Lemonade Ice Cubes are delicious in sparkling water and iced tea and they won’t dilute your lemonade. Here’s how to make fresh lemonade ice cubes.
New to Jacksonville, Florida, I’m embracing the South’s love of iced tea …and we have a lemon tree that’s starting to produce! So that’s how this post originated.
And I’m joining friends on the topic of Drinks and Cocktails. Just the perfect way to cool off!
Fresh Lemonade Recipe
I used this freshly squeezed lemonade (with lemon zest) recipe from Errin’s Kitchen. Then I poured some of the liquid into large ice cube molds.
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar*
- 1/4 cup lemon zest about 4 lemons
- 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice about 6-12 lemons depending on size (plus more for garnish)
- 6 cups filtered water
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Zest the lemons. Juice the lemons.
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In a pot over medium heat, add sugar, lemon zest, and two cups of water.
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Simmer stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has a yellow hue. There's no need to boil the water.
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Strain the lemon juice and sugar mixture into a 2-quart pitcher to remove the pulp, seeds, and zest.
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Add in 4 cups of water.
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Taste for sweetness and if it's too sweet add more water.
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Pour some into ice cube trays and refrigerate the rest.
Lemonade Ice Cubes In Tea (AKA an “Arnold Palmer”)
People joke here in the South that Sweet Tea can be so sweet you can’t stir your spoon. That’s why I think adding a bit of lemonade can be just enough instead of sugar to the tea.
You can add one or two lemonade ice cubes…and more lemonade if you like it sweeter.
The tea above was made simply by putting a few black tea bags in filtered water and leaving it out in the sun for a few hours. The stainless steel lidded pitcher from Target has a good seal.
Adding A Fruit Skewer For Fun
I will let you in on a little lazy secret. The fruit that I used for the skewers/picks came already chopped and mixed in a small container at the grocery store…easy! I just speared them on the picks.
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My Favorite: Sparkling Water With Lime And A Lemonade Ice Cube
This is a fun alternative to a drink with alcohol. Be sure to have some lemonade cubes stored in freezer bags in your freezer.
It’s not too sweet…but the cube melts quickly out here in my Ladies’ Loft.
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Let’s check out what my friends are recommending for Summer Drinks…
Barb L says
Love everything about this! Lemonade ice cubes! Fruit skewers! Pretty presentation.
Elizabeth@pineconesandacorns says
I love making flavored ice cubes, usually I use them in cocktails but I never thought to put them in tea. Thanks for the tip! Stay cool and have a wonderful weekend.
Katherine says
Mary Ann, everything is just so well thought through and beautifully presented, you think of everything and have extraordinary entertaining talents. You have made it look like a seamless transition from San Francisco to the
Florida way of doing. You look so darling sitting in your “ladies’ loft.” All ready to have your gal pals over for a sip of your tea and treats.
I meant to say how pretty the Kaftan was that Alexandra was wearing at her baby shower. I’ve never seen a Kaftan
that looked like that.
TAG says
Love the idea of fresh lemon ice cubes in unsweetened tea! To simplify ice tea making I recently researched and debated the sun tea vs cold brew method and settled on cold brew. I place 1 teabag per 6-8 oz of water in a pitcher and chill for 6-8 hours. It comes out perfect..clear and crisp! My mother would always add a couple spoonfuls of frozen lemonade concentrate to the ice tea pitcher for an “Arnold Palmer”. Southern sweet tea is delicious but cutting back on sugar with ice cubes or lemonade concentrate is the healthy way to go.
Mary Ann Pickett says
I read that too, that cold brew works as well as sun.
Juliet says
That’s it! I’m making these today. What a great idea. So easy to do and have ready at a moments notice. And I think lemonade ice cubes are the perfect addition to my sacred afternoon ice tea. Give it a little sweetness and I can pretend to be a southerner. Like my mom who drank the really sweet stuff. Fancy ice cubes in a drink on your ladies loft … is there anything better or more festive? I think not. Cheers! xoxo
Mary Ann Pickett says
I’m adding a cube to my tea now!
cindy says
Steve loves to make the fancy ice cubes which I always forget to use! He will love this one. I love the simplicity of the already cut up fruit! Genius! And as always your presentation is superb!
Mary Ann Pickett says
I know…Howard has tennis ball-sized cubes…guess for Scotch?
kim says
Lemonade ice cubes are a genius idea! I am so doing this. I just want a little sweetness in things and this could be so good in a lot of drinks, non- alcohol and cocktails! Also I am ordering your Target pitcher. I need more sun tea and this is what I am missing! You look darling on your swing and I wish I could visit your ladies’s porch! xo
Mary Ann Pickett says
I like that Target pitcher…don’t know why I waited to get one!
sheri silver says
Mary Ann! Genius! I will never NOT have lemonade cubes in my freezer again! Will be making and “possibly” adding to my bourbon! Thank you for once again including me in this fun round up! xo
Mary Ann Pickett says
That sounds interesting…lemonade and bourbon!
Annie Diamond says
Mary Ann! I love seeing how you entertain in your new home! You have managed to switch from San Francisco to Atlantic Beach so effortlessly! Why have I never thought of making lemonade ice cubes? Brilliant!
xx
Mary Ann Pickett says
I think Brent may like them too.
Amy says
Lemonade ice cubes sound great in this heat, I might have to give those a try this weekend. Not entirely sure I wouldn’t add more sweetener to my tea, though, since I like it *sweet*.
Mary Ann Pickett says
Yes…one or two cubes doesn’t make it that sweet.