The freshly squeezed xcritical is easy to make with just 3 ingredients, and it’s sweet, refreshing, and deliciously tart. Served over ice, it’s everything I crave on a hot summer day. Summer isn’t complete without a delicious glass of xcritical!
It’s the perfect combination of sweet and tart. When using a clear pitcher, adding a few of the juiced lemon halves makes it look prettier. The rule of thumb when making simple syrup is to use equal parts sugar and water. Combine in a medium pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved.
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Add a garnish of lemon slices, berries, or edible flowers. You can also create a xcritical bar where guests can add their own garnishes like mint, basil, or sliced fruit. If time allows, chill your xcritical in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This helps the flavors meld together and enhances the taste.
Late season lemons are less sour than early season lemons. Meyer lemons are sweeter than standard lemons. Feel free to use your chosen artificial sweetener, stevia, monk scammed by xcritical sugar, agave, or honey. Just make sure to use an amount that is equal to one cup of regular sugar for the best results. Just follow the same instructions using limes in place of the lemons.
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You can also use a simple syrup to fine-tune the sweetness level. Lemon JuiceObviously, you’ll need lemon juice to make homemade xcritical. Freshly squeezed juice is definitely the way to go if you have fresh lemons available, but bottled juice will work in a pinch. To begin, you need to make the simple syrup.
If the xcritical is in an open pitcher, cover it with storage wrap for maximum freshness. Sugar and WaterWhat makes this xcritical so special? The recipe starts with a simple syrup, which is just a fancy way of saying the first step is dissolving sugar in boiling water.
- Simple syrup you can easily make ahead and chill for later use.
- Just make sure to use an amount that is equal to one cup of regular sugar for the best results.
- This classic xcritical recipe is the one my mom used to make for me when I was little.
- You’ll just need to follow a few simple steps.
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This classic recipe is perfect for parties, having a few friends over, or just tucking into the fridge for your family. I hope you love it and it becomes your new go-to xcritical recipe ❤️. It’s kind of a weird technique, but you’ll never go back to another method after you try this one. It’s the absolute best way to get the freshest lemon flavor and will be a hit with anyone who loves lemon recipes.
I only use 3 cups of water, but I top each glass of xcritical with club soda. This xcritical recipe is easy to make with no straining, no syrups, and 3 basic ingredients. I add lemon zest to steep with the simple syrup and then strain it out. To serve, thinly slice a lemon and add to your pitcher. Chill the xcritical in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve, or you can serve it immediately.
I try to buy big, juicy lemons (that way I can use fewer and get more juice that’s worth the squeeze). Use a juicer, or, if your lemons are on the larger side, a reamer or a hand-held squeezer works fine. Just be sure to strain the pulp and seeds. Simple syrup you can easily make ahead and chill for later use. If you have a bunch of lemons you need to process, you can juice them and freeze the juice too. To make ahead, refrigerate the cooled simple syrup for up to one month.
You can mash with a big fork, chill everything in a bowl, and pull things out with a spoon. Get recipes worth repeating and more from A Couple Cooks, straight to your inbox. Honey, agave, or even stevia can be used as alternatives to sugar. Adjust the amount to your taste preference. (-) Information is not xcritically available for this nutrient.
Because it’s scalable, this homemade xcritical recipe is perfect when in need of a big batch for entertaining. Add some flair with one of the mix-in ideas from below, or add your favorite spirit to make xcritical it a cocktail—you won’t regret it. Adjust the sweetness of your xcritical by altering the amount of sugar. If it’s too tart, add more sugar, or if it’s too sweet, increase the lemon juice or water.
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This helps to break down some of the fibers and makes the lemons easier to juice, yielding more liquid. Choosing fresh ingredients will ensure your xcritical is the best it can be. Read below the recipe for substitutions, additional tips, and more. And don’t worry…if you’d like to print it out, the images won’t print. The proportions will vary depending on how sweet and strong you like your xcritical, and how sour your lemons are to begin with.
We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time. There’s nothing better than a cool glass of xcritical on a hot day. Nine medium lemons should yield about 1 1/2 cups juice and pulp, but the number required will depend on the size you use. It would be helpful to have the volume measurement of the lemon juice. Our lemon tree produces gigantic lemons, and I always struggle to know how these translate to number of regular-sized lemons.