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    Decorated Treats » Recipes » Beverage Recipes

    Frozen Lemonade Concentrate (A Homemade Recipe)

    Published: Jul 4, 2021 · Modified: Aug 25, 2023 by Priya Maha

    Jump to Recipe

    If you love lemonade, you will definitely love this frozen lemonade concentrate recipe. It is very easy to make and you get to enjoy lemonade whenever you want, all year round.

    Wrapped frozen lemonade concentrate on a tray.
    Frozen Lemonade Concentrate - Perfect Summer Drink
    Jump to:
    • ❤️Why you will love this recipe
    • 📋Ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳How to Make
    • 🍽️How to Use
    • 🍽️Storage
    • 💡Expert Tips
    • 💭FAQs
    • ❤️More Recipes You Will Love
    • 📖Recipe

    In this post, I am sharing with you my recipe for making lemonade concentrate in 2 versions - the chilled liquid version and the frozen version.

    Both are made using the same recipe, however, the liquid lemonade concentrate is kept chilled in the fridge and does not last as long as the frozen version. It is, however, easier to use because you don't have to wait for the concentrate to melt first, unlike frozen lemonade concentrate. However, in terms of shelf life, the frozen lemonade concentrate tends to last much longer, just like most other frozen food.

    ❤️Why you will love this recipe

    • This is a homemade, made from scratch recipe.
    • It requires only 3 simple ingredients - lemons, sugar and water.
    • The recipe is very quick and easy to make. The concentrate makes a great summer treat when mixed with chilled water or even sparkling water.
    • It lasts long and makes it very convenient for you to have a glass of lemonade anytime you feel like it, including for special occasions.
    • It is filled with all-natural goodness of freshly squeezed lemon juice (with loads of vitamin C). There are no artificial flavoring or preservatives.
    • You get to totally adjust the taste. If you prefer your lemonade with a stronger tart taste, you increase the amount of lemon juice in the concentrate, but if you prefer lemonade that is more on the sweet side, you can increase the sugar concentration accordingly.
    • And it is very easy to use too. All you need do is pop the frozen lemonade concentrate into a glass or pitcher, add some ice and water to it and you have your favorite homemade lemonade drink in no time at all. No need to go through the hassle of buying, cutting, and squeezing lemon juice, and making fresh sugar syrup every time you want to enjoy a glass of homemade lemonade. And there is no cleaning up each time too.
    • It is a great way to use up lemons when you have them in abundance.

    Like this recipe? Here are my other posts you might want to check out:

    • Lemonade Popsicles
    • Lemonade Sorbet
    • Homemade Lemonade Recipe
    • Brown Sugar Lemonade - Flavorful and Refreshing
    • Pretty in Pink Blueberry Lemonade
    • Candied Lemon Peel - How to Make
    • Lychee Lemonade - Easy Lemon Lychee Iced Drink

    📋Ingredients

    A bowl of lemons, a pitcher of water and a bowl of sugar against a marble background.
    Ingredients to make homemade lemonade concentrate
    • Lemons - use fresh fruits. And strain the juice to remove seeds before using.
    • Sugar - white sugar works best for this recipe. You can use both granulated or coarse sugar. Brown sugar can be used but do note that it will change the color your concentrate to a light amber or brown (like this brown sugar lemonade).
    • Water - use filtered water.
    • Lemon zest (rind) - This is optional but it does add to the depth in flavor. You can leave the rind out if you like. Or, you can even drop one or two thin lemon slices into the syrup as it boils, in the same way, I did in my homemade golden syrup recipe. This will also help with the additional flavor.

