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    Home » Keto, Paleo, or Gluten Free

    Published: Jul 22, 2024 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 44 Comments

    Keto Lemonade from Homemade Concentrate

    Jump to Recipe

    Keto Lemonade concentrate made from fresh lemons and monk fruit sweetener is the best low-carb drink recipe. You can enjoy it today, refrigerate some, or freeze for later.

    Glass of keto lemonade over ice with a lemon wedge on the rim.

    Why this Keto Lemonade Recipe is Amazing: This easy recipe is sweet, tart, & refreshing without all the carbs & calories. The perfect summer drink!

    We have a large lemon bush in our yard that bursts with so much fruit each year, it is hard to use them all up. This year I decided to make lemonade often but wanted to preserve some for later.

    Then it hit me! Why not make homemade keto low carb lemonade concentrate? Each batch of this homemade low-carb lemonade concentrate recipe makes a half-gallon pitcher when mixed with water.

    Boy holding a large lemon picked from a tree.

    After a few tries, I came up with two recipes that are foolproof amazing for lemonade!  For the regular sugar version, find it at my HOMEMADE LEMONADE CONCENTRATE recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Keto Lemonade
    • Concentrate to Water Ratio :
    • Recipe Tips & Behind the Scenes
    • FAQ
    • Homemade Keto Lemonade Concentrate
    • More Keto Recipes

    Ingredients

    It only takes 3 ingredients to make lemonade concentrate from scratch.  Since this is a keto-friendly recipe, instead of sugar, use your favorite sweetener substitute.

    Here are the ingredients needed to make keto lemonade from scratch:

    • Lemons - fresh is best, nothing store-bought in a jar or squeeze bottle.
    • Monkfruit Sweetener - this zero-calorie ingredient is a sugar-free alternate. A 1:1 replacement works best like this brand with erythritol. Lakanto is fine too.
    • Water - to make the low-carb simple syrup.

    See the recipe card for quantities & substitutions/variations.

    How to Make Keto Lemonade

    In a few simple steps this is ready to go. The hardest part for the kids and I is getting leverage to muscle through juicing all the lemons. We grab our stool and get to squeezing, the effort is worth the reward. 

    Here are the easy steps for making this recipe for sugar-free lemonade.

    1. Prep & Squeeze the Lemons
    2. Make the Simple Syrup
    3. Mix up a Batch of Lemonade
    4. Store the Concentrate

    See the recipe card for full instructions.

    1 - Prep & Squeeze the Lemons

    Wash, dry, & cut the lemons in half. Use a hand juicer (or electric if you own one) to juice all the lemons.

    Make sure to keep the seeds and large pulp pieces out - strain if needed. Keep squeezing until you have 1.25 cups of juice. Set aside.

    2 - Make the Simple Syrup

    MICROWAVE: In a medium-sized bowl or your pyrex measuring cup, add the water and microwave for 3 minutes to boil. stir together the boiling water with the 1 and ¼ cup of sweetener. Stir to dissolve.

    STOVETOP: In a saucepan over high heat add the water and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling, turn it down to medium heat & add the monkfruit sweetener. Stir to dissolve. Turn the heat off and let it cool. SO EASY!!!

    3 - Mix up a Batch of Lemonade

    Once the simple syrup is cool, combine with the lemon juice. Now you can either make a batch of lemonade now or store this concentrate to use later. See the next step for storing instructions.

    To make a batch of lemonade: Add this concentrate to a large pitcher along with 3 cups of cold water. Stir & enjoy over ice.

    Keto lemonade concentrate in a mason jar next to sliced lemons.

    4 - Store the Concentrate

    This concentrate stores well in both the refrigerator and the freezer.   Make sure to ensure the container or ziplock bags you are using are air-tight so that no frostbite ruins your freshly made lemonade concentrate.  

    • Save in sealed jar or quart-sized Ziploc bags
    • Can keep for 3 weeks in the refrigerator
    • Can keep for up to 4 months in the freezer
    Ziploc bag labeled as Lemonade Concentrate and a date.

    Concentrate to Water Ratio :

    One Batch of Concentrate + 3-4 Cups of Cold Water = ½ Gallon of Fresh Homemade Lemonade

    Two Batches of Concentrate + 6-7 Cups of Cold Water = 1 Gallon of Fresh Homemade Lemonade

    ** depends on how strong you like your lemon flavor.

    Lemonade Concentrate made into a pitcher of lemonade next to a glass of iced keto lemonade.

    Recipe Tips & Behind the Scenes

    Here is my recipe for success - including what I learned when testing, funny stories or bloopers, and more.

