I can't imagine anything more pleasurable than holding a cold glass of refreshing, zesty lemonade on a hot summer afternoon. The burst of coolness from a well-done lemonade instantly revives you from the oppressive summer heat. My Sugar-free Lemonade recipe is the ultimate relief you need. It is a clever sugar-free twist on a recipe I have been making for 20 years.
My kids love the recipe, and I feel guilty for never telling them it is not the traditional lemonade. Instead of sugar, I use monk fruit sweetener, which makes it more flavorful than regular lemonade. Let's make the refreshing summer drink together!
This recipe is:
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- Low Carb
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- Keto
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- Gluten Free
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- Dairy Free
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- Paleo
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- Vegetarian
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- Vegan
Table of Contents
8 Reasons to Love This Recipe
Some good reasons for making this healthy lemonade recipe are:
- Tastes better than traditional lemonade.
- Zero refined sugars.
- Can be scaled easily for a party or just a weekend refreshment.
- Perfect for the lemonade stand!
- Sneaky low-carb by using natural sugar substitutes.
- Easy to flavor with various low-carb fruits.
- No simple syrup is needed.
- Perfect ratio of lemon juice, sweetener, and water.
Is Sugar-Free Lemonade Low Carb?
Sugar-free lemonade can be low-carb friendly if made from low-carb sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, or sucralose instead of sugar, which suits a low-carb lifestyle. And, if you're wondering, "Is Lemon Low Carb?", then head over to my article, and you will have in-depth knowledge about the carbs in lemons and whether it lies under a low carb radar or not.
This recipe is low-carb and keto-friendly, with less than 3 g net carbs per 8-oz serving. I created it specifically for the low-carb diet to enjoy on a hot summer day without worrying about the carb intake!
Sugar-Free Lemonade Ingredients List
This homemade sugar-free lemonade only requires 5 simple ingredients:
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup lemon juice (approx 4 large lemons)
- 3 tablespoons Monk Fruit Sweetener
- Fresh lemon slices
- Ice cubes
Ingredient Substitutions
Your zero-sugar lemonade will still taste fantastic with these ingredient alternatives:
- Lemon juice: I don't recommend using bottled lemon juice. Its acidity is higher, and its flavor differs from fresh lemon juice. Additionally, shelf-stable bottled lemon juice often has ingredients that can be easily avoided using real lemons. If you need to substitute, you could change this to a Limeaide by using the same ratio of limes to water.
- Monk fruit sweetener: If you don't have this sweetener (I like it because it tastes the closest to real sugar), use other sugar-free sweeteners like erythritol, allulose, or stevia. The sweetness of each of these substitutions varies, so you will need to taste as you go to make appropriate adjustments.
- Lemon slices: I've made this lemonade recipe before with lime slices, and it was pretty good. The lime slices add a nice twist to the flavor.
Additional Ingredients
Add any of these optional ingredients to the sugar-free lemonade mix to heighten its flavors:
- Fruits: Lemonade loves fruits. Add some fresh blueberries (ensure they are sliced; otherwise, the flavors won't mingle) or lightly pressed blackberries. I gently press the blackberries to release their juice into the lemonade. You can also use sliced strawberries or raspberries to make sugar-free strawberry lemonade.
- Mint: I've made this before with lots of mints gently muddled (pressed with the back of a spoon or with a muddler) in the lemonade. Mint and lemonade are a perfect match.
- Fresh herbs: Surprisingly, fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, or thyme adds good flavors to this special treat. Add some to the lemonade and allow it to infuse for about an hour. The subtle flavors are amazing together. Do not mix the herbs, though; choose one at a time.
- Vanilla: If you have liquid stevia with vanilla, add a few drops to this low carb lemonade before chilling. Taste and adjust. You'll like it better than a classic!
- Sparkling water: Add sparkling water for a more bubbly appearance. If you turn the lemonade into a sparkling lemonade, I suggest chilling the juiced lemon and monk fruit sweetener separately from the carbonated water. Over time, the carbonated water loses its effervescence and turns slightly flat. I combine them immediately before serving them for the best results.
Note: The additional ingredients are not part of the recipe. Use them only to enhance or customize the low-calorie lemonade to your liking.
Preparation Tools
To make this Healthy Sugar Free Lemonade recipe, you will need the following tools:
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Citrus juicer
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Pitcher
How To Make Sugar-Free Lemonade: Step-by-Step Guide
Cooking Method
- No-cook recipe
Preparation Steps
- Gather the tools and ingredients.
- Measure 4 cups of filtered water. Add to the pitcher.
- Cut lemons in half and juice.
- Pour the juice into a small mixing bowl.
- Add the monk fruit sweetener to the lemon juice. Whisk until dissolved.
- Combine the water, lemon juice, and lemon slices.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Add ice to the glass (never the pitcher!) and fill with lemonade.
- Garnish as you would like and enjoy it cold.
Step 1: Slice the lemons and juice on a juicer.
Step 2: Add in the natural sugar substitute of your choice to the lemon juice.
Step 3: Using a whisk, stir the lemon juice until the sugar substitute has dissolved.
Step 4: Add the sweetened lemon juice to a pitcher with the water.
