Still thirsty? Try my Pink Lemonade recipe that is naturally colored with strawberries.
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:
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.
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.
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.
- 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).
- 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.
How to Make Orange Lemonade
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
- 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.
- Get more juices from your citrus by firmly rolling them on your counter several times (this helps loosen more juices).
- Strain your juices through a fine mesh strainer to remove any accidental pulp.
- 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.
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
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:
Orange Lemonade
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.
We had a really warm spell and decided to meet outside for a picnic brunch, and this orange lemonade was such a perfect drink!
This orange lemonade was the best refreshing drink on a hot day. The flavors work so well together!
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!
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!
This orange lemonade is so refreshing, can’t wait to make it again in summer time!