16 Homemade Soda Recipes That Beat Anything in a Can

A can of regular soda can have around 35 to 40 grams of sugar, plus artificial colors and flavors. Homemade soda is a fun way to keep the fizz and drop a lot of that. All you need is sparkling water and a simple fruit syrup, fresh juice or a splash of vinegar based shrub. You control the sweetness, the flavors are real, and every glass looks beautiful. These drinks are all alcohol free, so the whole family can enjoy them. Looking for more festive sips? Try these holiday mocktails and punch recipes too. Which flavor will you mix first..

Homemade Soda Starter Kit: Easy Fruit Syrup Plus Bubbles

Every great homemade soda starts with one simple formula: a little fruit syrup plus a lot of bubbles. Simmer chopped fruit with water and a small amount of sugar or honey, strain it, and keep the syrup in the fridge for up to two weeks. Then add 2 to 3 tablespoons to a glass of ice cold sparkling water whenever you want a soda. It uses far less sugar than a can. Quick poll: which flavor sounds best? A) Berry B) Citrus C) Ginger D) Cherry.

You will need: 2 cups chopped fruit (berries, cherries, peaches or citrus), 1 cup water, 1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar or honey, 1 tbsp lemon juice, sparkling water, ice.

How to make it: 1. Simmer the fruit, water and sugar for 10 to 15 minutes, mashing the fruit as it softens. 2. Strain the syrup and stir in the lemon juice. 3. Cool and store in a jar in the fridge. 4. Add 2 to 3 tbsp syrup to a tall glass of ice. 5. Top with sparkling water and stir gently.

Fresh Ginger Ale, the Classic Homemade Soda

Real ginger ale used to be made with real ginger, and once you taste the homemade kind you will see why people love it. Fresh ginger simmered into a spicy syrup gives it a warm kick that store bought ginger ale just does not have. Add lime and top with bubbles. Many people like ginger ale when their tummy feels a little off, and this one has real ginger in it. Do you like your ginger ale mild or spicy?

You will need: 1 cup fresh ginger (peeled and sliced), 2 cups water, 1/2 cup sugar or honey, 2 limes, sparkling water, ice.

How to make it: 1. Simmer the ginger in water for 20 minutes. 2. Stir in the sugar until it dissolves and simmer 5 more minutes. 3. Strain and cool the syrup. 4. Add 3 tbsp syrup and a squeeze of lime to a glass of ice. 5. Top with sparkling water.

Fresh Orange Soda With Real Juice

Orange soda from a can is bright orange because of food dye. This one gets its sunny color from real fresh squeezed oranges. Mix half juice and half sparkling water for a light, fizzy drink that tastes like a creamsicle when you add a drop of vanilla. Kids love it at parties, and it is a nice way to enjoy the winter citrus season. Would you pick orange soda or lemon lime?

You will need: 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice, 1 cup sparkling water, 1 tsp honey (optional), 1 drop vanilla extract (optional), ice, orange slices.

How to make it: 1. Squeeze the oranges and strain out the seeds. 2. Stir in the honey and vanilla. 3. Fill a glass with ice. 4. Pour in the juice until half full. 5. Top with sparkling water and garnish with an orange slice.

Cherry Vanilla Homemade Soda

Cherry vanilla soda is a nostalgic diner favorite, and the homemade version tastes like a soda fountain treat. Frozen dark cherries simmer into a deep red syrup, and a splash of vanilla makes it smooth and creamy tasting. Use frozen cherries so you can make it any time of year. Add a little cream on top for a fun Italian cream soda style drink. What soda did you love most as a kid?

You will need: 2 cups frozen dark sweet cherries, 1 cup water, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp lemon juice, sparkling water, ice, a splash of cream (optional).

How to make it: 1. Simmer the cherries, water and sugar for 15 minutes, mashing as they soften. 2. Strain and stir in vanilla and lemon juice. 3. Cool the syrup. 4. Add 3 tbsp to a glass of ice. 5. Top with sparkling water and a splash of cream if you like.

Pink Grapefruit Lime Soda

If you like tart drinks, this one is for you. Fresh pink grapefruit juice and lime are mixed with a light honey syrup and topped with sparkling water. It is refreshing, a little bitter and a little sweet, a bit like a grown up lemonade. Rim the glass with a little sugar and salt for extra fun. Grapefruit can interact with some medicines, so check with your pharmacist if you take any. Sweet drinks or tart drinks?

You will need: 1 cup fresh pink grapefruit juice, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 to 2 tbsp honey, 1 1/2 cups sparkling water, ice, lime wheels.

How to make it: 1. Stir the honey into the grapefruit and lime juice until dissolved. 2. Fill two glasses with ice. 3. Divide the juice between the glasses. 4. Top with sparkling water. 5. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Blackberry Mint Sparkler

Muddled blackberries and fresh mint make this drink taste like a summer garden, even in the middle of fall. Crush the berries with a little honey and mint right in the glass, add ice and top with sparkling water. The deep purple color looks amazing in a clear glass mug. It is a lovely homemade soda idea for frozen berries too. Have you ever muddled fruit for a drink?

