Blended Whole Lemon Lemonade

This is lemonade for adults. Not because it contains alcohol, but because we’re using the whole lemon in this recipe – zest, pulp and all.

Using the whole lemon adds a bit of bitterness to this classic sweet and sour concoction. It has the intensity of a state-style lemonade, often using the zest to enhance the lemon flavor. But because the whole lemon is mixed with sugar and water, it’s more complex, which is super refreshing on a hot day.

Choosing the right lemons is key

If you make most of the sodas, you’re after the citrus juice. But this recipe calls for the whole — pitted — lemon to be thrown in the blender. So if you know which lemon is the best lemon, you’ll get the refreshing, sweet and sour, bitter drink you’re looking for.

• Choosing thin-skinned lemons is crucial. Thin-skinned lemons are generally smooth and easy to squeeze.
• If the lemon is hard, it likely has a lot of pith, which will turn the lemonade from pleasantly bitter to overly bitter.
• If you find organic lemons, you may feel a little more confident consuming the peel.
• If organic isn’t an option, that’s fine. Simply wash it thoroughly under warm water to remove any wax or impurities.
• Pay attention to the shape of the lemon. The rounder and more self-contained it is, the better.
• If your lemons have a knobbly, pointy end that’s just pith, you may (or may not!) trim them to control bitterness.
• If you find only craggy, thick-skinned lemons, simply cut off the ends of the lemon so you can remove excess pulp.

Mix and strain all your lemonade well

You don’t need a high-speed blender to make this drink; You just have to be careful to mix the big chunks well.

The blender extracts a lot of flavor, but you end up with pulp that needs to be strained out to achieve the expected lemonade consistency.

You can toss the pulp however you like, but you can also pop it in an ice cube tray and freeze it for later adding to smoothies or frozen cocktails (like daiquiris).

Serve the Blender Lemonade solo or as a mixer

If you want to play around but keep it non-alcoholic:

• Go halfway with iced tea for an Arnold Palmer.
• Add a splash of sparkling water – flavored or not.
• Use it in a smoothie with berries or other citrus fruits.

If you want a little liquorthis is a great blender – it’s like adding citrus and bitters all at once:

• Add a little gin and club soda and you have a bold Tom Collins.
• Try mint and tequila for a lemon mojito vibe.
• Mix with bourbon for an easy whiskey sour.

store leftovers

This lemonade is a fairly small batch so you won’t overflow your blender. But if you have some leftover, store it in a jar or container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

When the strained lemonade sits, it will separate. A quick shake or stir brings it back together nicely.

More ways to make lemonade

• Watermelon Lemonade
• Lavender lemonadePerfect lemonade
• strawberry lemonade
• Pink lemonade