Brown Sugar Lemonade
on Oct 24, 2024, Updated Jan 13, 2025
This Brown Sugar Lemonade is my current favorite drink. Try it at home using 3 simple ingredients.
If you like the earthy taste of brown sugar, then try this recipe as well – Brown Sugar Overnight Oats.
About Brown Sugar Lemonade
Brown Sugar Lemonade is a variation of the classic lemonade. Just replace white sugar with dark brown sugar and voila, you have a totally different tasting drink ready.
The use of brown sugar gives this lemonade a very earthy and deeper caramel-like flavor.
I created this recipe accidentally. I wanted to drink lemonade but I was out of white sugar. On ransacking my pantry, I found a jar full of dark brown sugar, which I had stored for my baking recipes. So I used it in place of white sugar.
It tasted quite good and I was super elated that I had invented a recipe and I must share it with you all because it tastes so yummy. But, when I started to write about it and do some more research, I found out that it was actually already a recipe that people have been making.
While this recipe is not exactly not my invention, it is still very delicious and refreshing and you must definitely try it out.
This lemonade with brown sugar is a perfect drink for hot, sunny days. You can also make it for your backyard parties, BBQs, brunches, or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Lemon Juice – I always use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. The store bought juice has a very artificial flavor which also translates to the lemonade.
You can replace lemon juice with lime juice. Remember that limes are tangier than lemons so you might want to use little less quantity.
Brown Sugar – Use organic dark brown sugar to make this recipe.
You will also need room temperature water and chilled water.
Serve the lemonade with lots of ice cubes.
How To Make Lemonade With Brown Sugar
Make Sugar Syrup
Add 1 cup of room temperature water and 1 cup of dark brown sugar (packed) to a small saucepan. Keep the saucepan on the stove and cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Stir frequently while cooking so that the sugar dissolves quickly.
Now cook until the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Then reduce the heat to low.
Now cook for 15 minutes on low heat, stirring at regular intervals.
Remove the pan from the stove and keep it on the kitchen counter to cool down the syrup to room temperature. It will take 10-12 minutes.
Tip: To speed up the cooling process, add 2-3 ice cubes to the syrup. Do not add more otherwise the syrup will get diluted. You can also stir the syrup frequently to quicken the cooling process.
The brown sugar syrup is ready. You can use it to make the lemonade immediately or store it for later use.
Make The Lemonade
Add 3 cups of chilled water to a large pitcher.
Stir in 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice and cooled syrup.
Then add 6-7 ice cubes to each serving glass and pour the lemonade over the ice.
Garnish your lemonade with mint sprigs and lemon wheels and serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roll the lemons on the counter while pressing on them with the palm of your hand. Pressing and rolling soften them and break down the pulp. This will make it easier to squeeze the juice out. Now cut and squeeze all the juice using or palms and fingers or use a lemon squeezer.
Microwaving the lemons for 15 seconds also softens them up and makes them easier to squeeze.
Yes, you can replace dark brown sugar with light brown sugar, but remember that light brown sugar’s flavor is milder than dark brown sugar’s. So you might have to add more of it. You can also use raw cane sugar or coconut sugar to make brown lemonade.
The best lemonade is made using freshly squeezed lemon juice, but if you can’t access fresh lemons, only then use store-bought juice.
Pro Tips By Neha
I love turning this drink into a fun cocktail by adding a splash of vodka, whiter rum, or bourbon.
To make it fun for kids, pour the lemonade into popsicle molds and freeze for 5-6 hours.
Add the lemonade to your heavy duty blender along with some crushed ice and blend until it becomes slushy. Pour it into a mason jar and serve the slushy with a thick straw.
To make a variation, you can add herbs like mint leaves or Italian basil leaves. Macerate them a little to release their flavor before adding them to the glass.
Storage Suggestions
Sugar syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 10-15 days. When ready to serve, add water and lemon juice, pour over ice cubes in a serving glass and serve.
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Brown Sugar Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups water (1 cup at room temperature for the simple syrup, 3 cups chilled for the lemonade)
- 1 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (or lime juice)
- ice cubes (as required)
Instructions
Make The Sugar Syrup
- Add 1 cup of room temperature water and dark brown sugar to a pan and heat over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently.
- Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and then reduce the heat to low.
- Cook the syrup for 15 minutes, stirring at regular intervals.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool completely.
- Tip – To fasten the cooling process, you can add 2-3 ice cubes to the syrup.
Make The Lemonade
- Add 3 cups of chilled water to a large pitcher.
- Stir in lemon juice and cooled syrup.
- Add ice cubes to the serving glasses and pour the lemonade over the ice.
- Garnish with mint sprigs and lemon wheels and serve chilled.