    • Use ripe lemons that feel heavy when you hold them in your hand. More weight = more juice!
    • For quick prep, an electric juicer saves times and is cheap.
    • See the recipe card notes for how to measure different types of sugar-free substitute brands/types.
    • Add the keto lemonade to plain iced tea for a sugar-free Arnold Palmer drink recipe.
    • Make sure to label with date & item before freezing.
    • Use this as a mixer for cocktail - try it in a Lemon Drop Martini!
    Jar of low carb lemonade concentrate.

    FAQ

    Why is this lemonade and not just lemon juice?

    Juice is simply the liquid squeezed directly from fruits and vegetables. With the addition of sugar and water, it is called an "ade". To learn more about the history of lemonade, check out more on HOWSTUFFWORKS!  

    Keto Lemonade recipe card

    Homemade Keto Lemonade Concentrate

    Angela
    The perfect glass of low-carb lemonade can be enjoyed all summer thanks to making homemade concentrate when lemons are at their peak each year. This easy recipe is a wonderful drink for those on a keto or diabetic diet.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 batch
    Calories 67 kcal

    Equipment

    • hand juicer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1.25 C fresh-squeezed lemon juice about 8-10 lemons
    • 1.25 C hot water
    • 1.25 C monkfruit sweetener or other no-calorie 1:1 replacement sweetener of your choice
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Pick fresh lemons from your tree. If you do not have a tree, get them at the store or farmer's market. Wash them and slice them in half.
    • Using a hand juicer, squeeze the juice from the lemons. You will need 1 and ¼ cups of fresh juice.
      1.25 C fresh-squeezed lemon juice
    • Add to a large mason jar or big pyrex measuring cup to hold.
      1.25 C hot water
    • Boil water in a large measuring pyrex or tea kettle.
    • In a medium-sized bowl or your pyrex measuring cup, stir together the boiling water with the 1 and ¼ cup of sweetener. Stir to dissolve.
      1.25 C monkfruit sweetener
    • Once cool, add to the lemon juice. Stir.
    • Store in mason jars or pour into a quart-sized Ziploc bag. The lemonade concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 5 months.

    To Make Lemonade

    • Each recipe will make one half-gallon of lemonade. Add one batch of the concentrate to 3 cups of cold water plus some ice in a pitcher. For a gallon, use two batches and 6 cups of cold water and ice. Stir and serve over ice. Enjoy!

    Notes

    This batch is less than 100 calories. Nutritional facts will depend on how many glasses you pour from each pitcher made.
    SWEETENER SUBSTITUTES:
    • This recipe is made with a 1:1 sugar substitute. Use 1.25 cups when using that type of sugar-free sweetener.
    • If using another type, the sweetener is often MUCH STRONGER than regular sugar so adjust accordingly. Try these amounts instead:
      • Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener use ⅓ cup 
      • Stevia, use 1 to 1.5 tablespoons 
     
    NOTE: THE ORIGINAL RECIPE WAS MADE IN 2020 & I REPUBLISHED IT IN 2024 TO INCLUDE SWEETENER SUBSTITUTIONS, MORE TIPS, & NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 67kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 314mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 18IUVitamin C: 118mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 0.2mg
    Keyword juice, keto, lowcarb, summer
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Keto Recipes

    Check out Lemon Cheesecake Fat Bombs for those that love lemon. Or try one of these other favorites here on the blog:

    • KETO PEANUT BUTTER CUPS
    • KETO COFFEE ICE CREAM
    « Shamrock Shake Ice Cream
    30-Minute Low-Carb Chicken Recipes »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Laura Lee says

      April 20, 2020 at 6:40 am

      I love lemonade all year long, too! In fact, it's my go drink whenever we go out to a restaurant.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 20, 2020 at 7:31 pm

        You will surely love this recipe! Enjoy -

        Reply
    2. Hillari says

      April 20, 2020 at 7:28 am

      Oooh, yes! I love that there is a low carb option. What a perfect summer drink!!

      Reply
    3. Jen says

      April 20, 2020 at 7:57 am

      This is a fantastic idea! My kids would love this for sure!

      Reply
    4. Tricia Snow says

      April 20, 2020 at 12:06 pm

      I pretty much use lemon every day. I just planted my first lemon tree. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 23, 2020 at 1:09 pm

        Great, glad you have a lemon tree also.

        Reply
    5. Kirsten says

      April 20, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      My girls LOVE lemonade, and want it all the time...even when I have no lemons. Creating some concentrate is such a great idea!

      Reply
    6. Beth Shields says

      April 20, 2020 at 2:21 pm

      This sounds delicious and refreshing. I have not personally used Monkfruit before but know of several friends who do. Will have to check into it. Thanks.

      Reply
    7. Debbie says

      April 20, 2020 at 2:41 pm

      Need this in my freezer!!

      Reply
    8. Lisa Manderino says

      April 20, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      Time to make some lemonade goodness the keto way!

      Reply
    9. Eva Keller says

      April 20, 2020 at 3:22 pm

      Looks like a great recipe and a good idea now that the weather is warming up in a lot of places.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 20, 2020 at 7:42 pm

        Now is the perfect time to get those concentrate in the fridge and freezer.

