Paula Deen Lemonade

Paula Deen Lemonade is made from scratch with fresh lemon juice, sugar, and a hot water trick that melts every grain. It takes 20 minutes, serves 10, and fits right in at a cookout or church supper. Down South, homemade lemonade is still the drink people reach for first.

The hot water step matters more than anything else. Sugar dumped into cold water never fully dissolves, and you end up with gritty lemonade and a sugar layer at the bottom. Paula calls for one cup of hot water to melt the sugar first, then the cold water goes in after.

Squeeze the lemons ahead of time and keep the juice in the fridge. Use a fine mesh strainer to catch seeds and pulp if you want it smooth. The whole batch keeps well for three to four days, covered in the refrigerator.

Paula Deen Lemonade

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Course: BeverageCuisine: American, SouthernDifficulty: Easy

Servings

10

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Calories

165

kcal

A crisp, tart lemonade stirred together with a hot water simple syrup that dissolves every bit of sugar. Fresh squeezed lemon juice and cold water bring it all together in a one gallon pitcher.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
  

• 2 cups fresh lemon juice
  

• 1 cup hot water
  

• 1 gallon cold water
  

• 1 sliced lemon
  

• for garnish sprig mint

Directions

• Dissolve the sugar: In a one gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves.
• Add the liquids: Add lemon juice and water to render one gallon.
• Mix: Stir well until well mixed.
• Serve: Pour lemonade over a glass of ice, squeeze slice of lemon on top, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Tools for this recipe

• Zulay metal lemon squeezer, Cuisinart fine mesh strainer set, Bormioli Rocco glass pitcher with lid. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can you use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh?

You can, but the taste drops off. Bottled juice has a cooked, slightly bitter edge that fresh lemons do not. If you go bottled, use the same amount and add a tablespoon of fresh lemon zest to bring some brightness back.

How long does homemade lemonade last in the fridge?

It keeps for three to four days in a sealed pitcher. After that, the flavor goes flat and the sweetness fades. Give it a good stir before pouring since the sugar can settle.

Can you make the sugar water ahead of time?

Yes. Dissolve the sugar in the hot water, let it cool, and store it in the fridge for up to a week. When you are ready, add the lemon juice and cold water. This is called simple syrup and it mixes faster than granulated sugar.

Why does my lemonade taste gritty?

The sugar did not dissolve all the way. Make sure the water is hot enough to melt the sugar completely before you add anything cold. Stir for a full minute, not just a few swirls.

Does the water need to be boiling, or just hot?

Hot tap water or water just off the boil both work. The goal is enough heat to dissolve two cups of sugar without any grains left behind. Once the sugar is fully melted, the cold water and lemon juice go in.