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Pair it with a plate of veggies and my high protein Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip!
When the weather warms up nothing beats a pitcher of homemade lemonade, and this Orange Lemonade really delivers. We especially love it for all the vitamin C and antioxidants from the fresh citrus, but it’s also an easy, sweet drink that tastes like a summer treat.
You only need oranges, lemons, sugar, and water. It keeps in the fridge all week which makes it the perfect option for everyday drinks, when friends drop by, or for backyard BBQs and pool parties. Everyone always loves it!
If you have any leftover oranges or lemons, try my Lemon Curd Cake, Orange Coconut Water Mocktail or my reader favorite Spinach Lemon Pasta. I also LOVE this Lemon Bundt Cake and homemade Turmeric Shots with ginger and lemon (or oranges).
Let’s Make It Together! Quick Video Below:
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.
Orange Lemonade Ingredients
You’re not going to believe it, but this lemonade is only 4 ingredients! But don’t be fooled, we use fresh squeezed juice and zest which takes the citrus to a whole new level.
You’ll also want to grab a heavy duty glass juicer or a juicing machine, zester grater, small saucepan, a fine mesh strainer, and large glass pitchers and drink containers.
How to Make Orange Lemonade
1. MAKE THE CITRUS SYRUP. Bring the sugar and water to a boil until the sugar has dissolved completely. Remove it from heat and stir in the orange and lemon zest. Cover and let stand until cooled to room temperature.
2. MAKE THE ORANGE LEMONADE. Place a fine-mesh strainer over the top of a large pitcher and pour in the citrus syrup, orange juice, and lemon juice. Remove the strainer and discard the pulp. Add cold water and stir until everything is well combined.
3. SERVE! Pour your lemonade into glasses chilled or over ice. Feel free to garnish with a slice of orange and lemon, or both.
Find the complete recipe instructions with measurements below.
Storing Information
If this Orange Lemonade is stored in an open-top glass pitcher (like in the pictures), it will keep up to 4 days. If it is store in an airtight pitcher or jar with an airtight lid, it can last up to 1 week. Storing it this way makes the recipe easy to prep for the week or before a party!
5 Tips For The Best Orange Lemonade
- 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.
- When zesting your citrus, avoid the white pith because that part will make your Orange Lemonade bitter.
- 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)
More Lemonade Recipes You Might Enjoy
Orange Lemonade
EQUIPMENT
- Zester Grater - with handle
- citrus juicer - heavy-duty
- small saucepan - with lid
- fine mesh strainer - small
- 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
- citrus syrup - from above
- 1 cup orange juice - about 3 oranges
- 1 cup lemon juice - about 5 lemons
- 3 cups water
- garnish - orange and lemon slices
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 1 week.
RECIPE VARIATIONS TO TRY
- Add a splash of canned coconut milk.
- Turn it into a 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!