Honey Lemonade
Cool down this summer with a glass of refined sugar-free and paleo-friendly Honey Lemonade! A mix of tart lemon juice, honey simple syrup and water, this drink is perfect to enjoy on a hot summer’s day!
Love a cool drink for the summertime? Don’t miss Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon Agua Fresca and Raspberry Mango Sangria!
We went from rainy and incredibly thunderstorm-y in Dallas to hot and humid in no time. And while I love the summertime, I don’t love the heat.
Yes, despite being raised in the South and having lived my entire life here (minus three months spent in Tuscany), I cannot handle the heat.
Go figure.
When the weather gets as warm as it is now–the upper 90’s… and we’re facing down the 100’s already — I need a cold drink to help me stay cool.
Why I love this recipe:
But as I’ve gotten older and learned more about the food we eat, I have strayed away from lemonade. Because while it’s delicious, it’s generally packed full of sugar.
And while I’m not extremely sensitive to sugar like some of my friends, I’d rather limit my intake of it when I can… and save sugar for things that count.
Last summer, I got the idea that naturally sweetened lemonade might be something to look into. I made my Mint Lemonade this way, and it was quite tasty.
This summer, I’ve stepped up my game with this Honey Lemonade.
More homemade lemonade recipes to try: Fresh Squeezed Lemonade | Lavender Lemonade | Watermelon Lemonade | Strawberry Lemonade | Blueberry Lemonade
Looking for a drink, but don’t know where to begin? My Drinks Recipe Index has got some ideas for you!
What you need to make this recipe:
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- Saucepan
- Large pitcher
- Citrus juicer
- Fine mesh strainer, to strain out lemon pulp
- Glasses
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
In addition to these tools, you’re going to need a few ingredients to make this naturally sweetened lemonade:
- Water
- Honey — I like to use a locally sourced wildflower honey or clover honey, but anything you’ve got works!
- If you don’t want to make your own honey simple syrup, you can purchase honey simple syrup from a few companies, too!
- Lemons for juicing or a bottle of fresh lemon juice — you can find this on the refrigerated shelves at your grocery with pre-cut fruits and other related items. Fresh squeezed juice offers better flavor than the shelf-stable bottled stuff and is one of the things to set this recipe apart from store-bought lemonade.
How to make Honey Lemonade
Make the Honey Simple Syrup
I wrote an entire post about this for you!
We make a honey simple syrup to serve as the sweetener for this lemonade recipe so that it mixes more easily. Honey tends to clump up if you’re using cooler water, and this makes the process easier, in my opinion.
You do this in a small saucepan. Combine equal parts cold water and honey. Bring ’em to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
Transfer to a small mason jar, and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks. That’s it.
Make the Lemonade
Combine lemon juice with the cooled honey simple syrup and water in a large pitcher. Stir ’em together until incorporated.
Chill in the refrigerator or serve over ice. Don’t add ice cubes to the lemonade pitcher, though, because as it melts, the lemonade will become diluted.
Garnish your glasses with slices of a large lemon or fresh herbs, like fresh mint, rosemary or a sprig of basil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because it’s sweetened with honey! There is NO granulated sugar added to it.
The key to this drink is the honey simple syrup. Honey is so wonderful for sweetening drinks and baked goods, but it gets gloopy whenever you add it to cold liquid. Honey simple syrup comes to the rescue, allowing you to add (more) liquid-y honey to your lemonade without the textural weirdness that sometimes comes with it.
If you’re not a fan of honey, I suggest not making this recipe, because the honey flavor shines through.
If you want to make this honey lemonade recipe, I suggest following the recipe. You might be able to substitute the same amount of another natural sweetener, like agave syrup or maple syrup, in the simple syrup to make a different twist, though I have never tried that.
Quick tips and tricks to the best lemonade recipe:
- Make a large batch of the honey syrup. This keeps in the fridge for weeks and will come in handy if you need to mix another batch of this refreshing homemade lemonade recipe.
- Mix the lemonade early and keep it in the fridge. Just don’t add ice or it will become watered down!
- Double the recipe. This is great when you’re hosting an outdoor gathering, like a backyard barbecue. When I make a double batch, I make them in separate pitchers since I do not have one large enough for that.
