Name: State Fair Lemonade
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 285 min
Ingredients: 6 lemons; 1.25 cups white sugar; 5 cups cold water

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

6 lemons
1 cups white sugar
5 cups cold water

Directions:

Step 1: Begin by gathering all the ingredients. Wash the lemons thoroughly and peel off all the zest using a vegetable peeler. Set the peeled lemons aside for later use.

Step 2: Add the lemon zest to a bowl and cover it with sugar. Toss to combine the zest and sugar evenly. Cover the bowl and let it sit for a minimum of 2 hours, or preferably overnight to allow the flavors to infuse.

Step 3: Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in a pot over high heat. Once boiling, turn off the heat and pour in the lemon-sugar mixture. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved, which should take about 5 minutes.

Step 4: Once the sugar is dissolved, strain the mixture through a mesh strainer back into the same bowl, discarding the zest.

Step 5: Let the mixture cool to room temperature, which should take about 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 6: Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl with the lemon-sugar mixture.

Step 7: Pour the freshly prepared lemonade into a serving pitcher. Cover the pitcher and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving over ice.

Step 8: Once chilled, your homemade lemonade is ready to enjoy!

Nutrition Facts:

Servings Per Recipe	6
Calories	183
Total Fat	0g
Sodium	9mg
Total Carbohydrate	53g
Dietary Fiber	5g
Total Sugars	42g
Protein	1g
Vitamin C	83mg
Calcium	72mg
Iron	1mg
Potassium	159mg

State Fair Lemonade

Comments

Paul Scott

09/24/2025 06:15:48 PM

Amazing recipe! The flavor is refreshing and vibrant. I have a suggestion - don't discard the lemon peels after using them, instead, make lemon candy! You can slice the peels into thinner strips if you prefer. Simply put them in a pot with cold water, bring to a boil, strain twice, then simmer in a mixture of 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar until they become translucent. After straining (you can use the lemon simple syrup in other beverages), lay the candied peels out on a rack to dry. Once they have dried a bit, coat them in sugar. The result is absolutely delicious!

Elizabeth Smith

09/27/2025 03:59:13 AM

I absolutely loved this recipe! It reminded me of the delicious meals my mom used to make back on the farm. Just a small tweak made it perfect - after consulting with her, I added a teaspoon of vanilla extract and it was a game changer! I also ended up making a big batch, so if you try the original recipe, you might want to start with just half a teaspoon. My wife and kids adored it, so I'll definitely be making this again!

Anna Parker

09/24/2025 09:55:02 PM

This lemonade is truly exceptional! It surpasses any I've tasted, even those from the state fair. I steeped the peels for about 24 hours, and the extra effort was definitely worth it. Thank you for sharing this fantastic recipe!

Stephanie Taylor

09/26/2025 08:04:14 AM

The best lemonade I've ever tried! It was a bit too sweet for my taste, so I reduced the sugar by 1/4 cup. Absolutely delicious!

Raymond Rivera

09/28/2025 12:59:57 AM

This recipe is absolutely fantastic! My nearly 4-year-old always sneaks lemons into the shopping cart so we can make lemonade at home. It has become a beloved family tradition. We often like to enhance the lemonade by muddling blueberries, strawberries, or watermelon in the glass before pouring in the lemonade. This recipe is truly unbeatable and a household favorite.

Karen Miller

09/27/2025 09:00:27 PM

I tried making it once, and since then, it has become a weekend tradition for me. It takes me about a day to prepare, but it's surprisingly simple and absolutely delicious. Sometimes, when I feel adventurous, I even add iced tea to it.