this fresh-squeezed lemonade is sweetened with a honey simple syrup, perfect for a hot summer’s day or to use with your favorite alcohol.
It’s my very first beverage recipe on the blog and it’s crazy to think that it’s lemonade. Lemonade and I have quite a contentious history. If you’re a fellow IBD’r you may understand. When I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s, and doing my very first colonoscopy prep, way back in the day (over ten years ago), I was not SCD (or any healthy diet for that matter), and thus I could use whatever light-coloured beverages I wanted to prep.
As some of you probably know, you are told to avoid beverages that are coloured red, purple, etc, so I asked my mom to stock up on that store-bought lemonade you would get in a carton, which, for us, was a rarity slash treat. I was excited to have this lemonade as part of my prep. Little did I know.
It was my first time, and I wasn’t prepared for just how disgusting the colonoscopy prep drink would be. I literally could not stomach it, I actually threw it up and had to drink more (again). Anyways, I won’t get into too many details since this is a food post (lmao, I hope you still want to make this lemonade recipe when I’m done!), but I basically associated the taste of lemonade with that woeful day of colonoscopy prep, and the taste of that colonoscopy prep drink (whatever it is called, idk, iykyk)– and I literally have not been able to drink lemonade for ten years since. For the first five years or so, I could not even stand the *smell* of lemonade.
Thank gawdddd I got over that! And it happened just the other month (!) Admittedly, I haven’t “tried” getting over it before then, but for whatever reason, I was suddenly craving some lemonade. And I knew, being on SCD, that I would not be able to use a store-bought lemonade anyways, and I would have to make my own, using some sort of honey mixture.
I had a ton of lemons, so I whipped up some honey simple syrup (aka honey and water, simmered until its dissolved together), fresh-squeezed a ton of lemons, added as much water as I wanted (I kept it pretty sweet, I’m not gunna lie)– and it was SO SATISFYING! I am no longer scared slash disgusted by lemonade, in fact, I love it!
It was such a treat to have a beverage, let alone a *juice* I could drink. I don’t own a juicer and rarely squeeze a million oranges for fresh orange juice, although after how good this lemonade was, I just might have to start. Or perhaps limes next for a sweet limeade– or perhaps just the addition of pureed strawberries or raspberries to this lemonade recipe– the possibilities and add-in options seem endless!
This lemonade is so delicious, so sweet, and so refreshing, especially in the summer, but it’s definitely something I will continue to make year-round. Not to mention, it’s very easy, once you get past squeezing 10 lemons (just put on your fave show or fave podcast and get er done).
Find the recipe for this fresh-squeezed, refined sugar free, homemade lemonade below. Please let me know if you make a pitcher, drop a comment or review below! You can find me on IG @grainfreee and Facebook for more.
A few related recipes if you’re looking for some delicious lemon recipes:
- LEMON CURD LOAF (COCONUT FLOUR)
- LEMON OLIVE OIL LOAF WITH BLUEBERRY CINNAMON STREUSEL (COCONUT FLOUR & ALMOND FLOUR)
- LEMON POPPYSEED MUFFINS (COCONUT FLOUR)
- MINI LEMON LOAVES (COCONUT FLOUR)
homemade refined sugar free lemonade: ingredients
honey simple syrup
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup water
lemonade
- 10 lemons (approx 200 ml-250 ml of juice)
- 3-4 cups cold water (depending on desired sweetness, increase to 5 cups if needed)
homemade refined sugar free lemonade: how to
honey simple syrup
- start by preparing your simple syrup, stir the honey and water in a pot together, and place over medium-low heat.
- stir until the honey is dissolved into the water, approx three minutes and set aside.
lemonade
- juice your lemons, to get the most juice out of each, roll it along the cutting board before slicing and squeezing.
- pour the lemon juice in a large pitcher, and add in the honey simply syrup mixture as well as three to four cups of cold water. if you find it too sweet, you can always add a fifth cup (or start with three, and taste test from there– I did three, but it is quite sweet).
- place the pitcher covered in the fridge and allow to cool before serving. mix again before serving (you may need to mix again after letting it sit in the fridge for any amount of time).
- serve with a fresh slice of lemon as garnish, and feel free to add some Perrier for a lemonade soda, or a splash of vodka for a delicious adult beverage!
homemade refined sugar free lemonade
Ingredients
honey simple syrup
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup water
lemonade
- 10 lemons approx 200 ml-250 ml of juice
- 3-4 cups cold water depending on desired sweetness, increase to 5 cups if needed
Instructions
honey simple syrup
- start by preparing your simple syrup, stir the honey and water in a pot together, and place over medium-low heat.
- stir until the honey is dissolved into the water, approx three minutes and set aside.
lemonade
- juice your lemons, to get the most juice out of each, roll it along the cutting board before slicing and squeezing.
- pour the lemon juice in a large pitcher, and add in the honey simply syrup mixture as well as three to four cups of cold water. if you find it too sweet, you can always add a fifth cup (or start with three, and taste test from there– I did three, but it is quite sweet).
- place the pitcher covered in the fridge and allow to cool before serving. mix again before serving (you may need to mix again after letting it sit in the fridge for any amount of time).
- serve with a fresh slice of lemon as garnish, and feel free to add some Perrier for a lemonade soda, or a splash of vodka for a delicious adult beverage!