The Best Easy Healthy Sugar-Free Lemonade
This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
This healthy sugar-free lemonade recipe is super simple to make, uses just a few wholesome ingredients, and is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. It helps you stay hydrated and healthy on hot summer days, and all throughout the year!
Lemonade is known by many as the perfect summertime drink, but for me, it’s my all year round favorite drink.
This healthy lemonade is of course great to have on a hot summer day, but it’s also a great low calorie way to stay hydrated and also to stave off sweet cravings without all the added sugar. It’s also loaded with nutrition from vitamin C to minerals to phytonutrients.
Why This Is the Best Healthy Lemonade. Period.
In my opinion, I think this is the best healthy lemonade out there, and possibly the best lemonade period. Here’s why.
- It’s the easiest.
- It’s super flexible (as a most of my recipes) to help you choose whatever ingredients you would like to use for your diet.
- It uses basic ingredients that many people will already have in their pantry. No need to shop for exotic sweeteners.
- It’s frugal. While you can choose to use more expensive sweeteners, there’s no need.
- It’s the perfect balance of sweet and sour.
- It has healthy whole food ingredients: no white sugar and no icky additives.
- Finally, that added extra something: a dash of salt. It makes all the difference.
Ingredients
Here’s a short list of ingredients you’ll need. For the full details, see the recipe card below.
- water
- bottled or fresh lemon juice
- sweetener of choice (I prefer pure stevia extract)
- salt
Directions
Here are the basic directions. For the full directions, scroll down to the recipe card below.
- 1. Squeeze the lemons (if using fresh lemons).
- 2. Add lemon juice to the pitcher. Add water.
- 3. Add sweetener. Stir to combine.
- 4. Add ice to the pitcher, if desired.
- 5. Garnish, if desired.
Why Make Your Own Sugar-free Lemonade
Clean Ingredients
What I don’t love about regular lemonade is how much sugar it has in it. And that’s not to mention the not-so-savory ingredients in packaged lemonade drinks and powders like the ever-popular Country Time Lemonade. Get a load of this list:
high fructose corn syrup, modified cornstarch, glycerol ester of rosin, sodium benzoate, potassium sobate, calcium disodium EDTA, and yellow #5.
No thanks.
There’s been mercury detected in high-fructose corn syrup due to the means of processing, and sugar is now being linked to all sorts of health issues.
Make this instead and be in total control of the ingredients.
Save Money
Take a look at your grocery bill and see how much you are spending on drinks: sodas, sweet drinks, and “healthy waters”?
By making your own drinks like this lemonade, you can treat your whole family to a wonderful summery drink without breaking the bank. This is one of the best tips I know of for saving on your grocery bill, but this list of tips for healthy grocery shopping on a budget has a lot more.
Consume Fewer Calories
I focus on nutrition rather than calories, but sodas and juices are pretty much full of empty, sugar-laden calories that have been implicated as part of the cause of our obesity epidemic. Some brands of lemonade in the grocery store have 29 grams of sugar per serving; that’s a lot!
If you’re hoping to control your weight, it’s a good idea to restrict these sugar-laden drinks. Plus, I’d rather splurge on a healthy dessert than drink a soda. To quote my aunt, “I’d rather eat my calories than drink them.”
How to Store
If you’d like to have this stevia lemonade in the fridge at the ready, just mix the ingredients together, adding the ice when ready to serve. It should be kept in the fridge for about 3-5 days.
Recipe Notes, Tips, and Substitutions
Lemon Juice
Use more or less lemon juice as you’d like. 1/8 cup lemon juice is the equivalent of the juice from 1 lemon so use that approximation if using fresh lemons.
Sweeteners
You can use any sweetener you like for this lemonade. Traditional lemonade is usually made with regular sugar, but I love using pure stevia extract because it’s so easy, inexpensive, dissolves easily, is readily available, and doesn’t affect blood sugar.
A liquid sweetener (like liquid stevia or this sugar-free simple syrup) is the next best option since it dissolves easily.
If you’re not eating low-carb or keto, honey and maple syrup are great options. For those, you’ll need one-third to one-half less. This post on baking with honey has more information.
Other low-carb sweeteners can be used to make a keto lemonade, but if they’re granulated, powdering the sweeteners first is key so they dissolve well.
FAQs
How many tablespoons of lemon juice is in one lemon?
A typical lemon has 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. You can either use that approximation when making this recipe (or measuring lemon juice for any recipe that uses it). I recommend squeezing the lemon juice into a bowl, and then using a measuring spoon from there.
Is sugar-free lemonade good for you?
