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    Shake Up Lemonade

    May 18, 2020 · Leave a Comment

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    State fair-style lemonade is so easy to make at home!

    It's refreshing and delicious and the epitome of summertime in a glass and loved by adults and children equally. The perfect beverage!

    fresh lemonade with lemon wedge

    Really, this is better than Chick-fil-a lemonade. Which is NOT SOMETHING I SAY LIGHTLY. That stuff is my kryptonite. I would cross oceans for it. Write sonnets about it. Drink it every day and never tire of it.

    So am I nervous that I can shake up a lemonade in my own kitchen in under 5 minutes that rivals my beloved Chick-Fil-a? YES.

    Fresh, homemade lemonade is so superior to every other type, and it's so simple to make! If you have lemons, sugar, water, and ice, you're ready.

    HOW TO MAKE A LEMON SHAKE UP

    I like to quarter a lemon and juice them into a cocktail shaker using a handheld citrus juicer, then I throw the juiced rinds in the shaker, too! This will give you some frosty pulp in the final product and I think is really key to a fair-feel.

    Shake the fresh juice and rinds up with sugar, water, and ice.

    lemonade in a cocktail shaker

    It's refreshing, sweet, citrusy, and so satisfyingly cold.

    I love how easy it is to make a single serving, but it's simple enough that you can make several at once if needed.

    And, it's quick! Most lemonade recipes dissolve the sugar by making a simple syrup. Then you have to wait HOURS for it to cool before enjoying cold lemonade. A shake up dissolves the sugar by vigorous shaking. Meaning there is no cool time!

    WHY SHAKE LEMONADE?

    Shaking this lemonade does a few things: it makes it SUPER cold, it dissolves the sugar, and as the ice melts, it dilutes the concentration slightly, resulting in a perfectly sweet and refreshing lemonade.

    I also think using a cocktail shaker makes this feel like the ultimate summer mocktail!

    shaken lemonade being poured into a glass

    WHAT TO USE FOR SHAKING

    I like my cocktail shaker for this (very similar to this one) - It's the perfect size, cools everything down really well, and the strainer helps to prevent seeds and pulp from getting into your glass. Alternatively, you could use a mason jar, water bottle, protein shaker bottle, or two cups that fit snuggly against each other.

    DO I NEED TO USE FRESH LEMON JUICE?

    YES. The bottled stuff is heated during processing which changes the flavor. And since the lemon flavor is so important here, you'll be able to tell a big difference between fresh and bottled. Plus, you want the lemon peel for this, too. A handheld juicer makes this easy!

    fresh lemonade in glasses with lemon wedges

    HOW CAN I MAKE THIS FOR A BIG PARTY OR GATHERING?

    I'd steer away from making a big batch at once, since so much of the appeal of this lemonade is that it's freshly shaken and super, super cold.

    But, I think it would be so fun to do a lemonade shake up station where people can make their own! You could have all of the ingredients ready to go and cups for shaking and the recipe written out somewhere. A fun party activity!

    HOW DO I MAKE FLAVORED LEMONADE?

    There are so many good variations to lemonade! If you want to venture from the classic, add some fresh berries to the shaker before shaking. Raspberries (to make pink lemonade), blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries are all delicious! They'll get muddled during the shaking and impart some fun flavor and color.

    shake up lemonade in a glass
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    5 from 2 votes

    Shake Up Lemonade

    State fair-style lemonade is so easy to make at home! Shake up fresh lemon juice, sugar, water, and lots of ice for a quick and easy, refreshing summer beverage.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 1
    Author: Mandy Jackson

    Ingredients

    • 1 large lemon, quartered
    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 1/2 cup cold water
    • 1 cup ice, plus additional for serving

    Directions

    • Juice the lemon into a cocktail shaker. Add the juiced lemon rinds along with the sugar, water, and 1 cup of ice to the shaker. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 1 minute. Strain into a large glass of ice. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.

    Notes

    1 large lemon has about 1/4 cup of juice in it. Keep in mind if you want to pre-juice lemons to make a big batch.
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @itsmandyjackson on instagram so I can admire + share it!
    lemonade in glasses with lemon wedges

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    Mandy Jackson

    hi, i'm mandy.

    A regular Midwest homebody. Here, I share recipes we love, and how we're thoughtfully renovating our 100-year-old American foursquare.

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