Here’s how we make it:
Honey Lemonade
Ingredients
Honey Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup honey
Lemonade
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 cup honey simple syrup (or more, depending on how sweet you like your lemonade)
- 4 cups water
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Instructions
Make the Honey Simple Syrup
- Combine the cup of water and honey in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
- Store in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Make the Lemonade
- Combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, honey simple syrup and water in a large pitcher. Stir until incorporated.
- Chill in the refrigerator or serve over ice. Enjoy cold!
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
Oooh, this sounds so wonderfully refreshing! It’s HOT here in Florida, and I’ve been craving something like this to cool off. I love the idea of adding honey to lemonade. I’ll have to give it a try!
Thanks, Jenna! This really is delightful for a HOT day… and I bet Florida is way more muggy than it has been here. If you try this out, let me know what you think!
This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
Honey lemonade… mint lemonade?! Oh my goodness, you’re speaking my language! Can’t wait to make this!
Yes, ma’am! That’s how we roll over here… and I cannot wait to hear what you think about this! I hope it’s as delicious to you as it is to me.
This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks so much, Jessi! I’m a big fan, though I might be a little biased… 😉
I love that this is naturally sweetened and has only a few ingredients! We’re experiencing the same heat right now in California, and some of this sounds amazing right now.
Thanks so much, Julia! I’m sorry y’all are experiencing the same kind of heat where you are, but I hope this lemonade cools you down! I know it’s helped me a lot this week.
I agree, I’d rather eat my sugar than drink it. Thanks for the recipe – I love lemonade during the summer (esp here in TX!)
Glad you’re with me on this, Natalie! You’re welcome for the recipe — I hope it keeps you cool as the summer heat begins to intensify!
We are bracing for 90 degrees or higher tomorrow, and this lemonade looks like it will be NEEDED around here. Thanks for sharing!
Oh man. Those first days of the 90s are shocking. I hope it hasn’t been too bad and that you’ve had some of this to keep you cool!
It’s funny..I live in Tennessee and it’s in the nineties here too and I LOVE IT. Really, that’s just because I despise the cold, but I make a promise every year never to complain about the heat so I can complain about the cold as much as I want. All that to say…I’m obsessed with lemonade right now and I would kill for a glass of this!!!
Too funny, Mary! I’m originally from TN, and I feel like I never complained about the heat there because it was always really nice after the winter. However, as I’ve gotten older, I’m apparently more sensitive to the heat! C’est la vie. I’m totally obsessed with lemonade, too, so high five for that!
Hi Erin! I love the sound of this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing! Beautiful pictures too.
Thanks so much, Tedi! I had fun making this recipe, photographing it and drinking it! Next step? Making a cocktail using it!
do you know how many times I’ve tried to add honey to a cold drink? Because you basically just saved me years of my life! Honey simple syrup sounds delicious, and I’m always done for lemonade!
Girl, we’re totally on the same wavelength because I’ve tried to add honey to cold drinks SO MANY TIMES, and they’ve all been a disaster. Honey simple syrup to the rescue! I hope you enjoy it AND this lemonade!
Erin, this looks delicious! Hope you and baby girl are doing well. 🙂
Thanks so much, Heather! I appreciate it… and we’re doing wonderfully! I hope you and your baby girl are doing well. Can’t believe she’ll be one in September!
This is what I need to be drinking all Summer! Yum!
I love lemonade and drink it all year long! I even mix it with sparkling water for some bubbles.
I LOVE that this is sweetened with honey. I bet it adds such great flavor!
This looks so refreshing and delicious!! I can’t wait to try it!
I’ve never been a fan of overly sweet drinks (or desserts), which is why I love your honey sweetened lemonade. What a great idea!
I LOVE the idea of honey simple syrup!!
BIG fan of honey lemonade. It’s the perfect summertime drink!
I do not like honey. I do like lemonade so I think in this recipe next time I will try 3/4 Cup honey simple syrup and 1 1/4 Cups lemon juice. The original recipe, had too much honey flavor for me.
I do not like honey. I do like lemonade so I think in this recipe next time I will try 3/4 Cup honey simple syrup and 1 1/4 Cups lemon juice. The original recipe, had too much honey flavor for me.
Hey Dawne. I’m sorry to hear that this didn’t work out for you since you don’t like honey. If you try it again, I suggest making a maple syrup simple syrup or an agave nectar simple syrup using the same steps and proportions as the honey simple syrup. That might be more palatable for you if you enjoy those flavors. And either way, please let me know what you think if you give it another go!
46grams of sugar, what?!