I love trying a viral food trend. Give me something that’s taking over TikTok or Instagram, and chances are I’m going to want to get into the kitchen and see if it actually lives up to the hype.
Lately, lemonade has been having quite the moment. I dug far and wide through social media and found so many variations, from dirty lemonade to fluffy lemonade to tomato lemonade (?!) to pickle lemonade, and just about everything in between. But one version kept catching my attention, and after watching about 25 creators make their take on a viral lemonade, I believe I tracked it back to one of the creators who helped get the creamy lemonade trend going: Emma Grace – @not.eg on TikTok and @emmagraceandmemama on Instagram.
Emma and her grandmother, lovingly called MeMama, make videos together cooking, shopping and even refilling candy jars, and I quickly found myself hooked on watching them. Their relationship couldn’t be sweeter, and neither could some of the recipes they make together.
@not.eg?CREAMY LEMONADE?with MEMAMA #lemonade #creamylemonade #lemonshakeup #drinktok #emmagraceandmemama #southern #southernaccent #memamatok #memamafy #grandmasoftiktok #watertok
♬ original sound – EMMA GRACECourtesy Jeanette Donnarumma
One that really caught my eye was MeMama’s creamy lemonade, a simple Southern-style lemon shake-up made with fresh lemons, sugar, water, ice and a very generous pour of sweetened condensed milk. After shaking everything together, you’re left with a thick, creamy lemonade that Emma describes as tasting like lemon pie.
As someone who loves testing viral recipes, and isn’t necessarily the biggest sweets person, I needed to know if this one passed the vibe check. So I grabbed my lemons and a can of sweetened condensed milk and got shaking.
Related: I Tried 14 Store-Bought Lemonades and the Winner Won By a Landslide
What Makes Lemonade ‘Creamy’?
The dirty soda trend has completely taken over social media over the last few months, and there are so many creamy, extra sweetened drinks all over the internet, but what exactly makes a drink “dirty”?
Traditionally, a dirty soda starts with soda and adds flavored syrups plus something creamy, such as half-and-half, heavy cream or coffee creamer. The combination turns an everyday fizzy drink into something sweeter, creamier and much more dessert-like.
The idea has expanded well beyond soda, with people giving all kinds of drinks the “dirty” treatment. In the case of creamy lemonade, you’re taking tart, refreshing lemonade and adding a rich, creamy ingredient, which in this recipe, sweetened condensed milk.
The result lands somewhere between a drink and a dessert. Think classic lemonade meets creamy lemon pie.
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The 3-Ingredient Dirty Lemonade Recipe
Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma
MeMama’s creamy lemonade only requires three main ingredients: lemons, granulated sugar and sweetened condensed milk. You’ll also need water and plenty of ice to turn those ingredients into a cold, refreshing drink.
Ingredients
2 fresh lemons per serving 1/4 cup granulated sugar per serving Sweetened condensed milk, to taste Water IceThat’s it. And while “sweetened condensed milk, to taste” leaves quite a bit of room for interpretation, MeMama’s method is wonderfully straightforward: add as much as your heart desires.
Related: I Juiced Lemons Using 6 Different Methods and the Winner Was Very Clear
How To Make the Viral Dirty Lemonade
Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma
Start by cutting two lemons into pieces and adding them to a container or jar with a lid. I couldn’t resist the charm of doing it exactly like I’ve seen online, in a disposable quart deli container. Add 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, then muddle the lemons and sugar together really well. You want to release as much lemon juice as possible while allowing the sugar to start dissolving into it.
Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma
Next, add plenty of ice and water. Then comes the ingredient that turns regular lemonade into something much more decadent, and as the recipe says, creamy: sweetened condensed milk.
Pour in as much sweetened condensed milk as you’d like, keeping in mind that a little goes a long way when it comes to creaminess, sweetness and richness. Secure the lid and shake everything vigorously until the condensed milk is completely incorporated and the lemonade looks creamy.
Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma
I poked a hole right into the lid and stuck a straw in and sipped right from the source.
Related: We Asked a Floridian to Taste & Rank 11 Orange Juice Brands and the Winner Surprised Him
The Food Science: Why Doesn’t the Cream Curdle?
Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma
Pouring a dairy product directly into acidic lemon juice sounds like a recipe for curdling, so why does sweetened condensed milk work so well here?
It actually comes down to the way sweetened condensed milk is made. Much of the water has been removed from the milk and a significant amount of sugar has been added, creating a thick, concentrated dairy product. When the milk proteins encounter the acid in lemon juice, they do react, but instead of producing the unpleasant, separated texture you might expect from pouring regular milk into lemon juice, the concentrated mixture thickens smoothly.
It’s the same chemistry that makes sweetened condensed milk such a natural partner for citrus in desserts like key lime pie and lemon pie. The acid helps the dairy proteins coagulate and the mixture becomes thicker and creamier. The lemon isn’t fighting against the condensed milk here. It’s actually helping create that dessert-like texture.
My Honest Opinion
Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma
This one delicious drink and one heck of a sugar rush!
I completely understand why these fun lemonades are trending. It’s fun, creamy and unlike any regular glass of lemonade. The first thing that hit me was just how sweet and tart it was at the same time. The fresh lemon gives you that strong acidic pucker, while the sweetened condensed milk comes in right behind it with an incredibly rich sweetness.
It really does feel more like drinking a lemon dessert than sipping on traditional lemonade.
Would I make it again? Probably not exactly as written. I’m not into very sweet things, and this was definitely a lot. But if you have a serious sweet tooth, this might be the viral trend for you.
I would, however, absolutely play around with the concept. I think fresh lemon juice topped with cold seltzer and a flavored syrup could give me that fun “dirty soda” experience while keeping it a little lighter and more refreshing.
3 Flavor Upgrades To Make It Your Own
Toasted Coconut Creamy Lemonade: Swap the sweetened condensed milk for coconut milk and a few pumps of toasted coconut syrup. You’ll get that same creamy experience with a tropical twist, and it can easily be made dairy-free.
Dirty Citrus-Ade: Don’t stop at lemons. Muddle lemon, lime and orange together before adding the remaining ingredients. You’ll get layers of tart, sweet and slightly floral citrus flavor instead of straight-up lemon.
Strawberry Dirty Lemonade: Add a handful of fresh strawberries when you muddle the lemons and sugar. The berries add natural sweetness, gorgeous color and a strawberry-lemonade flavor that works perfectly with the creamy finish.
Is Viral Dirty Lemonade Worth Trying?
Trying viral food trends is one of my favorite things to do, and more often than not, there’s a reason a recipe takes off. Creamy lemonade is no exception. It’s fun, ridiculously easy to make and definitely delivers on its promise of turning an everyday summer drink into something that tastes like dessert in a glass.
Like I said, I’m not much of a sweets girl, so this probably won’t replace my favorite regular lemonade anytime soon. But if sweet, creamy drinks are your thing, run and grab a can of sweetened condensed milk, a couple of lemons and plenty of ice.
At the very least, this is one viral summer treat worth trying once, and if you have a sweet tooth, you may just find yourself making it all summer long.
Related: I Tried Making Viral Dirty Sodas With 5-hour ENERGY’s New Flavors—and They’re Officially My New Summer Obsession
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