Easy Honey Sweetened Lemonade Recipe- Carolina Honeybees

Why Use Honey Instead of Sugar for Lemonade?

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.
• It is easier to adjust the sweetness level and flavor to your preference

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.

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Ingredients You Will Need

• fresh lemons (or bottled juice if necessary)
• raw honey (preferably)
• cold water

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.

Before you begin, be sure to wash them well upon returning home. Who knows how many grubby hands have been squeezing them in the grocery store.

Honey – I always recommend using raw honey. It is great for making lemonade or using as a substitute sweetener in most recipes. 

The multi-floral blend is often called wildflower honey. This means the bees used a mix of many different types of plant nectar to produce it.

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.

How to Make Homemade Honey Lemonade

(full instructions in recipe card at bottom)

This will make 5 small servings. It is a great idea to make a small batch first so you can experiment with the amount of honey you need to achieve desired sweetness.

1. In a medium sized pitcher, put about 3 1/2 cups of cold water.

2. You need about 1 cup of lemon juice – I can usually get this amount from 5-6 plump lemons. Slice one of the lemons into thin strips and set aside.

Use a sharp knife to cut the other lemons in half. Use your hands or a lemon juicer if you have one to squeeze all the juice out of the lemons. You will discard any peeling, pulp or seeds.

3. Measure 1/2 cup of honey into a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup of very warm water to the honey and gently, stir, stir, stir. It is very difficult to blend honey into cold water. We are using the warm water to make the honey easier to work with.

4. Now, pour the honey/water mixture into the pitcher and blend well. Add lemon juice and sliced lemons and stir well. I like to let honey sweetened lemonade cool in the refrigerator before using.

Expert Tips

Want to use a special variety honey (clover, tupelo etc.) be careful not every honey flavor blends well with lemon .

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.

Storage & Shelf Life

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 it.

Variations to Try

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

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.

More Refreshing Ideas

Another great idea to use honey to keep cool – try these homemade honey popsicles – featuring the fruit of your choice and Greek yogurt. They are cool and smooth.

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

Use honey in drinks for better health or fun.

Indulge in some natural goodness with this easy honey lemonade recipe. It is a refreshing twist on a classic favorite. And, you may need to try several honey flavors to find your favorite.