The 3-Ingredient Creamy Lemonade I Can’t Stop Making

Back in 2020, right when TikTok was really taking off, a recipe for classic Limonada, or Brazilian lemonade, went viral. Armed with a Costco-sized bag of limes and an awful lot of time on my hands, I gave the recipe a try. It was very intriguing to me—fresh limes are blended whole with sugar, water, and sweetened condensed milk. 

To my delight, the resulting concoction was super refreshing. It was creamy, frothy, and indulgent without being too heavy for a hot summer day. I thought the mixture would taste bitter since whole limes were used, but when balanced with the sweetened condensed milk, the drink tasted incredibly smooth. 

The only issue? My instincts were right! As this mixture sits, it tends to get a little bitter due to the included lime pith. Most recipes also make quite a big batch, and it’s really best consumed right after it’s blended. So, what’s a girl who’s looking for a creamy, citrusy, single-serve beverage to do? Head back to TikTok!

The Perfect Creamy Lemonade

This summer, I stopped my scroll to take a deep dive into Ashley Lauren Tassano's profile. Her feed is filled with amazing cocktail recipes, coffee treats (iced tiramisu latte?! Yes, please!) and a brilliant take on the creamy lemonade trend. I love a problem-solver, and her method solves not one conundrum, but two. 

First, the recipe allows you to make a single serving. Plus, there’s no straining or blending required. Everything gets shaken up in a plastic quart container, just like you might see at a lemonade stand at the state fair. I also preferred the texture of this form of creamy lemonade to the blended variety. It was a bit thinner—more like traditional lemonade—but still with a touch of richness and frothiness thanks to the sweetened condensed milk. 

How To Make My 3-Ingredient Creamy Lemonade

For one serving, you’ll need:

• 2 lemons, washed and dried
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

Juice the lemons, then cut the juiced halves into chunks. Add the lemon juice and lemon chunks to a quart-sized container with a lid. Add the sugar and muddle with a muddler or a wooden spoon until the sugar starts to dissolve. 

Add the water, ice, and sweetened condensed milk (to taste). Tightly seal the container with the lid, then shake vigorously until the condensed milk is well blended and the lemonade is creamy and frothy. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

• I’ve been slowly slipping into the habit of making one of these every afternoon! If you find yourself acquiring this as a daily ritual as well, it’s helpful to freeze excess sweetened condensed milk in 1-tablespoon portions in ice cube trays. Then, when the craving strikes, you can pop one into the microwave to thaw before adding it to ice and shaking things up. 
• I prefer my lemonade on the tart side, so I use two whole lemons. If you like things a bit more mellow, you can use just one lemon, or increase the sugar and condensed milk to make it sweeter. 
• For a tropical spin, try swapping the sweetened condensed milk for sweetened condensed coconut milk and the water for coconut water.