Chick-Fil-A lemonade is the epitome of summer thirst-quenchers. Don’t feel like you need to travel all the way from home just to get your fill, though. You can always count on this easy copycat recipe. If you’ve ever been to Chick-Fil-A, you know their lemonade is one of, if not the best. It has the perfect balance of flavors – just the right amount of sweetness and tartness. Since they make use of fresh lemon juice, their lemonade is outrageously refreshing! It’s famous for a reason. If you have a hankering for this bright and sunny refreshment, I have good news. You can make a close replica at home. Just follow this easy recipe.
Chick-Fil-A Lemonade Recipe
Here’s the secret: there is no secret. What makes the Chick-Fil-A lemonade a cut above the rest is its sheer freshness. Unlike most restaurants, they use fresh lemon juice instead of concentrate. That’s why they can afford to charge a lot for their lemonade. While it’s delicious indeed, it’s also easy to replicate at home. There’s no special ingredient or formula. In fact, their recipe only calls for three basic ingredients! Hosting a summer BBQ or need a refreshment to beat the summer heat? If you happen to have a ton of lemons lying around, You know what to do! When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
How does Chick-Fil-A Make Lemonade?
With a simple blend of freshly squeezed lemons, sugar, and water, you’ll have your very own Chick-Fil-A lemonade! The best part? Their gallon is priced at $10, while this copycat will cost you much less. Start by squeezing the lemons. Use freshly squeezed lemons! I cannot state this enough. If you have a juicer, then great. If not, you can do it by hand. You’ll need approximately 8 lemons to make 6 servings, so it’ll be a bit of work. It’s worth it, though. Once your lemon juice is ready, pour it into a pitcher and add the sugar. Stir them well until the sugar dissolves into the juice. Then, pour the water and stir. I like using cold water so I can serve the lemonade right away. If you have time, pop it in the fridge an hour before serving. Or, just put ice cubes in the glasses. That’s all there is to it! Easy, huh?
Ingredients
Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed is best! Also, try to get Sunkist lemons if you can. It’s the variety that Chick-Fil-A uses. They’re juicier than most kinds and have a nice floral aroma to them. I also like Meyer lemons because they’re sweeter than other varieties and yield more juice. Granulated Sugar – To counteract the acidity of the lemon juice. Chick-Fil-A uses cane sugar in their recipe, but granulated sugar is more widely available, so we’re sticking to that. Besides, the difference in flavor isn’t that significant, anyway. Other sweeteners like honey and Stevia will work, too. Water – Use distilled or filtered water for best results.
How to Juice Lemons
For this recipe, you’ll use 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice, which will require about 7 to 8 large lemons. Unless you plan on making lemonade every day, you won’t need to buy a juicer for this recipe. A budget-friendly handheld citrus press will do. If you don’t have one, follow these tips to manually squeeze out as much juice as you can.
Pop the lemons in the microwave. About 30 seconds will do. Then, roll them on the counter with your palm.Slice the lemons in half lengthwise for easier grip, and squeeze. Not too hard, though, because you won’t want the bitter peels and the white pith in your lemonade. Press the lemons with the bent edge of a fork to get the remaining juices out.Strain the juice to get rid of the seeds.
Tips for the Best Lemonade
Lemonade calls for only three ingredients, and each of them plays a huge role in the drink’s overall flavor. That said, you’ll want to stick to high-quality ingredients. Bottled lemon juice just isn’t the same.Speaking of which, here’s how to test for high-quality lemons:Check visually – The larger the lemons, the more juices they’ll yield. Also, the thinner the skin, the better. They’ll be easier to peel that way, and will yield more juice.Squeeze them – They should be the right amount of tender – not too firm, nor too squishy. Rinse the lemons well with warm water, especially if you’re using them for garnish.Good ratio is key. The amount of sugar, water, and lemon you put in the drink decide how tasty your lemonade is. Lemon juice is high in citric acid, so you’ll need a lot of water and sugar to balance things out. Don’t worry, I already did the trial-and-error so you won’t have to.Don’t use tap water. Again, you’ll want only good-quality ingredients, here, and tap water can be very impure. Stick to filtered or distilled water for this recipe.Stick a thin slice of lemon onto the rim of the glasses for a pretty presentation.Keep your lemonade refrigerated, so it stays cold even without ice. If you have to, add ice to the serving glasses, not the pitcher. This way, you won’t water down your lemonade.Want pink lemonade? Just blend fresh strawberries or raspberries into the mix.Make sugar-free lemonade for a guilt-free refreshment. Instead of granulated sugar, sweeten it with honey, stevia, or monk fruit instead.Don’t store lemonade for days. Chick-Fil-A only serves fresh lemonade for 24 hours after making it. Lemonade will start to develop a bitter flavor after a while.
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