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This refreshing Mango Lemonade is perfect for scorching weather and takes minutes to make! If you add generous amounts of ice to your pitcher you don’t even have to wait for the lemonade to chill in the fridge.
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It has been HOT around here and you know what that means: mama needs a refreshing drink to chill out with. This Mango Lemonade recipe is the perfect solution because kids can drink it too. All I have to do is make a big pitcher, add tons of ice, then sit back and relax.
What You’ll Need
While mango lemonade might sound fancy, it’s easy to make and only requires 4 ingredients.
- Mangoes: I used two large mangos. If you don’t have mangoes you can use 2 cups of mango nectar instead.
- White sugar + water: We’re going to use sugar and water to make a simple syrup to sweeten our lemonade. Water will also be used to dilute the lemonade and make the mango juice.
- Lemons: The number of lemons will vary according to how juicy they are. Sometimes I only use 6, other times I need to use 8.
- Ice: We’ll use this to quickly chill the mango lemonade. I add ice to the pitcher and also to the serving glasses.
How to Make Mango Lemonade
Puree the mango
As with most of my recipes there is room for making this drink your own by adjusting the amount of mango used. I usually use 1 cup of diced mango, which equals about 2 mangoes. But if you want less mango flavor or only have one mango on hand, you can also use 1/2 cup of mango (about 1 mango).
Dice up the mango, then drop it in the blender with 2 cups of water. Blend until you have a smooth mango juice/puree.
Make the simple syrup
A simple syrup is sugar that has been dissolved in water. Why would you do this? Because if you add granulated sugar to a cold drink it doesn’t dissolve well and you end up with a grainy drink. Making a quick simple syrup solves this problem.
To make the simple syrup, in a small saucepan combine 3/4 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar has dissolved.
Note that you can increase the amount of sugar to 1 cup if you like your lemonade to be extra sweet. (I find that 3/4 cup is perfect when paired with the sweetness of the mango.)
Juice the Lemons
Here again there is room for improvisation. I like to use 3/4 cup lemon juice, but you could use up to 1 cup. The number of lemons you need depends on how juicy they are, but 6-8 is a good estimate.
Assemble & Chill the Mango Lemonade
Now it’s time to mix everything together.
In a pitcher, combine the mango puree, simple syrup and lemon juice. Mix well, then add 3 cups of water to dilute everything. Mix again, then fill the remainder of the pitcher with ice and serve!
You can chill the lemonade in the fridge further if desired. I like to garnish my mango lemonade with a sprig of fresh mint.
How to Store
Homemade mango lemonade will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. However, you will probably finish off the pitcher in one day. It is normal for the lemonade to separate a bit in the fridge, so just give it a stir if that happens.
Mango Lemonade
Ingredients
- ½ cup diced mango, about 1 mango *
- Water
- ¾ – 1 cup granulated sugar **
- ¾ cup lemon juice, about 6-8 lemons
- Ice, for serving
Instructions
Make the Mango Puree
- Blend it up. In a blender combine the diced mango and 2 cups of water. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
Make the Simple Syrup
- Cook the syrup. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the 3/4 cup sugar with 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, until the sugar has dissolved completely. Set aside.
Make the Mango Lemonade
- Juice the lemons. The number of lemons you need will depend upon how juicy they are. Sometimes I use 6 lemons, other times only 8 will do. You need at least 3/4 cup of lemon juice and could use as much as 1 cup of lemon juice.
- Combine and chill. In a pitcher, pour the mango puree, simple syrup and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Add 3 cups of water and taste. Depending on how much lemon juice you used, you may need to add another 1/2 cup of water. Fill the remainder of the pitcher with ice and give it a good stir. You can store it in the fridge until you're ready to serve, or serve immediately.
- Serve. Pour mango lemonade into glasses filled with ice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint if desired.