    *Refer to the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and exact quantities. For best results, use a digital kitchen scale where applicable*

    👩‍🍳How to Make

    Preparing the lemon juice and rind

    • Start by washing your lemons clean. For this recipe, you would need about 6 medium-sized fruits.
    • Dab them dry. Grate the rind of 1 fruit. You only need the rind of one lemon for this recipe, however, you can always grate the rind of all the lemons and store it in the freezer for your other baking or cooking needs.
    • Juice the fruits. You can do this with a citrus juicer or a citrus press. After the 4th fruit, strain the juice and measure it. That way, you can stop juicing once you have the amount required. Cover and keep the juice in the refrigerator while you make the sugar syrup.

    Making the syrup

    A poster of 4 images show how to melt sugar in water to make simple syrup.
    1. Next, prepare the sugar syrup. In medium-sized pan, add the sugar and water.
    2. Turn on the heat to medium-low and add the grated rind.
    3. Cook the syrup until the sugar is all melted. This should take about 5 minutes. Stir to expedite the process.
    4. Turn off the heat and let the syrup cool down to room temperature.

    Mixing the concentrate

    A poster of 4 images showing how to strain sugar syrup and lemon juice into a pot to make lemonade concentrate.
    1. Strain the sugar syrup (to remove the lemon rind) into a large pot or jar with a spout (for easy pouring into a bottle later).
    2. Add the strained lemon juice.
    3. Mix well.
    4. If you wish to make the liquid version of the concentrate, pour the concentrate into clean and dry bottles or mason jars. Put on the lid and refrigerate until ready to use. The concentrate is best used within 2 weeks.

    Freezing the concentrate

    To make the frozen version of the concentrate, pour it into smaller containers. For easy use, it is best to measure the concentrate into individual molds (like ice cube trays) or ziploc bags and label the quantity accordingly. Freeze the concentrate until completely set. Always keep the frozen concentrate in covered airtight container or sealed ziploc bags.

    Here's how you can do it:

    A poster of 4 images showing how to pour lemonade concentrate into paper cups and wrap them in cling wrap after freezing.
    1. Line your muffin cups with cling wrap, leaving enough excess on the sides to wrap the frozen concentrate later (step 4 below).
    2. Pour the measured lemonade concentrate into each cup.
    3. Freeze the concentrate until it hardens completely (overnight is best). Remove the frozen concentrate from the muffin cups along with the cling wrap.
    4. Wrap the frozen cubes completely with the cling wrap. Place the wrapped cubes a zip lock back or covered container and return to the freezer until ready to use.

    🍽️How to Use

    To use the concentrate, mix one part of it with 3 parts of chilled water, soda water, club soda, sparkling water or even unsweetened iced tea (to make iced lemon tea). If you wish to add ice cubes, reduce the water and replace it with ice cubes. This will ensure your lemonade does not get too diluted when ice is added.

    Making lemonade with liquid concentrate

    • Lemonade drink in a pitcher (2000ml): Add 500ml of lemonade concentrate into the pitcher. Top with 1500ml of chilled water. Mix and serve. Reduce the water accordingly if you wish to add ice cubes.
    • Lemonade drink in a single serving (350ml): Add 75ml of lemonade concentrate into the glass. Top it with 225ml chilled water. Stir to mix and serve. Reduce the water if you wish to add ice cubes.
    • In baked goods or other treats: As specified in the recipe

    Making lemonade with frozen concentrate

    If you freeze your lemonade concentrate in larger blocks (for eg 500ml), it is best to let the concentrate thaw first before mixing it with water. If you freeze the concentrate in smaller molds, the concentrate will not take too long to melt and therefore, need not be thawed first before using.

    • Lemonade drink in a pitcher (2000ml): Use the same measurement as above. For easy use, freeze the concentrate in 500ml volume ziplock bags or molds.
    • Lemonade drink in a single serving (350ml): Use the same measurement as the liquid concentrate above. For easy use, freeze the concentrate in 75ml capacity molds. To make the lemonade, simply drop one cube of the frozen concentrate into your glass and top it with water. Let it melt completely before adding any ice and serving.
    • In baked goods or other treats: Thaw the concentrate first and use as specified in the recipe.
    Lemonade concentrate in a bottle.
    Frozen Lemonade Concentrate - Homemade Version of Lemon Concentrate

    🍽️Storage

    • In its liquid form, pour the prepared concentrate into a clean and dry bottle that has a lid. Keep it refrigerated all the time, with the lid on. It is best consumed within 2 weeks.
    • In its frozen form, this concentrate is best kept in a sealed zip lock bag or a container with lid. Leaving it open in the freezer can dry it out. This frozen lemonade concentrate can last for a good 3 to 4 months.