That depends on what you think of any given sugar substitute used in processed sugar-free lemonade and what your definition of sugar-free is.
I don’t like the artificial sweeteners used in most store-bought sugar-free lemonades like Nutrasweet (aspartame), Splenda (sucralose with additives), and acesulfame potassium. However, I like and use a monk fruit sweetener, allulose, xylitol, but mostly stevia extract.
Can you use ReaLemon product for making sugar-free lemonade?
You can, but I don’t recommend it. That so-called “lemon juice” like “ReaLemon®” and similar knockoffs are loaded with stuff including preservatives that aren’t good for you.
Can you use Meyer lemons to make this lemonade?
Yes, just keep in mind that those cute little lemons are sweeter and less acidic than traditional lemons, so your lemonade will be less sour, so you might need less sweetener.
How to Make a Single-Serving Glass
Below are the full instructions for making a pitcher of this low-carb lemonade. For those times when you just want one glass, here are the ingredients for that:
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sugar equivalent sweetener
More Healthy Lemon Recipes
For more healthy ways to enjoy the taste of lemon, try these:
- Easy Sugar-Free Strawberry Lemonade – the perfect easy strawberry lemonade mix alternative
- Whole Lemon Lemonade – another lemonade option, this one includes an extra nutritious boost from the peel and all.
- Lemon Smoothie – super refreshing. Literally like sunshine in a glass!
- Gluten-Free Lemon Tarts – delicious tartlets filled with Sugar-Free Lemon Curd
Homemade Sugar-Free Lemonade
Ingredients
- 8 cups water (64 ounces)
- 1 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed or bottled)
- 1/4 teaspoon pure stevia extract (or equivalent to 1 cup sugar (see notes)
- 1/16 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Pour water into pitcher.
- Add lemon juice and stevia or other sweetener.
- If using a granulated sweetener, dissolve it first by heating it with 1/2 cup water until fully dissolved. Then add to the remaining water.
- Stir, add ice cubes and garnish with fresh fruit or mint, as desired, and enjoy.
Notes
- Lemon Juice: Use more or less to taste. About 1/8 cup equals the juice of 1 lemon.
- Sweeteners: Use your preferred sweetener. I like pure stevia extract since it’s easy to use, dissolves well, and doesn’t affect blood sugar.
- Liquid sweeteners (like liquid stevia [store-bought or homemade] or sugar-free simple syrup) also work well.
- Honey or maple syrup can be used if not low-carb—use about 1/3 to 1/2 less. For granulated low-carb sweeteners, powder first so they dissolve smoothly.
- Ice Cube Alternatives: Frozen fruit or frozen cucumbers work great for this drink.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and preparation methods. Optional ingredients are not included. Net carbs are typically calculated by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols (such as erythritol) from total carbohydrates. This information should not be relied upon for medical or nutritional purposes.
I think I am gonna go with Norpro set from Amazon as these are stainless steel.
I like that too…the one nice thing about the plastic is that the tiny scoop will fit in the stevia bottle so you don’t need to keep washing it. I’d love to hear what you think after you use it for awhile!
Hey Adrienne
Just came across this set of spoons to measure Stevia and thought of sharing it with you. If you read the first review, it also gives you the measurement of each spoon related to their cute name.
https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-3080-Measuring-Spoons-Piece/dp/B0009X1P9S/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Hope it helps.
Sofia
I think those are great!
The little plastic scoops are really nice b/c they fit easily in the stevia container, but as I said, I’ve had 2 break over the course of about 3 years. Which do you think you will buy? Thanks, Sofia!
Made it finally with stevia( afetr bookmarking it for so long!!!!). The family enjoyed it a lot.
Thank you…
Sofia
You’re welcome! Thanks for sharing!
oh. I clicked the first one in the Ingredients, but now I understand my confusion. Since I didn’t get the spoon and my link said “powder” while Amazon doesn’t specify that, I thought you were using liquid and I got the wrong product.:):)
I am relieved that I have the same product that you are using.
Thanks for clarifying it. I will use the instructions for lemonade, but you also mentioned you found some place where I can get the scoop. Is it @ Amazon?
On side note, I appreciate every effort you make to answer our questions. I have a lot of respect for what you do and I wish you and your family happpiness and success.
Take Care.
You are so kind, Sofia. I found a few places. This one seems to be reputable since they provide a phone # and secure checkout. I think I am going to order quite a few. I’ve had two total, but both have broken. It’s been over a number of years, but still……
I just spoke with them and they seem like a reputable company. Hope it works out for you!!! 15 cc Scoop @ Bramble Berry.
ok,after convincing myself, I ordered NuNatural stevia through Vitacost, but couldn’t understand how to measure as the bottle doesn’t have any spoon.
