Whole Lemon Lemonade

This healthy whole lemon lemonade recipe is super simple to make. It’s made with fresh lemons, a natural sweetener, filtered water, and your blender.

Fall can already be felt in the cool mountain air, but we’re drinking up the last delicious drops of summer. We’ve been enjoying restful moments in the swing, listening to Wilder Baby cooing in my arms, birds singing in the trees, and ice cubes clinking in mason jars.

These days, I’m usually sipping on a lactation drink, but this week we had an abundance of lemons. You know the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” So we did just that.

Little Bear has a zest for using our old-fashioned glass citrus juicer to make fresh orange juice, but for this recipe, we used our glass blender.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

A lemonade-like drink can be traced back to medieval Egypt. Lemonade was popular in Paris in the 17th century. Thanks to modern kitchen appliances, we can easily make blended lemonade today.

This recipe is quick and simple. There are only three ingredients, and refined sugar isn’t one of them.

Even without simple syrup, I think this frothy drink is reminiscent of the classic southern-style lemonade that flavored so many of my summers. There’s nothing like a cold glass of homemade lemonade on a hot and humid day.

To sweeten this refreshing summertime favorite, you can use raw honey or pure maple syrup. Both of these natural options provide sweetness, along with vitamins and minerals.

Our star ingredient, lemons, are loaded with nutrients. Most notably, they are rich in the antioxidant vitamin C. They are also a good source of folate, which is especially important during pregnancy.

This whole lemon lemonade doesn’t require any peeling. Since lemon peels contain vitamin C, calcium, and potassium, don’t discard them.

Tips for Making Whole Lemon Lemonade

• Since you will use the entire fruit, be sure you’re blending certified organic or homegrown lemons. They should be unwaxed, and you don’t have to worry about toxic chemicals.
• Be sure to wash your lemons before cutting them.
• Unlike some fruit seeds, lemon seeds are edible. Because of their salicylic acid content, they may help relieve pain. They are bitter, though, so you might want to remove them.
• Like the seeds, the lemon pith is bitter as well. This white rind lining is healthy, so consider using it.
• Depending on your blender, quartering your lemons could be helpful.
• If the lemonade is too tart for your tastebuds, try adding another teaspoon or so of the natural sweetener.
• If you don’t have ice, you can just use cold water.
• Save the leftover pulp for a baked good like muffins. Lemon blueberry muffins, anyone?

Blended Lemonade Variations

• Trying to ward off a cold? You can add a small piece of fresh ginger. If you only have ground ginger, use a few shakes of that, to taste.
• On that note, if you’re drinking this to soothe a sore throat, you can warm it on the stove.
• In the mood for pink lemonade? Add a handful of fresh or frozen strawberries to the blender.
• Similarly, add raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries for more fruity flavor and color.
• If you’re feeling fancy, add a sprig of rosemary or lavender to your glass.
• You can also add fresh mint leaves; however, if you’re nursing, know that spearmint and peppermint can decrease milk supply.

Ingredients

• 3 washed lemons
• 1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup
• 5 cups of filtered water
• lemon slices to garnish (optional)

How to Make Whole Lemon Lemonade

1. Wash the lemons.
2. Then roughly chop the whole lemons and put them in a blender.
3. Next, add the natural sweetener.
4. Pour in the water and blend.
5. Strain and serve over ice.

More Ways We Enjoy Lemons on the Mountain

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Coconut Citrus Sugar Scrub

If you try this recipe and love it, let me know!