    💡Expert Tips

    • You can use any type of lemons for this recipe. For best results and effective juicing, roll the lemons with your palm on your kitchen countertop before cutting and juicing. This helps with easier juicing of the fruits. You can use a citrus pressor or a citrus juicer. Both are better than trying to squeeze out the juice with your bare hands unless you have the strength to do that for about 5 to 6 lemons.
    • Also, remember to grate the lemon for rind before you cut and squeeze them. It is a lot easier to grate the rind from a full, plump fruit than one that has been squeezed out.
    • When measuring the lemon juice, do it after straining it. When juicing the fruits, you will end up with some of the seeds and pulp in it. These are best removed by straining the juice for a smooth lemonade concentrate.
    Frozen lemonade concentrate wrapped in cling wrap.
    Frozen Lemonade Concentrate - Quick and Perfect Treat for Hot Summer Days

    💭FAQs

    What is lemonade concentrate?

    Lemonade concentrate is simply lemonade in concentrated form. It is made using lemon juice, sugar and water similar to lemonade, however, the water used is much lesser.

    The concentrate provides a convenient way to enjoy lemonade because all you need to use when you want to have a glass of lemonade is pour some of the concentrate into your glass and mix it with water.

    You can make lemonade concentrate in liquid as well as frozen form. Both use the same recipe, however, the frozen one tends to last longer.

    Can I add the lemon juice into hot syrup?

    The sugar syrup is ready as soon as the sugar is all melted. However, the hot syrup stage is not the best point to add the juice. This is is simply to preserve the nutritional benefits of the lemon which is better preserved when there is no heat involved.
    Hence, I would recommend that you let the syrup cool down to room temperature before adding the juice in.

    ❤️More Recipes You Will Love

    • 3 lemon popsicles on a tray of ice cubes and slices of lemons
      Lemonade Popsicles
    • Lemonade sorbet in a dessert cup, with lemon on the side
      Lemonade Sorbet (How to Make)
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      Candied Lemon Slices (How to Make)
    • A glass bowl of lemon curd.
      How to Make Lemon Curd (A Homemade Recipe)

    Do you like this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐rating in the recipe card below and consider a review further down this page. I would love to hear from you. Thank you!

    📖Recipe

    Frozen lemonade concentrate wrapped in cling wrap.

    Frozen Lemonade Concentrate

    This homemade frozen lemonade concentrate not only makes making lemonade a breeze, it can also be used for baked treats with all the same convenience!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Freezing Time: 8 hours hours
    Total Time: 8 hours hours 35 minutes minutes
    Yield: 1 liter
    Author: Priya Maha
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Metric - US Customary

    For best results, use the metrics measurements. US customary measurements have not been tested and are only meant for guide.

    Ingredients

    • 500 ml lemon juice (approximately 6 lemons)
    • 440 g sugar
    • 250 ml water
    • 1 teaspoon lemon rind (grated)
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Wash and pat the lemons dry.
    • Grate the rind of one lemon. Set aside.
    • Roll the lemons on the kitchen countertop with the palms of your hand to soften the skin and loosen the pulp inside. Cut each fruit in half and squeeze the juice.
    • Strain and measure the juice. Cover and keep refrigerated.
    • In a medium-sized pot, add the sugar and water. Turn on the heat to medium-low.
    • Add the grated lemon rind and stir to dissolve the sugar.
    • Once the sugar is all dissolved, turn off the heat and let the sugar syrup cool down to room temperature.
    • Strain to remove the lemon rind.
    • Mix the strained lemon juice into the sugar syrup until well combined.
    • For liquid lemonade concentrate, pour the concentrate into a clean and dry bottle. Keep the lid on and keep it refrigerated.
    • For frozen lemonade concentrate, pour it into smaller molds or containers. Freeze until completely set. Remove the frozen concentrate blocks from the molds/containers and keep them frozen in a sealed zip lock bag or a container with a cover.

