Apple Lemonade

This apple lemonade only requires apple juice, fresh lemon juice and maple syrup, making it naturally vegan and paleo. It’s surprisingly refreshing and perfect for hot days.

Here’s just a very simple but tasty recipe for when you have too many lemons sitting around. I rarely have a ton of lemons that I urgently need to use up. Usually just one or two.

And this is what I always do with them! For 2 cups of apple juice, you only need 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice.

Do I have to use fresh lemon juice?

Yes, definitely! There’s no comparison in flavor between bottled and fresh lemon juice. I sometimes try to get away with using bottled for other recipes, but I usually regret it.

You can always taste a difference.

How sweet is it?

I think it’s a normal sweetness. I wrote 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of lemon juice in the recipe, but I always use 1/4 cup.

I say up to 1/3 cup in case you like things a bit on the tart side. Then you can start off with 1/4 cup and add the remaining 4 teaspoons, if you want.

Maple syrup vs. honey

Maple syrup works really well in drinks. I use it as a sweetener in most of my cocktails, including this Apple Margarita and these Apple Juice Cocktails.

We all preferred this apple lemonade with maple syrup. We thought that the honey flavor was overwhelming. You couldn’t taste the lemon or the apple, really.

I used a standard honey and not a special extra-flavorful type, so the type of honey wasn’t the issue. I also only used 3 tablespoons of honey instead of 4 tablespoons, like you do with maple syrup, and it was still too honey-flavored.

If you want your drink honey-flavored, you can certainly use it. And perhaps you should check out my honey lemonade. But for this recipe, I wanted to taste apples + lemon!

Using maple syrup was also easier because I didn’t have to spend any time dissolving it. If your honey is totally runny, then that’s not an issue.

If it’s crystallized a bit and it’s not raw honey, you can just microwave it at half power until liquified. If you want to use crystallized raw honey that you want to stay raw, you need to dissolve it in the lemon juice before adding the apple juice.

Don’t want any sweetener? Try this Lemon Lime Water! It’s perfect for hot days when you need something refreshing ASAP. :)

Can I use regular sugar?

Yes, you can use granulated sugar. But then you’d probably need to dissolve it before adding it to the full amount of liquid. To do that, I’d mix together just a bit of apple juice and the sugar (using the same amount), on the stovetop at low heat.

Stir until dissolved, let cool, and then pour that and the remaining ingredients into the pitcher.

I don’t recommend using coconut flavor was the flavor would overpower the apple and lemon.

Want something free of added sweetener? Check out this amazing Watermelon Juice!

Can I use apple cider?

If you’re talking about the non-alcoholic kind, then sure!

Other summer drinks for kids

• Banana Orange Smoothie
• Honey-sweetened Peach Lemonade
• Apple Pie Smoothie
• Blueberry Avocado Smoothie

I hope you’ll enjoy this apple lemonade! If you try it out, please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear how it came out. :) Thanks!

Apple Lemonade

Author Erin Dooner

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 3.3

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Share Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

This apple lemonade is made with just apple juice, lemon juice, and maple syrup. It's naturally vegan and paleo. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for warm days.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 cups (473 ml) 100% apple juice
• ▢ 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup
• ▢ 1/4 to 1/3 cup (60 to 80 ml) lemon juice freshly squeezed

Instructions

• Stir the apple juice, maple syrup and 1/4 cup (80 ml) of lemon juice in a pitcher. Taste and add the remaining 4 teaspoons of lemon juice, if desired.
• Serve. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.

Notes

• The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator. Values are based on a 3/4-cup (177 ml) serving size.

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 226mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 0.2mgNet Carbs: 35

Tried this recipe?Tag me today! Mention @texanerin or tag #texanerin! Thanks. 🖤