Step 1: Juice the lemons

Start by rolling your lemons on the countertop (this helps release the juices), then cut them in half and juice them using a citrus juicer. If you don’t have one, just squeeze by hand, and don’t worry about getting every last drop. Strain the juice to remove seeds.

Step 2: Prepare the cotton candy syrup

If you’re using store-bought syrup, just follow the directions on the bottle. For homemade syrup, dissolve one part sugar in one part water over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Then add a few drops of cotton candy flavoring, stir, and let it cool.

Step 3: Mix it all together

In your large pitcher, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, cotton candy syrup, and sugar. Stir well until the sugar has fully dissolved. This is where you can adjust sweetness—taste as you go!

Step 4: Add the water

Slowly pour in your water and give it a good stir. If you want a bolder flavor, use less water. For a more traditional lemonade taste, stick with about 4 cups.

Step 5: Color it (if you want!)

For a fun pop of color, add a drop or two of food coloring and stir. Go with pink or blue to match that cotton candy vibe!

Step 6: Chill and serve

Add plenty of ice cubes to the pitcher to cool everything down, and give it a final stir. To serve, pour the lemonade into glasses filled with ice, and top each one with a little wisp of cotton candy for garnish. Watch your guests’ faces light up!