Step 5: Mix well.
Step 6: The sugar-free lemonade is ready to serve over ice... yum!
💡 My Pro Tip
I have top tips to help you make the best sugar-free lemonade every time:
- There is a 4:1 ratio of water to lemon juice. This means there are 4 cups of water and 1 cup of lemon juice. Use 2 cups of water for ½ cup of lemon juice to make a personal size. For a party, use 12 cups of water with 3 cups of lemon juice. It always remains the same.
- Never add ice to the pitcher. This prevents your lemonade from getting watered down. As the ice melts into the lemonade, the flavor becomes less intense and more diluted. The lemon juice's tartness and sugar's sweetness decrease, making the lemonade less flavorful.
⏲️ Time-Saving Tips
- Use an electric citrus press, especially if you intend to make this sugar-free lemonade for a larger party or backyard BBQ. The electric citrus press (I have a Breville Citrus Pro that I love) makes juicing a breeze. It extracts more juice in less time than using a reamer or manual juicer.
- Make the lemonade beforehand and chill it. This saves time from waiting while the flavors come together. The lemonade is good for about 3-5 days in the fridge.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storage tips
- Storing lemonade is easy. You can leave it in a pitcher with a lid or cover the pitcher with plastic wrap for about 3-5 days. If stored for too long, the lemonade will become cloudy or slightly thicker than expected.
Freezing
- You can make little frozen treats by freezing your leftover lemonade in ice cube trays for up to six months. Add it to your drinking water or other citrusy beverages. When I'm entertaining, I usually toss a cube of frozen lemonade with regular ice into the water glasses. It's so refreshing!
- Alternatively, you can freeze the entire lemonade batch by adding it to a freezer-safe container, leaving enough room for expansion and storing for about six months. To use, defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Stir the defrosted lemonade, taste, and adjust the sweetness if it has changed.
What to Serve with Sugar-free Lemonade?
Some great low-carb pairings to enjoy with this keto friendly lemonade include:
- Keto Peanut Butter Cookies: These are a fantastic midday snack that goes well with the flavorful homemade lemonade.
- Keto Brownies: If you have some fluffy brownies leftover from your previous full-course meal, enjoy them with the refreshing keto lemonade. They will satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Keto Cheese Chips: The bright citrus flavors of the fresh lemonade pair well with the crunchy, salty, tangy cheese delights.
- Keto Pepperoni Chips: There's nothing like a refreshing, guilt-free beverage and a savory, crunchy snack with a burst of umami flavors on a scorching summer day.
Conclusion
When I lived in the States, this Sugar-free Lemonade recipe was available at my house for most summer holidays, from Memorial Day to July 4th. My kids used it for their lemonade stand at the end of our driveway, and it was a huge hit in the neighborhood. Now that I live abroad, I serve this recipe at our frequent backyard BBQs and pool parties on hot summer days. Everyone I serve enjoys it.
Please write in the comments any questions or suggestions you may have for other sugar-free drink recipes. You can also find us on Facebook or Instagram.
Need another magical beverage to quench your thirst in summer? Try this my Summer Champagne Cocktail!
FAQs
Any of the sugar-free natural sweeteners are great substitutes for sugar in lemonade. You can use either monk fruit sweetener, erythritol, allulose, stevia, or even honey if you are not on a low carb diet. They all work wonderfully.
This sugar-free lemonade recipe has been designed to be low-carb and keto-friendly. However, not all store-bought sugar-free lemonade is keto-friendly due to bulking agents, preservatives, and hidden ingredients.
No, there is no caffeine in sugar-free lemonade. The ingredients are caffeine-free.
Homemade sugar-free lemonade is the best option for a low-carb dieter. Making lemonade at home allows you to use low-carb ingredients that suit your flavor preferences. It reduces the chances of consuming hidden sugars that can disrupt your low-carb diet goals.
Sugar Free Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup lemon juice approx 4 large lemons
- 3 tablespoons Monk Fruit Sweetener
- Fresh lemon slices
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Gather the tools and ingredients.
- Measure 4 cups of filtered water. Add to the pitcher.
- Cut lemons in half and juice.
- Pour the juice into a small mixing bowl.
- Add the monk fruit sweetener to the lemon juice. Whisk until dissolved.
- Combine the water, lemon juice, and lemon slices.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Add ice to the glass (never the pitcher!) and fill with lemonade.
- Garnish as you would like and enjoy it cold.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
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Rayna Diane Hennen says
This is really great! I forgot monk sweetener doesn't have the aftertaste of Splenda or Stevia. And it can be as tart or sweet as you want!
Scott Groth says
Hi Rayna:
Thanks so much for the comment. And you’re right (so far as I am concerned) that monk fruit sweetener is the best of the alternative sweetener options. For me, it tastes the most like real sugar.
I’m so happy you like the recipe-
Have a great day!
Scott
Amelia says
Today is my lucky day! I came across this recipe and this is the only way I'm going to make lemonade from now on. Thank you!!!
Scott Groth says
Hi Amelia:
You are amazing- thanks so much for writing and for the star ratings… we really need them to stay competitive!
Enjoy the lemonade too!
Scott