This quick limeade recipe is the key to summer fun! Enjoy hours in the sun when you have a refreshing drink to sip on. Limeade is super easy to make and oh so deliciously tasty.
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About this Homemade Limeade Recipe
There’s nothing more refreshing than sipping on a cold glass of tart homemade limeade on a hot summer day. Whether you’re in the backyard by the pool or at the beach soaking up the sunshine, this easy limeade is the perfect way to beat the heat.
Not only is this drink tasty, but it’s actually super hydrating. Limes are loaded with essentials vitamins and nutrients that helps make the water extra hydrating to your body. A win win for sure!
My homemade lemonade is another summer favorite, but if I have an abundance of fresh limes then I turn to this recipe. With a few sprigs of fresh mint and a little bit of simple syrup, you can add so much flavor to this easy drink.
Whether you need something citrusy to sip on to brighten your day, or you’re looking for an easy party beverage, this homemade limeade is always a winner. All you need is a few basic ingredients and a pitcher!
More lime recipes: Virgin Moscow Mule • Beeritas • Classic Margarita
Why you’ll love this recipe
I’ll never get over the fresh taste of YUMMY fresh lemonade and fresh limeade. It’s so much better than store-bought or premade:
- You only need four ingredients to make a batch of fresh limeade. It’s truly that simple!
- Add flavorings, berries and other unique ingredients to make this limeade flavored! You can adapt and change it to be whatever you want.
- Make this drink ahead of time and then store it for later. A great way to save on future prep time for parties and gatherings.
Ingredients
You only need four ingredients to make this easy homemade limeade recipe:
- granulated sugar
- water
- fresh* lime juice
- vanilla extract
Fresh lime juice is worth the effort. I’ve tried this with both lime juice concentrate and fresh lime juice, and the fresh is so much better. The flavor is gentler and less cloying than the concentrate. It works, but it’s just not as great.
Substitutions, additions & variations
Sugar-free: If you’d like to avoid using refined sugar, you can sweeten your limeade with honey simple syrup or maple syrup. Sugar-free simple syrup would also be a tasty sweetener!
Don’t have limes? Then use some lemons instead and make a batch of lemonade.
Make it bubbly! Turn this into a bubbly beverage with some club soda or another carbonated water. Sparkling limeade is the best!
Mix it up. Change up the flavors of your limeade with fresh fruit or flavored simple syrups. Strawberry simple syrup and peach syrup would be great.
Cherry limeade is a great variation too! Or harness the flavor of tasty herbs with herbal limeade.
Alcohol: This is a non-alcoholic limeade, similar to lemonade but with the tart and tangy flavor of lime. It is great to sip on its own but you can totally add booze. Vodka, gin and tequila would all be great! Try it in a vodka limeade.
Garnishes
Garnish this limeade with lime slices or lime wedges, and even some fresh herbs like basil or mint. You can also make some homemade dehydrated lime slices for a fun fancy garnish.
A lime twist would be pretty, or berry ice cubes would be a cool way to add color into this drink.
Instructions
This is the perfect refreshing drink for a hot day. It’s so easy to make, but here’s a step by step guide so that you don’t miss anything:
Make a simple syrup in a saucepan over medium heat. If you already have simple syrup, then you can skip this step.
Combine sugar and water in the pan and heat until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Cut the limes in half and then use a citrus juicer to juice each one. Strain the lime juice through a fine mesh strainer to remove all of the pulp.
In a large pitcher, combine the simple syrup and lime juice and then top with cold water. Add 1 drop of vanilla extract and stir.
Place the pitcher of limeade into the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, pour over ice and garnish with fresh limes slices and mint. Enjoy!
Tips & tricks
Check these quick tips and tricks to make the best limeade ever:
- Fresh juice is worth the effort. I’ve tried this with both lime juice concentrate and fresh lime juice, and the fresh is so much better. If it is too tart, you can add more syrup and/or more water.
- Be sure to strain the lime juice before making the limeade so that there is no pulp or chunks. You’ll have a smooth and tasty drink!
- Refrigerate this drink for at least an hour before serving. The colder it is, the better the flavor!
- To keep your drink cold on a hot day, serve in insulated cups or chill the glasses before serving.
Food pairings
Serve this drink with delicious treats baked peaches or raspberry parfaits. Or serve this with tasty cookies like shortbread matcha cookies or Moscow mule cookies.
It’s a great drink to pair with snacks and meals like popcorn shrimp and Chex mix. Limeade is the perfect pairing with chips and salsa too.
Need a drink to go with a summer grilling meal? Pair limeade with grilled shrimp skewers!
FAQ
Limeade does not have to have carbonation, but it can if you want! This recipe uses regular water but you can absolutely grab carbonated water to make this a bubbly limeade.
Yes! Add a little rum or tequila into the mix to make a tasty spiked beverage. Vodka would. betasty too — I know it’s great in vodka lemonade!
More Citrus Drink Recipes
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Homemade Limeade
ingredients
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 5 cups water divided
- 1 cup fresh lime juice strained to remove pulp
- 1 drop vanilla extract
instructions
- First, make a simple syrup: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and 1 cup water and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
- In a large pitcher, mix together simple syrup and lime juice. Top with cold water and 1 drop vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Pour over ice and garnish with lime slices, mint leaves or fresh fruit.
notes
Tips & tricks
- Fresh juice is worth the effort. I’ve tried this with both lime juice concentrate and fresh lime juice, and the fresh is so much better.
- If it is too tart, you can add more syrup and/or more water.
- Be sure to strain the lime juice before making the limeade so that there is no pulp or chunks. You’ll have a smooth and tasty drink!
- Refrigerate this drink for at least an hour before serving. The colder it is, the better the flavor! To keep your drink cold on a hot day, serve in insulated cups or chill the glasses before serving.
Substitutions, additions & variations
Sugar-free: If you’d like to avoid using refined sugar, you can sweeten your limeade with honey simple syrup, maple syrup or sugar-free simple syrup made with stevia. No limes, or not enough? Then use some lemons instead and make a batch of lemonade or lemon-limeade! Make it bubbly. Turn this into a bubbly beverage with some club soda or another carbonated water. Sparkling limeade is the best! Change up the flavors: Add fresh fruit purées or flavored simple syrups, like cherry, strawberry, peach or basil.recommended products
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