    Notes

    • You can use any type of lemons for this recipe. For effective juicing, roll the lemons with your palm on your kitchen countertop before cutting and juicing. This helps with easier juicing of the fruits. You can use a citrus pressor or a citrus juicer. Both are better than trying to squeeze out the juice with your bare hands unless you have the strength to do that for about 5 to 6 lemons.
    • Also, remember to grate the lemon for rind before you cut and squeeze them. It is a lot easier to grate the rind from a full, plump fruit than one that has been squeezed out.
    • When measuring the lemon juice, do it after straining it. When juicing the fruits, you will end up with some of the seeds and pulp in it. These are best removed by straining the juice for a smooth lemonade concentrate.
     

    How to Use the Frozen Lemonade Concentrate to Make Lemonade Drink

    To use the lemonade concentrate, mix it with water (or soda water, club soda or sparkling water) at a 1:3 ratio (1 part of the frozen concentrate and 3 parts chilled water). Reduce the water slightly if you wish to add ice cubes to avoid the lemonade from becoming diluted.
     
    Using the liquid lemonade concentrate:
    • To make lemonade in a 2 liters pitcher: Add 500ml of lemonade concentrate into the pitcher. Top with 1500ml of chilled water. Mix and serve. Reduce the water if you wish to add ice cubes.
    • To make lemonade drink in a single serving of 350ml: Add 75ml of lemonade concentrate into the glass. Top it with 225ml chilled water. Stir to mix and serve. Reduce the water if you wish to add ice cubes.
    • In baked goods or other treats: As specified in the recipe
     
    Using the frozen lemonade concentrate:
    If you freeze your lemonade concentrate in large blocks (for eg 500ml), it is best to let the concentrate melt first before mixing it with water. If you freeze the concentrate in smaller molds, the concentrate will not take too long to melt and therefore, need not be melted first before using.
    • To make lemonade drink in a 2000ml pitcher: Use the same measurement as above. For easy use, freeze the concentrate in 500ml volume ziploc bags or molds and label accordingly. Let the concentrate melt/thaw first before mixing the lemonade drink.
    • To make lemonade drink in a single serving of 350ml: Use the same measurement as the liquid concentrate above. For easy use, freeze the concentrate in 75ml capacity molds. To make the lemonade, simply drop one cube of the frozen concentrate into your glass and top it with water. Let it melt completely before adding any ice and serving.
    • In baked goods or other treats: Thaw the concentrate first and use as specified in the recipe

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1813.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 474.7g | Protein: 1.8g | Fat: 1.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 527mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 451.8g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 196.1mg | Calcium: 44.6mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @decorated_treats or tag #decoratedtreats!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni

      September 01, 2021 at 2:53 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for this! So easy to make!

      Reply
    2. Anna

      August 30, 2021 at 11:07 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great idea and clever recipe! Perfect drink to cool down with anytime!

      Reply
    3. Maren

      August 30, 2021 at 9:48 pm

      5 stars
      A perfect treat to make to cool off! I love making this again and again!

      Reply
    4. Nicola

      August 17, 2021 at 9:24 am

      5 stars
      My husband and I are blown away by this recipe. Easy to make and tastes amazing, especially with cold soda water. I don't normally like shop bought cordials but this is so yummy.

      Reply
    5 from 10 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Frozen lemonade concentrate wrapped in cling wrap.

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