Homemade Orangeade – Family Fresh Meals

When life gives you oranges…

Everyone knows how refreshing a tall, cold glass of lemonade is on a hot day. Sweet, tart, and cool all at the same time, it’s the quintessential summer drink.

But lemons aren’t the only citrus fruit that makes a great summer refresher. A porch swing and a cool breeze go just as well with lime, grapefruit, or even orange. And since an orange has more juice in it than a lemon, it doesn’t take nearly as many of them to make a pitcher of Homemade Orangeade. That means less time squeezing and more time sipping.

The only problem with orangeade is that it can be a little on the mild side. Oranges don’t have as strong a flavor as lemons, so a diluted, sweetened orange juice can be a bit bland. To fix that, I add just a bit of lemon juice to my orangeade along with the orange juice. And I sweeten it with honey, as well as simple syrup, to give the flavor an extra touch of fragrance and complexity.

With the flavors of orange, lemon, and honey in one ice-cold glass, this Homemade Orangeade is all set to become your new favorite summer drink.

Recipe Tips:

• If you don’t like your orangeade quite as sweet, omit the honey. If you want it sweeter, add an extra ½ cup of sugar into the simple syrup.
• If you don’t like pulp, the juice can be strained.
• For a more refreshing taste, mix the mint into the pitcher of juice.

FAQs:

How should I store the Orangeade?

• Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Can I add more water?

• More water can be added, but the more that is added the more diluted the flavor will be.

What are substitutions that I can make?

• Sparkling water can be used in place of the 2 cups of water.

Homemade Orangeade

1. In a large pot over medium heat, create a simple syrup by combining the sugar with 1 cup of water. Cook while stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.
2. Add the orange juice, lemon juice, and honey to the syrup; stir until well mixed.
3. Add the remaining 2 cups of water and stir. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate until chilled. Serve garnished with fresh mint and orange slices, if desired.

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