan, zester, and fine mesh strainer.

How To Pick Out The Best Citrus

No matter what type of citrus you are buying, lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit… You should follow these two simple guidelines.

  1. The skin should be plump, bright, and with minimal imperfections. You do not want dry, shriveled, or skins tarnished with black/ brown spots (it is an indication of mold).
  2. Do a slight squeeze test, they should slightly firm but still give way (a little resistance but not too much or too little). Citrus that is too firm tends to be under-ripened, and too squishy means over-ripened.

PRO TIP: When you get home with your citrus, throw it in the “fruit crisper” drawer of your refrigerator. You will have cold juice for the lemonade and your citrus will last even longer than if it was set out at room temperature.

A glass of cold lemonade garnished with an orange wedge.

How to Make Orange Lemonade

Here is a quick overview to show just how easy this lemonade drink is to make. The recipe card below will have full details.

  1. Make the citrus syrup. Heat together the sugar and water until the sugar has dissolved completely. Remove from heat and stir in the orange and lemon zest. Cover and let stand until cooled to room temperature. Strain the zest from the syrup using a fine mesh strainer.
  2. Combine the Orange Lemonade. To a large pitcher add citrus syrup, orange juice, lemon juice, and water. Stir until everything is well combined.
  3. Pour into glasses over ice cubes or crushed ice.
  4. Garnish with slices of orange and lemon (or both), and serve!

Storing Information

Orange Lemonade stored in a glass pitcher will keep up to 4 days. If it is store in an airtight pitcher or jar it will last up to 2 weeks. This makes it a great big batch drink recipe to prep for the week or before a party!

5 Tips For The Best Orange Lemonade Drink

This recipe is pretty straight forward, but I do have 5 tips you have got to know.

  1. Always, always, always wash your oranges and lemons (especially since we are using the zest). Just run them under lukewarm water, lightly scrub the peel with a scrubber, and towel dry when finished.
  2. Get more juices from your citrus by firmly rolling them on your counter several times (this helps loosen more juices).
  3. Strain your juices through a fine mesh strainer to remove any accidental pulp.
  4. Fresh squeezed lemon juice and orange juice is the BEST. Bottled juices have added sugars, preservatives, and junk that ruins the delicate citrusy flavors of fresh juice.
  5. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature. During this time the citrus zest steeps and infuses into the syrup making an out of this world difference (it gives the lemonade even more citrus flavor).

A Few Fun Variations

This fresh Orange Lemonade drink is the great base to SO MANY options. Here are a few I absolutely love:

  • Try blood orange juice in place of regular orange juice to make a burgundy colored blood orange lemonade.
  • Add a splash of canned coconut milk for a creamy tropical twist!
  • Turn it into an Orange Lemonade Punch or fizzy spritzer by adding neutral or lightly flavored tonic water, sparkling water, mineral water, or sodas.
  • Transform this into an orange lemonade mocktail by adding a few ounces of non alcoholic champagne, an alcohol alternative like Seedlip Spice, or non alcoholic vodka. Garnish with fresh mint and you have a beautiful mocktail.
  • Add ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt to make an orange lemonade float.
  • Make sugar free orange lemonade by using allulose or other no calorie sweeteners instead of granulated sugar.
Two glasses of crushed ice and Orange Lemonade garnished with oranges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

What is Orange Lemonade?

Orange Lemonade is orange and lemon flavored lemonade. It is made by mixing together citrus zest syrup, orange juice, lemon juice, and water.

What are substitutions for simple syrup?

Other sweet, liquid alternatives to simple syrup are honey, agave, maple syrup, and liquid stevia. Keep in mind each has a different sweetness level and flavor so it will alter how your drink tastes.

What are the best oranges for juicing and Orange Lemonade?

The best oranges for juicing, in my opinion, are Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, Cara Cara oranges, or blood oranges. Clementines are also popular but they are a bit smaller and can be hard to juice by hand. I used Navel oranges in this recipe and they were just the right sweetness level.

Have Leftover Lemons and Oranges?

Try one of these delicious dessert recipes to use up any leftover citrus you may have.

More Lemonade Drink Recipes You Might Enjoy:


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Enjoy Entirely, Elizabeth
Two glasses of lemonade with a large pitcher of more in the background and lemons and oranges on the side.

Orange Lemonade

Elizabeth Swoish
There is no better way to celebrate warmer weather than with a large pitcher of fresh squeezed Orange Lemonade. It is 4 ingredients, easy to make, and better than store-bought.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
CITRUS SYRUP 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Beverage
Servings 8
Calories 89 kcal

EQUIPMENT

  • Zester Grater
  • citrus juicer
  • Small Saucepan with Lid
  • Fine Mesh Strainer
  • Glass Pitcher

INGREDIENTS
  

Citrus Syrup

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar - or allulose for sugar free
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest - about half an orange
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest - about one lemon

Orange Lemonade

  • 1 cup orange juice - about 3 oranges
  • 1 cup lemon juice - about 5 lemons
  • 3 cups water
  • orange slices - for garnish
  • lemon slices - for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Prep the oranges and lemons by washing under lukewarm water, lightly scrubbing the peel with a scrubber, and towel drying. Firmly roll the oranges and lemons on the counter several times (this helps loosen more juices).
  • Zest and juice the oranges and lemons until specified measurements above.
  • To a small saucepan add water and granulated sugar. Heat over medium until the sugar has dissolved completely.
  • Remove syrup from heat and stir in the orange zest and lemon zest. Cover saucepan with lid and allow the syrup to cool (and steep) to room temperature.
  • Place a small fine mesh strainer over top a large pitcher. Strain the citrus syrup, orange juice, and lemon juice into the pitcher.
  • Remove the small fine mesh strainer and discard the zest and pulp leftover.
  • Add the water into the pitcher and stir until well combined.
  • Pour into glasses over ice cubes or crushed ice. Garnish with slices of orange, lemon, or both.

VIDEO

RECIPE NOTES

Storing Information:

  • Stored in a glass pitcher, in the refrigerator, will keep up to 4 days.
  • Stored in an airtight pitcher or jar, in the refrigerator, will keep up to 2 weeks.
 

Variations:

  • Make sugar free orange lemonade by using allulose or other no calorie sweeteners in place of granulated sugar.
  • Try blood orange juice in place of regular orange juice.
  • Add a splash of canned coconut milk.
  • Turn it into an Orange Lemonade Punch by adding tonic water, sparkling water, mineral water, or sodas.
  • Make an orange lemonade mocktail by adding a few ounces of non alcoholic champagne, an alcohol alternative like Seedlip Spice, or non alcoholic vodka
  • Add ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt to make an orange lemonade float.

Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Tried this recipe?Feel free to share a rating and comment below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media, or use the hashtag #EntirelyElizabeth – I would love to see what you’ve made!
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By Elizabeth Swoish on March 9th, 2023
Elizabeth Swoish holding a camera up to her eye taking a photo.

About Elizabeth Swoish

Elizabeth Swoish is the founder and CEO of Entirely Elizabeth. She is a self-taught foodie and mocktail enthusiast with a business degree in data analysis. Read Elizabeth's food journey or connect on your favorite social media channels.

5 thoughts on “Orange Lemonade”

  1. 5 stars
    We had a really warm spell and decided to meet outside for a picnic brunch, and this orange lemonade was such a perfect drink!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    This was so good! We have a lemon and orange tree that have so much fruit on them. This will definitely help us use them up!

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    I never mixed the orange and lemons, and boy!! I have been missing out!! So deliciously refreshing and crisp. I will follow your suggestion and keep a pitcher in the refrigerator. Too yummy!

    Reply

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