My 1-Ingredient Upgrade for Better Lemonade (It's Already in Your Pantry)

Lemonade is without a doubt my drink of the summer. Once the afternoon rolls around, I crave it. Not only does it offer the perfect balance of tart and sweet, but it also reminds me of beloved memories from childhood. And while I was a store-bought lemonade gal for years, once I discovered how much tastier it is homemade, I never looked back.

When making lemonade at home, one trick I always use is to sweeten it with honey instead of granulated sugar. While most lemonade recipes call for making a simple syrup of equal parts sugar and water, honey is my go-to.

The natural sweetener adds a deeper level of intrigue to the lemonade thanks to its subtle floral, fruity, and sometimes earthy flavor notes. Plus, honey is always reliably sitting in my pantry. And it's sweeter than regular sugar, so you can use less of it when whipping up a batch of lemonade. Honey also pairs perfectly with many of my other favorite lemonade add-ins, such as lavender, mint, thyme, and summer fruits.

Tips for Adding Honey to Lemonade

• Be Sure To Blend: If you've ever added honey to a cold liquid, then you know that it often seizes and stays in one big clump. To avoid this—and ensure the entire lemonade batch is evenly sweetened—blend the lemonade ingredients (including herbs or fruit). It's quick, simple, and results in a uniform honey flavor running throughout the drink.
• Don't Use Too Much: As mentioned, honey is sweeter than regular sugar, so be sure to modify the amount if using a lemonade recipe that calls for granulated sugar. A good rule of thumb is to use about half the amount of honey that you would sugar (you can always add more to taste). For my go-to recipe—which calls for blending four cups of water, two whole lemons (more on this below), the juice of one lemon, and fresh mint—I use 1/2 cup of honey instead of one cup of sugar.
• Use Whole Lemons: You may have noticed that my recipe calls for whole lemons, and yes, you read that right! Peeled (or thin-skinned), seeded whole lemons give the lemonade incredible body after blending. It adds the perfect texture—not too pulpy, not too thin, for an extra-satisfying drink.

Using honey has completely changed the way I make lemonade at home. It adds a deeper, more complex flavor and blends well with other fresh ingredients I enjoy using. With just a few pantry staples and a quick blend, I can make a refreshing drink that's far better than anything store-bought.

It's a simple upgrade that makes homemade lemonade even more enjoyable.