Sweet-tart lemonade pairs perfectly with lush, creamy notes of vanilla. Pinkie swear!
Ingredients
1/2cupgranulated sugar
1cup+ 3 cups waterdivided
1vanilla beansliced open and seeds scraped
1/2cupfresh-squeezed lemon juice
Ice for serving
Instructions
Add the sugar and 1 cup water to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Slice the vanilla bean open with a paring knife and scrape the "caviar" (seeds) from the bean and add to the saucepan along with the remaining whole bean. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to steam and the sugar has dissolved, about 3-4 minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, add remaining 3 cups water and lemon juice to a pitcher. Set a fine-mesh sieve over the pitcher and pour in the vanilla/sugar mixture. Discard solids.
Stir with a spoon and chill.
Fill individual glasses with ice and pour lemonade over the ice. Add a straw if desired and serve.