Classic Lemonade (No-Stove Method)

No stove required — the whole thing happens in the jar.

Cuisine: American · Dish Type: Drinks · Prep: 15 min · Servings: About 2¼ quarts / 9 cups · Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ingredients

8 medium lemons (about 1½ cups juice), 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup hottest tap water, 4 cups cold water, ice for individual glasses.

Instructions

1. Zest 1 lemon directly onto the sugar; rub together 30–60 seconds until the sugar looks like damp sand.
2. Dump lemon sugar into the jar, add hot tap water, cap, and shake hard 60–90 seconds.
3. Check the bottom for undissolved crystals; shake more if needed.
4. Roll all lemons hard on the counter, then juice and strain the seeds (~1½ cups).
5. Add juice and 4 cups cold water; taste before the last cup. Adjust sugar or water as needed.
6. Top off, cap, and refrigerate about 1 hour. Ice goes in the glasses, not the jar.

Tips

• Sugar dissolves fine in hot tap water without a stovetop.
• Pour kids' glasses before dialing up tartness for adults.
• Keeps 5 days refrigerated — shake before pouring.
• Try muddled strawberries or a mint sprig rubbed into the sugar for variations.