Homemade Lemon Recipes and Crafts for Spring

When life hands you lemons, check out this guide!

Make Lemonade (And More!)

These recipes are easy-peasy lemon squeezy.

Pitcher-Perfect Lemonade: Mix 1 cup each of sugar and water in a small saucepan and simmer until sugar dissolves completely to make a simple syrup. (This prevents the sugar in your lemonade from sinking to the bottom!) When cool, pour into a pitcher. Add 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Dilute with 2 to 3 cups of cold water, to taste. Chill for half an hour. Serve over ice!

Festive Lemonade Garnish: Delicate dried citrus slices make an elegant drink garnish. Slice a lemon and bake at 200 F for 3 hours, flipping every hour, until completely dry. To elevate your lemonade, rub a freshly cut lemon around the edge of your glass and dip the edge in sugar for a crystalized rim. Add a preserved citrus slice and a sprig of rosemary or lavender.

Lemon Simple Syrup: Cut the bright yellow peel of 1 lemon, avoiding the bitter white pith, and set aside. Combine 1⁄2 cup each of freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to simmer until syrup has thickened, about 10 minutes. Add lemon zest and transfer to a bowl to cool, about 20 minutes. Discard zest; strain syrup through a sieve if needed. Transfer syrup to a clean bottle and store in the fridge for up to six months. Use it to sweeten lemonades and sweet teas or drizzle it over freshly baked cakes and breads!

3-Ingredient Lemon Sorbet: Combine 2 cups each of water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat and boil until sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir in 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice and 2 tablespoons lemon zest. Transfer mixture to a 9×13 metal baking pan. Freeze until firm (2 to 3 hours), stirring with a fork every half hour. Once mixture has solidified, use an ice cream scooper to serve sorbet in a dish or a hollowed-out lemon. Garnish with a dried citrus slice and mint leaves.

Create Your Neighborhood Lemonade Stand

Lemonade stands are a timeless childhood tradition. Here are some tips for setting up one safely.

Craft: Help your kids create their very own stand by building this simple structure. Nail four wooden crates securely together in a 2×2 box. The crates will create built-in shelves to store supplies and profits. Nail two wooden poles to the top and decorate a sign to hang from either end; make sure the poles are tall enough that the kids can stand under the sign.

Decorate: Let your kids’ creativity shine. Paint the stand, hang banners and signs, add bunting or outdoor lights to grab attention, or all the above.

Stock: Stock the stand with lemonade, disposable cups, and a jar to hold earnings, as well as sunscreen and water for the kids manning the stand.

Safety: Make sure young kids have an adult nearby as people are purchasing their refreshments. Give gentle reminders to stay clear of the road and always look both ways before crossing, particularly if you are at a busier intersection.

Make Your Home Lemony Fresh

Make your home smell as clean as it looks.

Lemon Soap: Gift beautiful citrusy soap bars, or stock your kitchen and bathrooms to bring spring
to your home. We adapted this recipe from lifestyle blog Country Hill Cottage:

Place a 12-piece, 4-ounce round soap mold on a cutting board or tray so you can move it easily. Microwave a 4-ounce block of goat’s milk melt-and-pour soap base in a microwave- safe dish, 30 seconds at a time, until melted. Stir in essential oils: 4 drops lemon, 2 drops tangerine, 2 drops sweet orange. Optional: stir in 1⁄4 teaspoon mica powder for color and shine. Pour soap into mold and disperse any bubbles. Carefully top with a dried lemon slice, or decorate with lemon zest and calendula petals. Refrigerate until soap has fully hardened, around 1 hour. Remove soap bars from mold and store in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.

Lemon Candle: The arrival of spring brings fresh flowers, rejuvenating rains, and warmer weather to enjoy, but it also brings pesky mosquitos. Thwart unwanted bugs and bites with this all- natural mosquito repellent. We adapted this recipe from Crafts by Amanda:

Cut a lemon into 1⁄4-inch slices and place 2-3 slices inside each of 3 Mason jars. Add 2-3 sprigs of herbs and 20-30 drops of essential oils into each jar (see variations below). Fill jar with water to the neck, submerging the citrus and herbs. Place a floating candle in each jar. Light!

• Jar 1: 2-3 sprigs of lavender; 10 drops each lavender and peppermint essential oils
• Jar 2: 2-3 sprigs of eucalyptus; 10 drops each eucalyptus and lime essential oils
• Jar 3: 2-3 sprigs rosemary; 10 drops each rosemary, peppermint, and lemon essential oils

Lemon Potpourri: Welcome the start of spring with a citrusy simmer pot. Add lemon slices, fresh lavender and rosemary, rose petals, and 2-3 drops of lavender essential oils to a large pot of water. Simmer to your heart’s content.

Lemon Room Spray: Dissolve 2 tablespoons baking soda in 2 cups hot water in a bowl. Stir in 1⁄2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice and 2-3 drops lemon essential oil. Cool to room temperature and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before each use and spritz as needed.

Lemon Garland: String up the scent of spring with a garland of dried citrus slices. Preheat oven to 200 F. Meanwhile, slice several lemons and bake for three hours, flipping every half-hour, until dried and crisp. Use a needle to poke holes through the top of each piece, weave twine through, and hang wherever you like.

Find more homemade lemon cleaners and other natural cleaners you can make yourself.