Homemade lemonade couldn't be easier. This agave lemonade comes together in a snap with just 2 ingredients for a refreshing summertime drink!
My kids and I are obsessed with homemade lemonade and albeit a little snooty when it comes to the topic. We want fresh lemons!
This recipe is inspired by Panera's lemonade recipe. Thanks to Panera I started using agave in my lemonade.
Light agave has a mild flavor and blends right into the lemon juice. There's no need to cook homemade simple syrup for this one!
This agave lemonade recipe is a no-fuss drink that's bright, cheery, crisp, and refreshing - just as it should be!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. In other words, if you click a link and purchase something I will receive a commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products I use and enjoy myself.
Ingredients
With just three ingredients, lemonade with agave is even easier than traditional lemonade!
- Lemons - Always use fresh lemon juice for lemonade! It's quick and affordable, but most importantly it's far superior to bottled lemon juice. Use a citrus reamer to get the most juice out of each lemon. You can also microwave the lemon for 15 seconds and roll it on the counter to loosen up the juice.
- Water - Lemon juice is extremely tart. The great thing about lemonade is that you dilute the lemon juice with water so you don't need nearly as much as say fresh squeezed orange juice.
- Agave nectar - Typically lemonade is sweetened with simple syrup. If you just threw in a cup of sugar, it wouldn't fully dissolve. The sugar would sink to the bottom and taste grainy. Since agave is already in liquid form, all you have to do is stir! Be sure to buy light agave, not amber agave which has a strong flavor.
How to Make Agave Lemonade
Juice the Lemons
Juicing lemons is simple and only takes a few minutes. I usually use a handheld citrus juicer or a juicer with a built-in measuring cup.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to strain the juice and measure it afterward. Straining removes any seeds and excess pulp, giving you a smoother, more consistent result.
Combine Ingredients
In a large pitcher, combine the lemon juice, cold water, and agave syrup. Make sure to use cold water so the ice doesn't melt and water down the lemonade!
Stir well, then top with lots of ice!
Taste & Enjoy
Give the lemonade a taste and adjust the ingredients to suit your preference. If you'd like it a little sweeter, stir in more agave syrup.
Keep in mind that it's easy to add more sweetener, but impossible to remove it once it's mixed in.
If the lemonade tastes too tart or lemony, add a small splash of water until it reaches the perfect balance.
Why This Lemonade Recipe is Amazing
- In traditional lemonade, you typically dissolve sugar in water by cooking it to make a simple syrup. Since agave is already a smooth, syrupy consistency you can skip this step altogether. It comes together in a snap!
- Fresh squeezed lemonade is light years better than the store bought kind or even Panera Bread lemonade. It has a fresh, intensely bright, and lemony flavor.
- Light agave has a mild flavor that doesn't overpower the lemons.
Lemonade Variations:
- Herbs - Add fresh herbs like basil or mint!
- Tea - Make an Arnold Palmer and top with fresh iced tea. Flavored ice tea is great too! Try raspberry, peach, or hibiscus.
- Fresh fruit - Add or blend with fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or peaches. Or try making peach basil or blackberry syrup!
- Soda water - Top a glass of lemonade with soda water for bubbles and fizz!
- Single Serve Lemonade - This recipe can easily be adapted to make a single glass of lemonade. I use a handheld citrus reamer to squeeze the juice of one lemon into a glass. I add water and agave, to taste, then add lots of ice.
- Sweetener - You could use maple syrup, honey, or simple syrup in place of agave. Each one has a slightly different flavor!
Recipe Notes & Tips
- When shopping for lemons press into them gently and see if they have some give. I try to buy lemons that are slightly soft when intending to juice them.
- You can serve lemonade in mason jars, fun cocktail glasses, or glass bottles for a fun little twist.
- I like lemonade slightly tart with an intense lemon flavor, but the best part about lemonade is you can make it exactly how you like it! I recommend starting with the recipe below and then adding more agave if you like it sweeter and slightly more water if you want a less intense lemon flavor.
- Gently cut the lemons into halves and squeeze the juice into a measuring cup. I don't worry about the seeds until the end and then I strain it.
FAQs
If you use light agave, it tastes like regular lemonade with a subtle taste of agave! Light agave has a very mild flavor, even more so than honey.
While agave syrup is a natural sweetener, it's still sugar! Enjoy this agave lemonade recipe in moderation, just like you would regular lemonade.
Other Summer Recipes You Might Like
- Pistachio Crusted Salmon with Lemon Basil Sauce
- Strawberry Peach Smoothie
- Gluten Free Strawberry Crisp
- Spinach Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette & Pears
Agave Lemonade
Equipment
- Handheld juicer or citrus reamer (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice about 6 large lemons
- 3 ½ cups cold water
- ¾ cup Golden light agave*
Instructions
- Press down on the lemons firmly as you roll them on the counter. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze into a measuring cup. Strain to remove the seeds and/or pulp.
- In a medium sized pitcher add the lemon juice, water, and agave. Stir well then top with lots of ice.
- Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for later. Just be sure to add the ice when you are ready to use so it doesn't melt in the lemonade.
- For a sweeter lemonade gradually add more agave tasting as you go. For a more diluted lemonade gradually add more water tasting as you go.
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