Honey Sweetened Lemonade

When you need a cool refreshing beverage, few things compare to a tall glass of lemonade. This recipe for honey sweetened lemonade is sure to hit your sweet spot on a hot day. Combining the zesty taste of lemon and the natural sweetness of honey results in a delicious and nutritious drink. Say goodbye to artificial sweeteners and refined sugars.

A natural sugar, honey adds a little sweetness to any recipe. And, with so many honey recipes to try – you are sure to find some that you feel as so much better than using a lot of white sugar.

How to Make Lemonade with Honey

How sweet should a glass of lemonade be? Well, that depends on who you ask – some enjoy more tartness than others. No matter which side of the sweet/sour scale you may be on – using honey instead of sugar in your lemonade works great.

There are actually several benefits to using honey to sweeten lemonade – beyond the obvious sweetness of course.

• Honey is considered a healthier option than most refined sugars. It contains natural minerals, vitamins and enzymes that are beneficial to the body. While white sugar is just empty calories.
• Depending on the variety of honey you choose, it adds subtle floral flavors to your lemonade.

Water – There is no need to acquire “special water” for making lemonade. However, if you wish to use a certain type there is no harm in doing so. I usually use filtered water straight out of the refrigerator door.

Lemons – When shopping for lemons, be sure to choose fresh ones that are not shriveled or puckered. These will produce the most lemon juice. They should be at room temperature.

Choose your fresh lemons and be sure to wash them well upon returning home. Who knows how many grubby hands have been squeezing them in the grocery store.

Honey – Regular raw honey or regular store honey is great for making lemonade or using as a substitute sweetener in most recipes. 

The multi-floral blend is often called wildflower honey. The bees made it from a mix of many different types of plant nectar.

Expert Tips

Of course, you could choose a special variety honey (clover, tupelo etc.) but be careful.  You do not want your flavors to clash and not every type of honey flavor blends well with lemon flavor.

Use room temperature lemons for juicing. If you do not have a true juicer, cut the lemons in half and use the back of a tablespoon to express the juice.

The little bottles of lemon juice that you can buy will work too. However, the flavor will be very different than that of fresh squeezed lemons.

Honey is water soluble thank goodness. But it is difficult to mix in cold water – that’s why we are warming only a small portion of water to decrease the viscosity of the honey.

Serving Suggestions

If you feel in a festive mood or are planning a special party, don’t be afraid to “dress up” your beverage with these variations.

• add slices of fresh fruit – like strawberries, blueberries or peaches
• a few fresh mint leaves would be nice
• a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg is a nice touch

Try some simple sandwiches or a summer salad like this Honey Lime Fruit Salad using fruit in season.

Storage

Homemade honey lemonade will last about 5-7 days in the refrigerator. I like to keep it in a covered pitcher (a bit of plastic wrap will do). Or, use your DIY beeswax wraps to protect your honey lemonade.

More Ideas

Another great idea for hot weather is homemade honey popsicles – featuring the fruit of your choice and greek yogurt.

Also, don’t forget that honey, lemon and ginger make an awesome hot tea – especially good if you have a bit of a scratch throat.

You can sweeten any type of tea with honey. And, many folks rave about the benefits of homemade fire cider for it’s possible health benefits.

You can use honey to make your own homemade honey cough drops. You can make them in any shape you wish.

Of course if you are planning a honey-themed party (and why not), consider whipping up some of these crispy honey cookies. If you use the bee shaped cookie cutters they are adorable.

Indulge in some natural goodness with this easy honey lemonade recipe. It is a refreshing twist on a classic favorite. Quench your thirst guilt-free with this irresistible beverage.