This easy keto lemonade recipe tastes like summer! On hot days like this, I’ll take anything I can get to cool down and make me feel all the happy summer vibes. An icy glass of healthy sugar-free lemonade does the trick! Wondering how to make lemonade without sugar? It’s probably easier than you think – and just as delicious as the sugar-y kind. This low carb lemonade will show you how. You might know by now that I don’t do sugar-y drinks. Even though some keto fruits are possible, virtually all fruit juice – and definitely lemonade – is just sugar in disguise. So if you’re looking to make a healthy lemonade, you need to get rid of that sugar. And with my easy sugar-free lemonade recipe, you can do that without worrying about aftertaste or artificial ingredients. And since it only takes about five minutes, there’s no reason not to try this sugar-free lemonade recipe. Even if you’re feeling all the laziness of summertime. This sugar-free lemonade recipe was originally published on July 3, 2018, and the post was republished in June 2020 to add process pictures and useful tips. Here is one of the original photos, if you are curious:
Healthy Lemonade Ingredients
What’s the better alternative for healthy homemade lemonade? It comes down to just three simple ingredients: Okay, four ingredients if you count ice. How easy is that?! I pretty much always have these ingredients around.
How To Make Keto Lemonade
This is what of the easiest lemonade recipes ever. You can make it in five minutes. If you have the needed ingredients, you totally have time to make this sugar-free lemonade recipe.
Step 1: Make Sugar-Free Simple Syrup
It’s easier than it sounds! Simply simmer sugar-free sweetener and water until dissolved. Here is my step-by-step keto simple syrup recipe. Or if you want even less work and a convenient syrup to use in other drinks, grab my pre-made Wholesome Yum Keto Simple Syrup below.
Step 2: Mix syrup with lemon juice
Fresh squeezed lemon juice is the most delicious if you can (use a lemon squeezer like this)…
But bottled lemon juice will do if you want to save time! Either way, combine the lemon juice and simple syrup in a pitcher.
Step 3: Add ice and enjoy!
To serve the homemade healthy lemonade, pour it over ice and garnish with fresh lemon slices.
Is lemonade keto?
Most lemonades are loaded with sugar and a little bit of lemon juice or lemon flavoring. They are definitely not keto friendly. This keto lemonade recipe is made with my very own Besti sweetener – no carbs, sugar, or calories!
Is lemonade healthy?
You may have seen a few options for diet or sugar-free lemonade at stores. In fact, you can even sometimes find them at fountain drink stations. Unfortunately, these pre-made sugar-free lemonade drinks are made with artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners. No, thanks! There’s a better way. You can make your own healthy lemonade without sugar, right at home and it’s why I came up with this keto lemonade recipe.
How many lemons do I need if using freshly squeezed lemon juice?
This healthy lemonade recipe needs 2/3 cup lemon juice. The average lemon yields 2 tablespoons of juice, so if you’re squeezing fresh lemons, you’ll need about 5-6 lemons to get 2/3 cup. TIP: I recommend squeezing into a measuring cup, so you can just see how much more you need as you go.
Can you use a different sweetener?
Yes, you can. However, most sugar alternatives do not make the best simple syrup. Most contain erythritol, which doesn’t dissolve very well and crystallizes when storing it. If you must use something else, use my keto sweetener conversion calculator to determine the amount, and be sure it’s powdered for the best chance of dissolving. For best results, use either powdered monk fruit allulose blend or powdered allulose – these dissolve the best and store well. The crystallized versions of these sweeteners should work fine as well, since allulose dissolves so well. Alternatively, you can get Wholesome Yum Sugar-Free Simple Syrup here for convenience.
How To Store Healthy Lemonade
Can you make homemade sugar-free lemonade ahead?
Want to make sugar-free lemonade ahead of time? No problem! You can mix it all together and just leave out the ice. When you’re ready to drink it, give it a stir and pour over ice. Happy summer!
How to store low carb lemonade
Store healthy homemade lemonade in the refrigerator without the ice, for 5-7 days. This is one of the reasons why using Besti sweetener is recommended – most others won’t store very well for long.
More Keto Summer Recipes
Summer is a big season for those of us who live in the cold north and we take full advantage of the warmth while we can. Here are some of my favorite low carb keto recipes that are perfect for summer:
Juicy Burgers – The BEST way to make burgers. Keto Hot Dog Buns – These fathead buns are incredibly soft and fluffy! Bacon Wrapped Asparagus – This works great on the grill as well as the oven. Keto Coleslaw – We always seem to have a batch of this low carb coleslaw during the summer months. Just 2 grams net carbs! Cauliflower Tabbouleh – Another great summer salad that can be made ahead and is perfect for parties and picnics. Keto Ice Cream – Is there anything more summer than ice cream?!
Lemon Squeezer – The best sugar-free lemonade will be fresh squeezed, so get one of these if you don’t have one. Bottled Lemon Juice – If you’re willing to sacrifice flavor a bit for convenience, get bottled lemon juice to make keto lemonade super quickly. Glass Pitcher – Take this pitcher inside and out, lid included!
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