Raising Cane’s Lemonade Recipe
Fresh. Bright. Sweet. A little tangy. That is how I describe this Raising Cane’s Lemonade Recipe. I still remember my first sip on a hot afternoon.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice about 6–8 large lemons
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 5 cups cold water
- 1 cup hot water for syrup
- Ice cubes for serving
- Lemon slices for garnish optional
Instructions
Squeeze the Fresh Lemons
- Wash your lemons well. Cut them in half. Use a juicer to squeeze the juice. Strain the juice to remove seeds and pulp if needed. Fresh juice is the key to this Raising Cane’s Lemonade Recipe. Bottled juice will not taste the same.
Make the Simple Syrup
- Pour one cup of hot water into a saucepan. Add the sugar. Stir over low heat until the sugar fully dissolves. This takes about five minutes. Do not boil hard. Just heat gently until clear and smooth.
Let the Syrup Cool
- Remove the syrup from heat. Let it cool for a few minutes. This helps keep the lemonade fresh and bright. Hot syrup added too quickly can slightly change the flavor.
Mix Lemon Juice and Syrup
- In a large pitcher, pour the fresh lemon juice. Add the cooled syrup. Stir well to combine. The smell at this point is amazing. Fresh and sweet at the same time.
Add Cold Water
- Pour in five cups of cold water. Stir everything together until fully mixed. Taste it. If you like it sweeter, add a little more sugar. If you want more tang, add a splash of lemon juice.
Chill and Serve
- Add ice to glasses. Pour the lemonade over the ice. Garnish with lemon slices if you like. Serve immediately for best taste. Cold and refreshing is the goal.
Notes
- Always use fresh lemons for best flavor.
- Roll lemons on the counter before cutting. This gives more juice.
- Adjust sugar to your taste preference.
- Use sparkling water for a fizzy version.
- Add fresh mint for a cooling twist.
- Try adding sliced strawberries for fruity lemonade.
- Chill the pitcher before serving for extra cold drinks.