County Fair Lemon Shake-Up

A classic at so many fairs and festivals, the County Fair Lemon Shake-Up. Such a simple delicious drink that tastes like summer.

One of my all-time favorite things to get at our county fair is the Lemon Shake-Ups, they are fresh and sugary. They always make me smile!

Let’s Shake

Grab yourself some lemons, sugar, knife, quart size mason jar with a lid, and a muddler or wooden spoon.

Put a quarter cup of sugar into your jar. Cut your lemon into quarters and drop them into the jar with the sugar.

LET’S MUDDLE

Muddle, muddle as you’ve never muddled before.

And when you think you’ve muddled enough, muddle more!

We, well you, want all that juice and pulp out of the lemon quarters AND all the oils out of the rind.

Now fill the jar up to the bottom of the neck with ice!

Then almost up to the top with water, put the lid on and, can you guess what you do now?

SHAKE

County Fair Lemon Shake-Up

This is so easy, fresh, and delicious! Fun and easy for kids to make. 

A refreshing simple 4 ingredient freshly made lemonade just like you get at your county fair or a festival.

Instructions:

• Grab a ball jar and lid or a glass with a tight-fitting lid, since this is a “shake-up” you want something that seals! We don’t want to lose any goodness or have to clean up a mess!
• Add a quarter cup of white sugar to your jar or glass.
• You’re going to use one lemon per drink, so give the lemon a good wash. We are going to use the whole lemon in our drink so you’ll want to get it clean. Now cut each lemon into quarters and drop into your jar or glass.
• Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon – mash and stir the lemon into the sugar – releasing the oils in the rind and juicing the lemon and pulp.
• Now fill the jar with ice cubes or if you are feeling extra boujee use crushed ice.
• Once filled with ice fill the jar with water, leaving an inch or so at the top for shaking room. Then give all that goodness a good shake – 30-45 seconds of vigorous shaking, until the sugar is dissolved and you now have lemonade.
• Remove the lid and garnish with a slice of lemon and a straw!
• Looking to make it “adult”? Add a shot of your favorite liquor, I love a flavored vodka in mine.

I keep mason jars around for everything and these wide-mouth quart jars are perfect for making these shake-ups. And just like I have a habit of collecting sprinkles, I always have a fun selection of straws around!

These would be a fun addition to a party. You could pre-sure the jars with sugar and have the lemons cut up and in a large bowl. An ice bucket full of ice and a pitcher full of water – what a fun twist!

Other County Fair Recipes:

• Pork Kabobs
• Beaver Tail
• Chocolate Milkshakes
• Funnel Cakes

County Fair Lemon Shake-Up

A refreshing simple 4 ingredient freshly made lemonade just like you get at your county fair or a festival.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Equipment

• 1 quart size jar with a lid or equal size glass with a tight sealing lid
• muddler or wooden spoon

Ingredients

  

• 1 whole lemon
• 1/4 cup sugar
• ice
• water

Instructions

 

• You will need a quart-size mason jar with lid or a glass with a tight sealing lid.
• Add 1/4 cup of sugar to the jar or glass with the lemon
  
• Wash your lemon (we are using the rind and all for this recipe) and then cut the lemon into quarters and drop in your jar or glass
  
• Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon - mash and stir the lemon into the sugar - releasing the oils in the rind and juicing the lemon and pulp
  
• Fill the jar with ice, crushed ice if you are feeling extra boujee
  
• Now fill your jar or glass with water, leaving an inch or so at the top for room to shake then place the lid on and shake well to combine and distribute the lemon sugar goodness, shake till the sugar dissolves, usually 30-45 seconds
  
• Remove the lid, garnish with a slice of lemon if you like, add a straw and enjoy your County Fair Lemon Shake-Up
  
• If you are of age you can always add a shot of your favorite liquor - a flavored vodka is my personal favorite