Homemade Lemonade Recipe for Kids

It is HOT outside!

So, it is 102 degrees where I live. Did I mention 102 degrees? We need something to cool the grands and I off a bit, something fun and easy to make together. A Homemade Lemonade Recipe for Kids is just the thing.

Fresh lemonade ingredients

Lemons and sugar are the only actual ingredients needed for this fresh lemonade recipe that uses fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Fresh squeezed lemonade

Most kids have never gotten to squeeze a lemon or use a citrus juicer before so this catches their interest. It’s a simple kitchen skill that I recently taught a couple adults. They had avoided real lemons in their lemon juice recipe because they thought that squeezing lemons was too hard and messy. Using bottled lemon juice will certainly work, but fresh squeezed lemon juice is so, so good in a recipe.

Glass Citrus Juicer...thanks grandma

I have this antique citrus juicer that is so pretty I keep it hanging on my kitchen wall. You can purchase a similar glass Citrus Juicer new or there is also a Citrus Press or even an Electric Citrus Juicer! I’m not a person that likes lots of gadgets so I just use the old juicer. Thanks grandma.

Cut and squeeze the lemon

I just love cutting a lemon in half and juicing the lemon on the glass Citrus Juicer. I figured the grands would love this as well and boy was I right! (Remember that littles need help using a knife and learning how to cut the lemon on a cutting board safely.)
The cool thing is that each child gets to squeeze one large lemon for their own pint glass jar full of fresh lemonade! This is easy and fast and if done by the kitchen sink the clean-up is also fast.

Let’s make a glass of this easy lemonade recipe.

Cut the lemon in half and twist each lemon half down on the citrus juicer. The juice (and some pulp and seeds) will flow down into the attached bowl.
Pour the juice through a Strainer if you would like to remove the pulp and seeds. Set the juice to the side.

Heat the water, add sugar

Heat the water in the microwave until very warm but not boiling.
Put the very warm water into the Pint Sized Mason Jar and stir in the sugar. The sugar will dissolve into the warm water so it isn’t grainy in the lemonade. Stir until the sugar is all dissolved. Cool, huh?
Geek alert: Hot water will dissolve more sugar than cold water. This food science principle is called super-saturation and is used in making candy. As the temperature of the water goes up it can dissolve more sugar!

Add juice, ice...

Add in the lemon juice, ice, and a lemon slice (optional). Then add more water till the jar is filled. Stir and notice how you are getting thirstier by the minute. This is just the best lemonade recipe! Wasn’t that easy?

Reusable Straws, even sweeter

I’ve been waiting to use our new Reusable Straws. Our local coffee shop was selling them and they are so pretty. I’ve heard so much about avoiding plastic straws and using paper or reusable ones whenever possible. Helpful and pretty- that is a real win-win!

Party or picnic idea- simple lemonade recipe

I think this would be a fun “make your own fresh squeezed lemonade” party activity for kids. Perhaps a reusable straw and plastic cup would make a cute party gift.
What do you think of this simple lemonade recipe? Great for an end of the summer Labor Day picnic don’t you think?

Don't forget Papa

Papa likes the Homemade Lemonade Recipe for Kids, too!! Lemon is his favorite flavor so I had to keep saying “no” when he tried to take the lemon slices (he will eat them straight, so sour). He deserves his own glass of fresh squeezed lemonade for waiting so patiently.

Supplies for Homemade Lemonade Recipe for Kids• Lemons

• Sugar
• Paring Knife
• Citrus Juicer, Citrus Press or Electric Citrus Juicer
• Strainer
• Pint Sized Mason Jar
• Reusable Straws
• Enjoy!

ENJOY!

If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.