Ginger lemonade is zingy with a spicy kick! This summertime drink is a great way to use fresh ginger root.
Got a load of ginger on hand? Let’s make Ginger Lemonade! Adding fresh ginger root to this popular beverage makes it even more irresistible: the spicy ginger is just the right pair with the acidic pop of the lemon! This ingredient gives it a complexity that makes it taste almost like a cocktail. We’re obsessed with homemade lemonade flavors (strawberry, cucumber, mint), and this one has jumped to the top of our list. Here’s how to make it!
Ingredients for ginger lemonade
Ginger lemonade is simple to whip up using a blender. Blend fresh ginger root with sugar, then mix it with lemon juice to form lemonade! You don’t even need to peel the ginger, which is a big plus if you’re used to working with this knobby ingredient. Here are the ingredients you’ll need, outside of water:
- Ginger root
- Lemons
- Sugar
Note on the level of ginger
This ginger lemonade can be customized based on how strong you’d like the ginger to be. Personally, we love quite a spicy kick in this type of drink: but we know not everyone does (especially if you’re serving kids!). Here’s what to use as a guide:
- Use ¾ cup ginger (sliced) for a spicy ginger finish. You definitely get a little throat burn with this one: which is what we were looking for! It was a little too spicy for our 5 year old son.
- Use ½ cup ginger (sliced) for a milder flavor. The ginger is not quite as pronounced and there’s less of a spicy burn.
How to make ginger lemonade (basic steps)
The kick of the spicy fresh ginger in this lemonade is instantly memorable! It’s quick and easy to whip up ginger lemonade at home: the only part that takes some time is juicing the lemons! Here are a few tips to how to put together this beverage (or jump to the recipe below for the ingredient quantities):
- Juice the lemons. Our recommendation for quickly juicing lemons? A press juicer! It gets out the most juice and saves your fingers from getting tired of squeezing. The next best choice? A handheld citrus juicer.
- Blend the ginger, sugar and boiling. Give it a whiz in the blender: you’ll want it to be fully combined into a uniform liquid.
- Strain it with a fine mesh strainer! This step is key! It removes the ginger peels, making for a smooth lemonade (otherwise sediment will float to the top).
- Mix the pitcher. Mix the ginger syrup with lemon juice and water in a pitcher. That’s it!
Variations on this recipe
This ginger lemonade is delicious as is: but there are a few ways to vary it to make it even more fun! Here are a few ideas:
- Sparkling lemonade: Replace 4 cups cold water with soda water for a sparkling variation.
- Spiked lemonade: Spike it by the glass! Add ¼ cup vodka or 3 tablespoons gin to 1 cup ginger lemonade.
- Arnold Palmer: Make a Ginger Arnold Palmer by mixing 6 tablespoons lemonade with 1 cup iced tea.
More lemonade flavors? Try Cucumber Lemonade, Mint Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade or Watermelon Lemonade.
More ginger recipes
Fresh ginger root is a versatile ingredient you can use for soups, curries, cocktails, and more! Here are a few great ginger recipes:
- Try easy and restorative Ginger Tea
- This Carrot Ginger Soup is creamy and delightful
- Opt for salad dressings with Ginger Dijon Dressing, Sesame Ginger Dressing or Carrot Ginger Dressing
- Try a Ginger Martini with ginger simple syrup
This ginger lemonade recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
PrintGinger Lemonade
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 drinks 1x
Description
Ginger lemonade is zingy with a spicy kick! This summertime drink is a great way to use fresh ginger root.
Ingredients
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup fresh ginger root* (3 to 4 ounces)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
- ½ cup boiling water
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (4 large lemons)*
- 4 cups cold water
Instructions
- Wash the ginger, leaving it unpeeled. Slice it into rounds. Add the ginger to a blender with ½ cup of the sugar and the boiling water. Blend until it’s fully smooth, about 1 minute. Pass the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher.
- To the pitcher, add the lemon juice, the cold water, and the remaining ¼ cup sugar. Stir to combine.
- Add 2 handfuls of ice to the pitcher and serve.
Notes
*¾ cup makes a very spicy, forward ginger flavor. Use less if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Category: Drink
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Lemonade
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: Ginger lemonade
Let us know if you have any questions!
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