Made with just 3 key ingredients, this homemade mint lemonade is the ultimate refreshing beverage.
Are you a Lemon Lover? You may also enjoy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Baked Lemon Pudding, Homemade Lemon Bread, or Lemon Cheesecake Bars.
![Class of mint lemonad with sliced lemon and fresh mint next to fresh lemons.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Best-Mint-Lemonade.jpg)
Elevate Lemonade with the Addition of Fresh Mint
Everyone loves a glass of sweet-tart lemonade. But when you add in fresh mint, you transform simple homemade lemonade into what feels like a classy, sophisticated mocktail. Fresh mint also has a cooling effect on the palate, which makes this mint lemonade the perfect beverage to sip on when the temperatures heat up!
How to Make Homemade Mint Lemonade
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Sweeten with a Simple Syrup
Rather than simply stirring sugar into cold water, it is best to prepare a simple syrup by heating water and sugar together until the sugar is fully dissolved. This will ensure the sugar evenly disperses throughout the lemonade rather than the sugar simply sinking to the bottom.
![Lemonade with Mint Sugar and water combined in sauepan next to lemons and mint.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mint-Sugar.jpg)
Muddle Mint with Simple Syrup
Combining the fresh mint with the simple syrup and gently mashing the mint into the syrup will allow the mint to release its natural extract, infusing the lemonade with fresh mint flavor. Just be sure to use a gentle hand when mashing the mint leaves. Aggressively mashing the mint, can cause it to become bitter.
![Homemade Mint Lemonade Mint being muddled with wooden spoon in a glass measuring cup.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Fresh-Mint-Lemonade.jpg)
Juice Fresh Lemons
To get the most juice from your lemons, I highly recommend microwaving the lemons for 20 seconds and then rolling them on the counter. This will get the natural juices flowing and make them exceptionally easy to juice.
![How to Make Homemade Lemonade with Mint Pyrex class measuring cup with fresh lemon juice next to cut lemons and blue juicer.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Homemade-Lemonade.jpg)
Strain Mint
Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the mint leaves from the simply syrup. I don't recommend leaving the mint leaves in the prepared lemonade, as at this point, the mint has already released its flavor and can cause the lemonade to become bitter if left in the mixture for a long period.
![Fresh Mint Lemonade Mint being strained out of fresh mint lemonade.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mint-Lemonade-Recipe.jpg)
Combine Mint Lemonade
Combine the mint-flavored simple syrup, additional water, and lemon juice together in a large pitcher.
![Lemonade with Mint Clear pitcher of mint lemonade next to fresh mint and lemons.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/EasyMint-Lemonade-Recipe.jpg)
Recipe Modifications
- Use Spearmint NOT Peppermint. This recipe uses fresh spearmint. Typically mint sold at the grocery store is spearmint but labeled simply as mint. While you can use peppermint, it is more potent, so you may want to reduce the amount added to your lemonade.
- Adjust the Added Sugar. This recipe for Mint Lemonade is made with less sugar than most lemonade recipes, thanks to the natural sweetness of the mint. However, if you like sweeter lemonade, feel free to increase the amount of sugar added.
More Refreshing Summer Beverages
- Fruit-Infused Water
- Blackberry Mojitos
- Mango Smoothie
- Watermelon Sangria
- Blueberry Smoothie
- Pina Colada Smoothie
If you tried this recipe for Mint Lemonade, I would if you would leave a comment and review below.
![Glass of mint lemonade garnished with sliced lemon and fresh mint.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Recipe-Mint-Lemonade-360x360.jpg)
Mint Lemonade
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 6 cups water divided
- 1 bunch fresh mint stems removed (about 20-25 mint leaves)
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice from about 6 large lemons
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Prepare Simple Syrup. In a heavy-bottomed small saucepan, combine the sugar with ½ cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the pan from the heat.
- Steep Mint. Place the mint leaves into a heat-safe mixing cup or cocktail shaker and add the simple syrup. Using a wooden spoon or muddler, gently mash the mint leaves 4-5 times, allowing the mint to release their juices. Let the mint leaves steep in the warm simple syrup for 10 minutes.
- Juice Lemons. While the mint is steeping, juice fresh lemons over a fine-mesh strainer to catch any seeds or pulp. Measure out ¾ cup of the fresh lemon juice to use for the lemonade.
- Strain Mint Leaves. Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the mint leaves from the simple syrup.
- Combine. In a large pitcher, combine the remaining 5-½ cups of water, lemon juice, mint flavored simple syrup, and ice.
- Serve with additional ice, sliced lemon, and mint leaves as desired.
Cheryl
Thanks Kristen, I've made similar before but either mint & lemon infused & another recipe just with the boiled water & sugar & lemon zest, then adding the lemon juice. I'm going to try this with my mint plant outside & fresh lemons I just bought.
Caroline Y
Super refreshing and delicious! I will drink this all summer long!
Kristen Chidsey
We are enjoying it on repeat here as well! Thanks for sharing you enjoyed this Mint Lemonade, Caroline!
Eden
I have so much fresh mint so this recipe was perfect! It gave it such a refreshing flavor, my kids loved it too!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Eden! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this lemonade recipe!
Kristyn
I will be adding mint from now on!! It's adds a great flavor & is so refreshing!! This will be my go-to summer drink!