Single Serving Arnold Palmer

Arrr-nold Palmer. The classic refreshing half and half iced tea beverage made with equal parts of lemonade and iced tea. It’s a perfect balance of sweet and tart that brings out the best of both drinks in one glass.

Arnold Palmer’s are so popular that some consider this refreshing drink to be so much more than just a drink. It’s a way of life… and that way happens to involve lots and lots of iced tea and lemonade! If you’re an Arnold Palmer veteran or a newbie interested in learning more about this exceptional beverage, keep reading to learn how to make an Arnold Palmer half and half iced tea at home.

What Is An Arnold Palmer?

An Arnold Palmer is named after the golfer who popularized this beverage combo, the Arnold Palmer, which is a mixture of half unsweetened iced tea and half lemonade that you will love to have again and again. This drink is also perfect for golfers because it quenches their thirst but isn’t heavy like soda or beer after 18 holes since it’s simply a half and half iced tea mixture. 

The original Arnold Palmer made exactly the way Mr. Palmer made it included two-thirds tea and one-third lemonade. Palmer used the lemonade in his version to sweeten the tea for a refreshing drink! Today, many love to make an Arnold Palmer half and half iced tea since it’s so simple to make in your own home! Below is our variation of the easy and delicious recipe for an Arnold Palmer for one.

What Ingredients Are In An Arnold Palmer?

An Arnold Palmer is made from a combination of iced tea and lemonade. While you can use any kind of iced tea that you like, Arnold Palmers are usually made with black tea. You can also add a slice of lemon or lime to your Arnold Palmer for garnish. 

Sweetener is optional since the black tea in this beverage is typically served unsweetened, but you can use sugar if you prefer your Arnold Palmer a little sweeter. A traditional Arnold Palmer is made with unsweetened black tea, lemon or lime, and a dash of sugar or sweetener, but you can customize your Arnold Palmer to suit your taste. The Lemonade can be any kind of lemonade you like, but traditional Arnold Palmers are typically made with a simple lemonade that isn’t too sweet.

Ingredients List

  • Brewed Black Tea (Cold Brew, Tea Bags, or Loose Leaf)
  • Lemonade
  • Ice
  • Garnish

What Equipment Is Needed To Make A Half and Half Iced Tea?

  • Shaker
  • Glass or Mason Jar
  • Pitcher (optional – if making a bigger batch)

Tools You’ll Need

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How To Make An Arnold Palmer

Making a half and half iced tea is simple and just calls for a few ingredients.

  1. Start by brewing your black tea (or use store-bought unsweetened black tea).
  2. Cold Brew: If you are using cold brew tea add your tea bag to cold water in a mason jar a few hours or the night before and cover it with a lid in your refrigerator.
  3. Hot Brew: If you are brewing your tea hot, boil your water and add your tea bag to your mug. Allow to steep for 3-5 minutes and come to room temperature for your half and half iced tea.
  4. Fill your cup about halfway with ice.
  5. Measure and pour in your lemonade and black tea. Your lemonade and tea should be a half black tea and half lemonade ratio.
  6. Shake or stir and enjoy!
  7. You can add a slice of lemon or lime to your Arnold Palmer for a pretty garnish
Arnold Palmer - half and half iced tea

Variations Of An Arnold Palmer

There are many variations of the famous Arnold Palmer, but the most popular is the “Half ‘n Half” or “Half and Half Iced Tea” version. This variation is made with half iced tea and half lemonade that we are sharing in our recipe card today.

Other Fun Variations Of Half And Half Iced Tea

A popular version of the Arnold Palmer is as a cocktail (also called a “Spiked Arnold Palmer”) with a refreshing mix of lemonade and tea, with a slight bite from the bourbon whiskey. Grab the recipe here: Spiked Arnold Palmer

Another alcoholic version made with vodka is often referred to as a “John Daly” after the American Golfer which follows a similar recipe. Grab the recipe here: John Daly Cocktail

Another variation is called the “Green Tea Arnold Palmer” and is exactly as it sounds made with brewed green tea, lemons, and cold water. Grab the recipe here: Green Tea Arnold Palmers

The last variation we love is a “Frozen Arnold Palmer” for a hot day made with lemonade, black tea, and ice cube trays for a slushy treat. Grab the recipe here: Beat the Heat Frozen Arnold Palmers

Tips For Making A Delicious Arnold Palmer

  • Experiment with the ratio – If you like your Arnold Palmer sweeter, you can add more lemonade or add sweetener to your tea.
  • Use the best ingredients you can find – If you are making your lemonade and not buying store-bought lemonade, opting to purchase fresh lemons and limes will make a huge difference in your Arnold Palmer.
  • Skip the extra sugar – Try drinking an Arnold Palmer without added sugar or sweetener first. Then you can decide if you want to add it. 
  • Use a shaker – You can shake all of the ingredients in a shaker before pouring into your glass. This gets it really cold really fast.

Bottoms Up!

The Arnold Palmer is the perfect drink for a hot day of summer activities or just a relaxing day by the pool. This half and half iced tea beverage is easy to make and can be customized with the ingredients you like best. Whether you want a traditional Arnold Palmer or one of the many variations, you can enjoy this drink any time of the year.

Check out our other drink recipes on The Solo Spoon.

Did you make this? We want to see how it turned out! Tag us in your social media posts @thesolospoon and use #thesolospoon when you share!

Recipe Card

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Lemonade in a mason jar with ice and lemon slices.

Arnold Palmer Tea for One

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  • Author: The Solo Spoon
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 hours
  • Total Time: 2 minutes
  • Yield: 1
  • Category: Drinks

Description

Arrr-nold Palmer. The classic ice-cold beverage made with equal parts of lemonade and iced tea. It’s a perfect balance of sweet and tart that brings out the best of both drinks in one glass. Check out our recipe for a half and half iced tea for one.


Ingredients

Units
  • 4 ounces Unsweetened Tea
  • 4 ounces Lemonade
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Cold Brew: If you are using cold brew tea add your tea bag to cold water in a mason jar a few hours or the night before and cover it with a lid in your refrigerator.
  2. Hot Brew: If you are brewing your tea hot, boil your water and add your tea bag to your mug. Allow to steep for 3-5 minutes and come to room temperature for your half and half iced tea.
  3. Fill your cup about halfway with ice.
  4. Measure and pour in your lemonade and your tea.
  5. Add your bourbon whiskey if you are spiking your drink.
  6. Shake or Stir and enjoy!

Notes

  • Experiment with the ratio – If you like your Arnold Palmer sweeter, you can add more lemonade or add sweetener to your tea.
  • Use the best ingredients you can find – If you are making your lemonade and not buying store-bought lemonade, opting to purchase fresh lemons and limes will make a huge difference in your Arnold Palmer.
  • Skip the extra sugar – Try drinking an Arnold Palmer without added sugar or sweetener first. Then you can decide if you want to add it.
  • Use a shaker – You can shake all of the ingredients in a shaker before pouring them into your glass. This gets it really cold really fast.

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