Nothing beats a tall glass of homemade lemonade, and nothing gets more refreshing than homemade lemonade made with cool, crisp mint! This easy Mint Lemonade recipe using a quick mint simple syrup and freshly squeezed lemons is an unbelievably special drink you’ll always want to have on hand.

Best homemade mint lemonade in a chilled mug

It’s always a good time for a cool glass of lemonade, especially here in the south. A timeless classic, it’s perfect for any occasion- parties, tailgates, cookouts, showers, holidays, even weekends. Everybody knows that lemonade’s not just for summer. Lemonade’s for everyday!

And this Mint Lemonade? Well, it’s downright addictive. Cool, crisp, tart with a little herby green, this fresh sipper is everything a true classic should be.

4 ingredients to make fresh homemade mint lemonade

4 Ingredients = The Most Refreshing Lemonade

fresh mint
lemons
sugar
water & ice

Full Pitcher of Mint Lemonade serving idea

How To Make The Best Mint Lemonade

EASY mint simple syrup. Add mint leaves, sugar and water to a large measuring bowl and microwave for 2-3 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to stir until sugar is dissolved. While stirring, gently press the mint leaves against the side of the bowl 2-3 times to release the essential oil into the syrup. Leave mint in bowl and set aside to cool.

Lemon Water. Using a basic citrus juicer, makes quick work of juicing the 6-7 large lemons required for this recipe. I use this 32 oz. pressure activated citrus juicer from Black & Decker. Afterwards, add fresh squeezed lemon juice, ice and cold water to a 2 quart pitcher.

If you get in a pinch, you can use a bottled lemon juice from your local grocery store to make this recipe. Fresh lemons are always better, but the bottled stuff makes a really delicious lemonade too!

Combine & Chill. Strain mint leaves from the simple syrup and add syrup to the lemon water. Stir well to combine all that goodness. This is where I do a taste test to make sure it is as tart as we like it and make any adjustments by adding more lemon juice. Then, there’s nothing left other than adding a sprig or two of mint, several lemon slices and chilling for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Overhead view of Fresh Mint Lemonade to show garnish and color.

Why Use Simple Syrup?

Simple syrup is a process of making your own liquid sweetened by dissolving sugar in water. It’s that… well, simple. You can make it stove top by boiling water and adding sugar, or you can use the easy microwave shortcut outlined in this recipe with the exact same results.

Using simple syrup to make this lemonade works best because sugar doesn’t dissolve in cold water. Simple syrup is an easy way to make sure your lemonade is deliciously sweetened even when chilled and doesn’t require constant stirring because all of the sugar has settled to the bottom.

By adding the mint to simple syrup, you get the added benefit of using the warm water to soak the mint leaves and extract as much of the essential oil from the leaves as possible, creating a mint concentrate that delivers loads of flavor to this classic drink!

How Long Does Homemade Lemonade Last?

I do not store homemade lemonade with lemon slices or mint leaves in it for more than 1-2 days because the lemon rinds and even the mint can create a bitter taste when left in water too long. However, after removing mint leaves and lemon slices, this lemonade will last in the refrigerator for 5-6 days if covered tightly.

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