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An easy, 2-ingredient recipe for Lemon Sugar that’s perfectly sweet and tart. Great for rimming cocktails and more!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tart ‘n Sweet: Bright, citrus flavor goes so well with sweet, simple sugar for a well-balanced treat.
- Easy to Make: With just 2 ingredients, this recipe for homemade lemon sugar comes together in minutes!
- Brings Cocktails to the Next Level: Sass up any cocktail like a Lemon Drop Martini or a Lemon Drop Shot with this delicious rim.
Craving something tart and sweet? Lately, I’ve been enjoying sharing all the fun Cocktails… but one thing that’s been missing? A homemade lemon sugar! We’re going to be making this deliciously sweet and wonderfully tart cocktail garnish with only 2 ingredients: fresh lemon and sugar. This will be your favorite part of cocktail hour!
What is Lemon Sugar?
Lemon sugar is a garnish for cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks that is made with two ingredients: lemon zest and sugar. Blended together, these two ingredients create a sweet and tart addition to any beverage, even the spicy Hot and Dirty Martini!
Ingredients
All you need are two simple ingredients to make lemon sugar: granulated sugar and a fresh lemon.
How to Make Lemon Sugar
- Lemon sugar is super simple to make! First, zest a lemon. You can use this lemon zester. Stick to zesting the yellow part which is tart and flavorful.
- Next, add the lemon zest and sugar to a small food processor.
- Pulse to blend the two ingredients together. Once it’s well mixed and you smell that bright lemon scent, it’s done.
How to Use Lemon Sugar
To use lemon sugar, simply pour into a shallow dish wide enough to fit the mouth of your glass. Run a lemon wedge along the rim to wet it. Then, dip the rim into the dish of lemon sugar, twisting to coat.
I can’t wait until our next shaken, not stirred journey! 😉 Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
Lemon Recipes
I love sour cocktails like Penicillin Cocktail, Salty Dog, and Bee’s Knees! Here are a few more you’d like:
Cocktails
The Best Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
Cocktails
Lemon Drop Shot
Cocktails
The Gold Rush Cocktail
Cocktails
Whiskey Sour
Lemon Sugar
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest, (about one large lemon)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Zest a lemon until you have 2 tablespoons—stick to the bright yellow skin, not the bitter white part.
- Add lemon zest and sugar to a small food processor.
- Pulse until thoroughly well mixed and the lemon oils have released into the sugar. The lemon sugar will be fragrant and yellow when finished.
- ★ Last Step: If you made this recipe, leave a comment and review. It truly helps our small business keep running and it helps readers like you!
So easy and quick to make, thank you! Will be using for cocktails!
You’re so welcome, Harriet!
Wow – I didn’t know what I was missing out on until I found your recipe for lemon sugar! There is no need for me to use regular sugar anymore!
Haha, once you try a lemon sugar cocktail, there’s definitely no going back!
Love the bright pop of flavor from this lemon sugar. It’s so easy to make, it’s versatile, and so delicious!
Yes! Glad you enjoy a bit of pop in your cocktails, too, Shelby! 🙂
This was great for our cocktail rims! So much better than salt.
Yes! Sometimes you just want a bit more sweetness for your drink.
This was fantastic with our cocktail! The drink looked so beautiful with the lemon sugar rim. Thank you!
You’re so welcome, Jamie! I know, there’s just something about a sugar rim that takes a drink to the next level.