Frozen Lemonade

Light and refreshing homemade Frozen Lemonade is the perfect summer recipe! Fresh lemons, lemon zest, honey, and ice are blended into a light and healthy slushie. Kids and adults alike will enjoy sipping this drink to beat the heat all season long!

Easy Frozen Lemonade Recipe

If you’ve ever been to Texas, you KNOW it gets HOT! (In fact, hot is an understatement…)

When the sun is beating down on you, something cool and refreshing is essential.

Ahhhh… frozen lemonade is the perfect thirst quencher on hot summer days. Chick fil A has it right with their frosted lemonade.

On a particularly hot summer day, I needed something to take the edge off. I quickly juiced a few lemons, and in the blender the juice went along with honey and ice. Then I blended it until smooth.

It was good, but not quite good enough; something was missing. Then an epiphany hit—it needed a bit of lemon zest for that delicious lemon taste!

Once the fresh citrus zest was added it was the absolute PERFECT homemade frozen lemonade. And it was so quick and easy to make! It had the lemon flavor of classic lemonade but in the form of a frozen treat. And NO high fructose corn syrup.

So if you’re lucky enough to have a lemon tree or access to a lot of lemons this time of year, this delicious drink is the perfect way to stay cool all summer.

(And if you like your frozen summer drinks with an adult twist, you may also enjoy this Frozen Mojito, Watermelon Frosé, and this Easy Pina Colada recipe on a hot day!)

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this frozen lemonade are:

• Lemons. Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest are used in this recipe. You’ll need about 4-5 medium-sized lemons to get enough juice.
• Sweetener. A number of different sweeteners work for this drink. It completely depends on your dietary preference. Honey is the ideal sweetener. It pairs perfectly with the tart lemon juice and adds a nice floral flavor to the drink. Agave nectar is a solid choice if you are vegan. Regular white sugar—or better yet, your own simple syrup—can be subbed for honey if you do not care to avoid refined sugar. Liquid or powder Stevia can be used in place of the high-sugar sweeteners if you are on a low-carb diet.
• Ice. The amount of ice you use will largely depend on how thick and slushy you want your frozen lemonade.
• Water. A little bit of water is added to help thin out the drink. You can add as little or as much as you’d like.

How to Make Frozen Lemonade?

The steps to make your own frozen lemonade are simple and quick—done in under 10 minutes.

Zest Then Juice the Lemon

When using both fresh lemon zest and juice in a recipe it is best to ZEST the lemon before JUICING.

If you don’t know how to zest a lemon, there are 5 different ways to use the tools and utensils you already have on hand.

The most efficient kitchen tool is a Microplane. Not only is it super easy to use, but it also finely grates the lemon rind so it will easily disperse throughout your dishes and drinks.

For juicing, I always use a lemon squeezer.

Again, make sure to zest before juicing. You’ll need 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and ½ cup of juice (here’s a handy guide for how much juice is in one lemon).

Combine and Blend

One of the most crucial elements when making frozen drinks at home is to use a very good high-powered blender.

While your cheaper blenders will work decently, you’ll get a super smooth, and more slushy-like consistency if you use one of the following:

• Vitamix – Hands down the best blender to use due to its large capacity and extremely high power.
• Nutribullet – A great second option, but you will most likely have to blend your ingredients in batches.
• Food Processor – While this won’t give you the same slushy consistency of a blender, you will be able to process all of your ingredients at the same time.

Add fruit juice, zest, honey, ice, and water to a blender.

Use medium speed and blend for 1-2 minutes, or until completely smooth.

Check the consistency. Add more ice if you would like it thicker or additional water if you would like it smoother.

Serve the Lemonade

This recipe yields enough frozen lemonade for about 4 servings, enough for the whole family.

My favorite way to serve this summer drink is in a cute mason jar with a paper straw and a lemon peel or fresh lemon slices on the rim.

If you want to get a little fancy, you can even give it a sugared rim, too. You can use the same method you use to salt a rim for a margarita.

Don’t want the glass? Pour this lemon slushy into a plastic cup for the littles or to drink poolside.

Flavor Options

Want to change this recipe up a bit? Here are a few other ideas you can try out:

• Use limes instead of lemons and agave nectar for the sweetener. (Or try out a mocktail version of this Frozen Mojito!)
• Fresh orange juice and zest would also taste delicious.
• Make an adult beverage by adding in a bit of vodka for a spiked lemonade.

Meal Prep and Storage

• How to prep ahead of time: You can easily make a batch or double batch of this ahead of time for a pool party or backyard BBQ. Prepare the frozen lemonade and place it in a freezer safe plastic container.
• How to store: This drink is best enjoyed immediately or frozen for a later use.
• How to freeze: Keep frozen lemonade in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 to 3 months. When ready to serve, pull it out 30 minutes to an hour in advance. Let some of it melt before you add it back to the blender you used previously. Blend until smooth and to your desired consistency.

Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time you can also pop the slightly thawed out mixture into the microwave to get it to melt more before blending.

Is lemonade good for you?

Lemonade can be good for you, but depends on how much sweetener you add and which sweetener you use. Sugar is very different than natural sweeteners, such as honey, and the amount of sugar can make this drink bad for you. You can make it low-carb or keto by using Stevia. At the same time, lemons have tons of health benefits. Check out how lemons are good for you.

Does lemonade have caffeine?

No, lemonade does NOT contain caffeine. You can enjoy this drink any time of the day or night.

Does lemonade dehydrate you?

Lemonade does not dehydrate you. It is essential to drink enough fluids in the summer months, and lemonade is beneficial to staying hydrated. However, the best option is usually water.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Use fresh lemons. Bottled lemon juice is more sour, which will result in needing to use more sweetener. Start with the real thing.
• Zest before juicing.  A whole lemon is much easier (and safer!) to zest than half of one!
• Prep ahead. Make the lemonade and freeze it until you’re ready to enjoy. Thaw for 30 minutes to an hour or quickly microwave the mixture to get it to melt a little before blending.
• Mix things up. Try using limes or oranges for a different flavor.
• Adult only. Add a splash of vodka for a boozy version!

Other Frozen Drinks

If you want a few more frozen drink ideas for summer, you might also enjoy these easy recipes.

Watermelon Frosé, Frozen Mojito, Piña Colada, Watermelon Margarita, and Mango Margarita are delicious all summer long.

For the kids, opt for Frozen Fruit Smoothies. 

Homemade Sorbet isn’t necessarily a drink, but it’s refreshing all the same. Try Peach Sorbet, Mango Sorbet, Lemon Sorbet, Lime Sorbet, and Strawberry Sorbet.

More Lemon Recipes

Lemon just might be one of the most refreshing flavors out there. Try any of these recipes after this sweet and tart lemonade next.

For breakfast, try these Lemon Poppyseed Muffins or a Lemon Turmeric Smoothie.

Cure a sweet tooth with dessert recipes like Lemon Blueberry Cookies, Gluten-free Lemon Cupcakes, or Mini Lemon Bundt Cakes.

For dinner, try Lemon Chicken Piccata or Lemon Garlic Baked Chicken.