There's nothing more refreshing on a warm day than a tall glass of peach lemonade. Sweet, tangy, and bursting with the flavor of ripe summer peaches, this drink is a hit with kids and adults alike.

I first made this recipe after a weekend visit to the local farmer’s market. I came home with way more peaches than I could possibly eat, and lemonade just felt like the perfect way to celebrate the season. Ever since, it's become a must-have at our backyard barbecues and lazy afternoon picnics.

Let me show you how to make this delightful drink from scratch.

Why You’ll Love This Peach Lemonade

Get ready to sip on sunshine. This peach lemonade is more than just a pretty drink—it’s an easy, budget-friendly treat you’ll want to make all summer long.

One of the best things about this recipe is how simple it is. You only need a handful of basic ingredients, and the process is straightforward enough that even kids can help out. No fancy equipment or complicated steps—just good old-fashioned stovetop and stirring.

It’s also incredibly versatile. You can make it sweeter or more tart depending on your taste, and it’s easy to scale the batch up or down. Hosting a party? Double the recipe. Just want a pitcher in the fridge for yourself? No problem.

Not to mention, it’s a budget-friendly alternative to store-bought drinks. Fresh peaches, lemon juice, water, and a bit of sugar are all you need to whip up a big batch that’ll last several days.

And if you're avoiding artificial ingredients, this homemade version is a dream. No preservatives or additives—just fresh, real fruit flavor in every sip.

Once you try this peach lemonade, you’ll never go back to the bottled kind again.

Ingredients Notes

This peach lemonade keeps things wonderfully simple. But don't let the short ingredient list fool you—each element adds a vital layer of flavor to the final product.

Fresh peaches are the heart and soul of this drink. Go for ripe, fragrant ones with a little give when you squeeze them. The sweeter your peaches, the less sugar you’ll need to add later. You can peel them if you like, but I usually leave the skins on since they get strained out anyway and add a nice hint of color.

Lemons provide that signature tangy backbone. Freshly squeezed lemon juice makes a huge difference here—it’s brighter and more vibrant than bottled juice. You’ll need about four to six lemons depending on size and juiciness to get the right amount.

Granulated sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness to balance the tartness of the lemon and enhance the natural sugars in the peaches. Feel free to adjust the quantity depending on how sweet your peaches are or how tart you like your lemonade.

Water serves two roles in this recipe. You’ll use some to simmer the peaches into a syrupy base, and the rest to dilute the mixture into a refreshing drink. I recommend using filtered or spring water if your tap water has a strong flavor.

You don’t need any special equipment—just a saucepan, a blender or immersion blender, a fine-mesh strainer, and a large pitcher. A citrus juicer can make your life easier, but it's totally optional.

How To Make This Peach Lemonade

Making this peach lemonade is a rewarding process, and the results are absolutely worth it. Let me walk you through each step so you can feel confident from start to finish.

Start by slicing your fresh peaches, removing the pits, and chopping them into chunks. Don’t worry about perfection—they’ll be cooked down and blended. Add them to a medium saucepan along with 1 cup of water and the sugar. Bring everything to a gentle boil over medium heat.

As the peaches simmer, stir occasionally and let them soften completely, about 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when they break apart easily with a spoon and the syrup smells like a peach cobbler in the making.

Once the mixture is soft and fragrant, remove the pan from the heat. Use an immersion blender to purée everything until smooth. Alternatively, you can transfer the mixture to a regular blender—just be cautious blending hot liquids. After blending, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl or large pitcher to remove any bits of skin or pulp.

Now it’s time for the lemons. Juice them until you have about one cup of fresh lemon juice. Add the lemon juice to the strained peach syrup and stir well.

Finish by adding 4 to 5 cups of cold water, depending on your taste preference. Start with 4 cups, stir, and taste. If it’s too strong, add more water. You want that perfect balance between sweet, tart, and refreshing.

Chill the lemonade in the refrigerator for at least 1–2 hours. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices or peach wedges for an extra-special touch.

From start to finish, the whole process takes about 30 minutes of hands-on time, with chilling time afterward. Once it's ready, you’ll have a pitcher of peach lemonade that tastes like summer in a glass.

Storage Options

This peach lemonade stores beautifully, making it ideal for prepping ahead of time. Simply transfer it to a pitcher with a lid or a large airtight container and keep it refrigerated. It stays fresh for up to five days, though it’s usually gone long before then in our house!

If you’d like to make a big batch and freeze some for later, pour the lemonade into freezer-safe containers, leaving an inch of headroom. It can be frozen for up to two months. Just thaw it overnight in the fridge and give it a good stir before serving.

Another great idea is to freeze the lemonade in ice cube trays. These peachy cubes are perfect for adding flavor to plain water, or keeping your next glass of lemonade chilled without diluting the flavor.

When reheating isn’t necessary, this lemonade is all about being cool and crisp. If you find it’s separated slightly after chilling, just give it a good stir or shake and it’ll be as good as new.

Variations and Substitutions

One of the things I love most about this peach lemonade is how customizable it is. Once you’ve mastered the base recipe, the variations are endless.

Try adding fresh herbs like mint or basil to the peach syrup while it simmers. Just strain them out along with the peach solids. They add a subtle, earthy twist that pairs beautifully with the sweet peaches.

For a tropical vibe, substitute part of the water with coconut water or even pineapple juice. It gives the lemonade an extra boost of flavor and turns it into a real summer sipper.

If you’re cutting back on sugar, you can absolutely use honey, maple syrup, or a sugar substitute instead of granulated sugar. Start with less and adjust to taste, as natural sweeteners can have stronger flavors.

Want a fizzy version? Top off each glass with a splash of sparkling water or club soda just before serving. It turns this lemonade into a bubbly mocktail that feels a bit more festive.

And for the grown-ups, it’s easy to turn this into a cocktail. A splash of vodka, bourbon, or peach schnapps takes this from backyard picnic to happy hour in no time.

Don’t be afraid to play around and make it your own. The best part of homemade drinks is the freedom to experiment. With this peach lemonade as your base, the possibilities are as endless as summer days.