After going back and forth for one week reading this post and others as well, I just realised your Amazon link is for LIQUID and Vitacost is extract powder!!!!
So, now I have this sittin on my counter:
https://www.vitacost.com/nunaturals-nustevia-pure-white-stevia-extract-powder
Should I return it or there is a way to use powdered extract…
Appreciate any help.
Sofia
Hi Sofia. I just checked the post and all of the links to NuNaturals were for solid…so I’m confused. Could you tell me which one you clicked on please?
I called NuNaturals this morning and they don’t have the scoops. Sigh. But I did find some you could buy. I had one from earlier when I bought KAL, though I am not sure how I ended up with 2….
In any case, you just have to use 1/32 of a tsp. So try a good-sized dash for a glass and see how it goes. For the lemonade, you can follow the instructions I gave and use a 1/4 tsp.
Let me know if I’ve misunderstood. Thanks!
Here is a Honey Ginger-Ale recipe I am having fun with. Got it from “Fresh Blends” recipe book by Blendtec. Hope you don’t have an aversion to Blendtec. I know I am enjoying some of the recipes you make in your Vitamix. (grin)! Here is the recipe:
1/3 cup ginger root, peeled and roughly chopped; 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice; 1/4 cup of honey; 1/4 cup agave nectar (synergy works here); and 1 Liter of Sparkling water, chilled. . . Here are directions: Add first 4 ingreients to jar in order listed and secure lid. Select “Whole Juice”. Pour blend into mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth and drain. Gather edges of cheesecloth and squeeze firmly to extract as much juice as possible. Pour 1/4 coup of blend into each glass and add sparkling water. Serve with ice cubles and fresh lemon slices if desired. . . that is the recipe. Here are my notes: I increased the ginger to closer to 1/2 cup (I like ginger); I used our Nut Bag to strain the concoction. The idea is to get the ginger tailings out. This is really delicious. I also works well with just cold water. . . First time I added the mix, I poured it directly into the Sparkling water – ohhhh my, it was fizz everywhere. Now I just add the waters to the mix.
This sounds great! No, I don’t have an official aversion to Blendtec – I tried one once hoping I’d love it as much as my Vitamix as it is more compact, but I couldn’t get good results with nut butters or sorbet. That’s all :).
Vern,
You can also carbonate the drink after mixing everything together. A complete carbonation setup can be purchased from Amazon for less than $200. It is much cheaper than a Sodastream in the long run. If you carbonate your stevia-sweetened lemonade, you’ll have a excellent substitute for soda pop. It’s fantastic for helping people to deal with soft drink addictions. Here’s an article showing you how easy it is:
(link deleted due to malware problems. See Popsci website for info.)
Don’t forget to add a pinch of un-refined sea salt for each serving of lemonade. It definitely kicks it up a notch or two.
I love carbonated drinks, but they do pull minerals out of your body so you really have to be careful not to overdo it!
Love this Andrienne! Mmmmm!
Thanks! I do too!
One more question on a completely different recipe. I noticed that you have commented a lot on the homemade rice milk recipe on the money saving mom site. It calls for 1 cup of cooked rice. Does that mean the equivalent of 1 cup uncooked rice, cooked, and then added to the recipe, or literally one cup of cooked rice. Sorry for being the stickler for details…
No problem :-). It means 1 cup cooked rice. Hope it works well!
I’m a little confused and find the stevia proportions a little contradictory. Could you be more specific?
Sure – let me know what your specific question is. Each scoop is 1/32 tsp so 8 scoops is 1/4 tsp. Make sure you are using stevia extract and not stevia with additives. :-).
Here is our recipe:
2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice( i use an electric juicer, and we juice 12-16 bags of lemons at a time, then freeze 2 cups of juice in a quart freezer bag). add 1 tblsp of liquid stevia(does not have the aftertaste) and water to make 1 gallon.
When we want lemonade….(2-3 gallons a week) we pull out a bag of frozen juice, add water and stevia….EASY
Great post, Adrienne! So good to see more ideas that can help to get kids (and adults!) away from sugary sodas, etc. This lemonade really works!
Vicky (comment above), this is more or less our recipe as well. It is so easy and inexpensive to make. I try to peel the lemons really thinly, in order to keep as much of the white pith as possible. The pith is very nutrient-rich. We sometimes add some limes to the mix as well for a change. Guilt-free refreshment!