        Reply
    10. Lee Anne says

      April 20, 2020 at 3:44 pm

      Great idea! I have struggled with keto friendly sweeteners. I cant seem to find one I like yet!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 20, 2020 at 7:37 pm

        I have tried several and so far monkfruit is the one I like best and can tolerate the best.

        Reply
    11. Holly says

      April 20, 2020 at 3:50 pm

      Thank you for this low Carb version, can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 20, 2020 at 7:37 pm

        I hope you enjoy it HOlly.

        Reply
    12. Diane Kurzava says

      April 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm

      I love that you added a keto version of this! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 20, 2020 at 7:34 pm

        You are welcome.

        Reply
    13. Jane says

      April 20, 2020 at 8:27 pm

      I love lemonade and it always remind me of summer. This low carb recipe is amazing esp if you’re watching your sugar intake.

      Reply
    14. Kendra says

      April 20, 2020 at 9:00 pm

      Yum! We love using the monkfruit sweetener for keto lemonade! This is a great idea to make ahead and freeze!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 23, 2020 at 1:07 pm

        Glad you love it too.

        Reply
    15. Carrie Cochran says

      April 21, 2020 at 10:10 am

      I would never have imagined this was so simple! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 23, 2020 at 1:07 pm

        I know, right!?!?

        Reply
    16. Santana says

      April 21, 2020 at 11:50 am

      I love lemonade! My husband doesn't care for it, but that just means more for me 😂 Saving this!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 23, 2020 at 1:02 pm

        Then you are a winner for sure.

        Reply
    17. Shirley says

      April 21, 2020 at 12:54 pm

      Love homemade lemonade!! Your pictures make it look so refreshing. I believe I may need to make some. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 23, 2020 at 1:02 pm

        I hope you enjoy some on the farm - once the snow melts!

        Reply
    18. Sandi says

      April 21, 2020 at 1:07 pm

      This is so great, I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    19. Tiffany says

      April 21, 2020 at 5:21 pm

      I might not feel so guilty if I used this keto concentrate!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 23, 2020 at 12:57 pm

        No guilt lemon love right here!

        Reply
    20. Maria Gustafsson says

      April 23, 2020 at 1:01 pm

      Such a clever idea to store the concentrate in ziplock bags! A serious space saver in the freezer.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 28, 2020 at 6:27 pm

        Yes, a great way to stock up and not bulk up in the freezer.

        Reply
    21. Lisa says

      April 23, 2020 at 9:42 pm

      This looks yummy! I have a bunch of lemons I need to use up and this is a great idea!

      Reply
    22. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says

      April 25, 2020 at 11:48 am

      There is nothing like homemade lemonade! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. I hope to see you again at tomorrow's party.

      Reply
    23. Cindy says

      April 26, 2020 at 9:46 pm

      I’ll have to try monk fruit sweetener! I don’t do refined sugar.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 28, 2020 at 6:26 pm

        I hope you like it, I sure do.

        Reply
    24. Pauline says

      April 27, 2020 at 8:39 am

      This is so neat!! I love cooking with lemons and always buy atleast a dozen. I miss having a tree.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 28, 2020 at 6:26 pm

        Glad you like it.

        Reply
    25. Ruth Iaela-Pukahi says

      May 03, 2020 at 4:04 pm

      This is such a fabulous idea! Now to plant a lemon tree! We just moved from a house that had an "ugly lemon" tree. I've been told they are the best lemons in Hawaii. Thank you for sharing!!!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 03, 2020 at 5:27 pm

        Ugly lemons can make beautiful lemonade!

        Reply
    26. Ariel says

      March 12, 2023 at 3:27 pm

      I question your measurements as pure monkfruit sweetener is like a natural version of sucralose. Many sweeteners are 1:1 with sugar but with monk fruit you are looking at some hundreds of times sweeter. Shouldn’t the ration be between 1:100 - 1:250?

      Reply
      • Angela says

        March 13, 2023 at 12:01 pm

        Since this is a concentrated recipe, the amount may seem high. Compared to other recipes that make lemonade at regular strength it will not be similar in amounts. I have made this several times and now that my lemon tree is bursting will probably make it again soon. I will double-check my measurements again but it has been a good combination of sweet & tart in the past.

        Reply
    27. Aleria says

      July 15, 2024 at 11:34 am

      The 1.25 cup of monk fruit sweetener, is that the **pure** monk fruit that's sweetness is 2/3tsp per 1 cup of sugar or is this the 1-to-1 ratio monk fruit sweetener?

      Reply
      • Angela says

        July 16, 2024 at 8:59 am

        It is the 1:1 replacement. In the post I share which brand I use, Lakanto Monkfruit 1:1 Sugar substitute.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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