Fresh Limeade Recipe
Published 5/11/2021 • Updated 6/4/2022
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What’s more refreshing than a sweet limeade on a hot summer day? This is a no-cook limeade recipe that’s sweetened with both honey and brown sugar. Enjoy!
Ahh Refreshing!
This super refreshing limeade tastes like we bottled up all things spring and summer and poured it into a glass for you to enjoy. Cheers, to all the fresh flavors that come along with fresh-squeezed limes, and light sweeteners and garnishes.
Limeade Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients:
- Fresh or bottled lime juice: You will always get the best flavor when using fresh lime juice, but you can also use bottled lime juice as well. A great option for bottled lime juice is Nellie & Joe’s key lime juice.
- Honey
- Brown sugar: The brown sugar can be substituted with granulated sugar if you prefer that.
- Water: We prefer to use a combination of hot and cold water in order to ensure that the honey and sugar are fully dissolved before drinking.
- Salt
- Lime slices and/or mint leaves: for garnish!
where to store limes before using
Keep your limes in the crisper section of your fridge in an unsealed plastic bag. The rinds harden and cause limes dry out when kept at room temperature.
Kitchen Supplies for Limeade
You’ll only need a few things from your kitchen to make this limeade recipe. Time to grab:
- 2-quart serving pitcher
- Sharp knife and cutting board
- Juicer (or fork, tongs or reamer
How to Juice Limes
By Hand: Roll and press down on your limes on your counter to soften them up. Cut the limes lengthwise, in four places, on each of the four sides of the stem, giving you four oval pieces of lime and leaving a long rectangular piece in the center.
Squeeze the smaller oval pieces over a small bowl. Hold the ends of the bigger, rectangular piece and twist over the bowl until it is wrung out.
With a Juicer or Tongs: You can also use a reamer or juicer to juice the limes, or put half of the lime between the ends of tongs and squeeze the ends until juice is extracted. Dig and twist into the flesh of the lime with a fork to break up the sections, and squeeze again.
How to Make Fresh Limeade
This fresh limeade recipe can be whipped up in 5 simple steps! We’ll walk you through it:
Heat Water
Using a microwave or over the stove top, heat 2 cups water until near boiling.
Add Honey & Brown Sugar
Add hot water to a serving pitcher along with honey and brown sugar. Mix until honey and sugar have dissolved into the hot water.
Lime Juice Time
Once dissolved, stir in the remaining 2 ½ cups cold water, ice cubes, lime juice, and salt until completely combined. Your limeade is almost complete!
Sweeten to Taste
Taste and see if your limeade needs additional sweetener. If so, add more honey (or sugar) to taste and stir to dissolve. This is personal preference, so feel free to sweeten to your liking.
Garnish & Enjoy!
Garnish with lime slices and fresh mint on each glass, and ENJOY!
Make it a Cocktail
This limeade recipe is a great recipe to spike! Simply add 1.5 oz. of vodka to each serving of limeade, or 9 oz. of vodka for the entire pitcher.
Make it a Large Batch
This limeade is a great recipe to double or triple to serve a crowd! Simply use the multiplier in the recipe card, and use the same instructions. Serve in a large beverage dispenser with mason jar glasses for the perfect backyard BBQ beverage.
How to Store Limeade
This limeade will keep for about 5 days in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months. You can also turn these into popsicles by pouring the mixture in to popsicle molds. How fun!
Pro tip: scoop out some of the ice cubes before storing to prevent the flavors from becoming watered down.
Limeade Recipe
Ingredients
- 4.5 cups water, divided (2 cups hot, 2.5 cups cold)
- ¼ cup honey, or more to taste
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, or more to taste
- 1 cup ice cubes
- ¾ cup lime juice, ~ 6-8 juicy limes
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- Optional garnishes: Lime slices and/or fresh mint
Instructions
- Using a microwave or over the stove top, heat 2 cups water until near boiling.
- Add hot water to a 2-quart serving pitcher along with honey and brown sugar. Mix until honey and sugar have dissolved.
- Once dissolved, stir in the remaining 2 ½ cups cold water, ice cubes, lime juice, and salt until completely combined.
- Taste and see if limeade needs more sweetener. If so, add more honey (or sugar) to taste and stir to dissolve.
- Garnish with lime slices and fresh mint on each glass, optional.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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