About this recipe

A refreshingly bright and cooling mint lemonade made with a simple mint-infused syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and cold water. This classic homemade recipe is perfectly balanced — tart, sweet, and herby — and comes together in minutes. Great for backyard gatherings, hot afternoons, or anytime you need something cool and reviving.

Instructions

1. 1

   Combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan over ^[medium heat]. Stir until the granulated sugar fully dissolves, about 2–3 minutes. Do not let it boil vigorously.

2. 2

   Remove the saucepan from heat. Add the fresh mint leaves and gently press them down into the syrup with a wooden spoon. Let steep for 10 minutes — the longer you steep, the more intense the mint flavor.

3. 3

   Strain the syrup through a sieve into a mixing bowl or jar, pressing the mint leaves to extract all the flavor. Discard the spent mint. Let the syrup cool to room temperature, or speed it up by placing it in the fridge.

4. 4

   Juice your lemon until you have 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain out any seeds or pulp using a citrus juicer or colander.

5. 5

   In a pitcher (Large), combine the fresh lemon juice, 4 cups of cold water, and ¾ cup of the mint simple syrup. Stir well to combine.

6. 6

   Taste the lemonade and adjust to your liking. Add more syrup for sweetness, more lemon juice for tartness, or more water to dilute. The remaining syrup can be stored separately and added to individual glasses.

7. 7

   Add ice to the pitcher (Large) and stir once more. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish each with a lemon slice and a fresh mint sprig. Serve immediately.