You will need: 1/3 cup blackberries (fresh or thawed), 4 to 5 mint leaves, 1 to 2 tsp honey, 1 tbsp lime juice, sparkling water, ice.

How to make it: 1. Add the blackberries, mint, honey and lime juice to a glass. 2. Muddle gently with a spoon until juicy. 3. Fill the glass with ice. 4. Top with sparkling water. 5. Stir and garnish with a mint sprig.

Pineapple Ginger Homemade Soda

Sweet pineapple and spicy ginger are a great pair. Blend fresh pineapple, strain the juice and mix it with a little ginger syrup and bubbles for a golden, tropical drink. It tastes like vacation in a glass and is a fun change from plain juice. Pineapple is naturally sweet, so you need very little added sugar. Quick poll: which fruit makes the best soda? A) Pineapple B) Strawberry C) Cherry D) Orange.

You will need: 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks, 1/2 cup water, 2 tbsp ginger syrup (from the ginger ale recipe) or 1 tsp grated ginger, 1 tbsp lime juice, sparkling water, ice.

How to make it: 1. Blend the pineapple with water until smooth. 2. Strain the juice through a fine sieve. 3. Stir in the ginger syrup and lime juice. 4. Fill glasses halfway with the juice over ice. 5. Top with sparkling water.

Healthier Root Beer Float

Root beer floats are pure nostalgia. For a lighter version, use a root beer made with less sugar or a homemade root beer style syrup with sassafras free root beer extract, then top it with one small scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt. You still get that creamy, fizzy foam that everyone loves. It is a fun treat for movie night. Who remembers root beer floats from their childhood?

You will need: 1 small scoop vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt, 1 cup reduced sugar root beer or 1 cup sparkling water mixed with 2 tbsp root beer syrup, a tall glass, a straw.

How to make it: 1. Chill the glass in the freezer for 10 minutes. 2. Add the scoop of ice cream. 3. Slowly pour the root beer over the top. 4. Let the foam rise, then top off. 5. Serve right away with a spoon and straw.

Homemade Kombucha, the Fizzy Fermented Tea

Kombucha is a lightly fizzy fermented tea made with a SCOBY, which is a culture of bacteria and yeast. It has a tangy, slightly sweet taste, and many people enjoy it as a soda swap. Making it at home takes patience, about 7 to 14 days, and clean equipment is very important. If you are pregnant, have a weak immune system or are new to it, talk to your doctor first and start with a small glass. Would you try brewing your own?

You will need: 8 cups water, 4 black or green tea bags, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup plain kombucha from a previous batch or store bought, 1 SCOBY, a clean glass jar, a cloth cover.

How to make it: 1. Brew the tea, stir in the sugar and let it cool completely. 2. Pour into a clean glass jar with the starter kombucha. 3. Add the SCOBY and cover with a cloth. 4. Leave at room temperature away from sun for 7 to 14 days. 5. Taste, then bottle and chill when it is tangy enough.

Blood Orange Sparkler

Blood oranges are in season in winter, and their deep red juice makes stunning drinks. Mix the juice with a little honey, top with sparkling water and garnish with citrus slices and mint. This homemade soda is a gorgeous alcohol free option for holiday parties and brunch. If you can not find blood oranges, use regular oranges with a splash of cranberry juice for the same pretty color. Have you ever tasted a blood orange?

You will need: 1 cup blood orange juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 cups sparkling water, ice, orange and lemon slices, mint.

How to make it: 1. Stir the honey into the blood orange and lemon juice. 2. Fill glasses with ice and citrus slices. 3. Pour in the juice until one third full. 4. Top with sparkling water. 5. Garnish with mint.

Apple Cider Shrub Soda

A shrub is an old fashioned drinking vinegar made from fruit, sugar and vinegar. It sounds strange, but mixed with sparkling water it tastes tangy, fruity and super refreshing, a little like a sweet and sour soda. Apple and cinnamon make it perfect for fall. The shrub keeps in the fridge for weeks, and you only need a spoonful per glass. Be honest: would you drink vinegar if it tasted like apple pie?

You will need: 2 apples (chopped), 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cinnamon stick, sparkling water, ice, orange or apple slices.

How to make it: 1. Mix the chopped apples and sugar in a jar and let sit 1 hour. 2. Add the vinegar and cinnamon and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days, shaking daily. 3. Strain the shrub into a clean bottle. 4. Add 1 to 2 tbsp to a glass of ice. 5. Top with sparkling water.

Raspberry Sparkling Water With Frozen Berries

This is the easiest drink on the list and one of the prettiest. Drop frozen raspberries into a glass instead of ice, then pour sparkling water over them. As the berries thaw, they slowly flavor the water and turn it pale pink. A squeeze of lemon makes it even better. Think of it as the simplest homemade soda, and a great way to drink more water if plain water bores you. How many glasses of water do you drink a day?

You will need: 1/3 cup frozen raspberries, 1 1/2 cups sparkling water, a squeeze of lemon, a few mint leaves (optional).

How to make it: 1. Put the frozen raspberries in a tall glass. 2. Add the lemon juice. 3. Pour the sparkling water over the berries. 4. Add mint if you like. 5. Let it sit 2 minutes so the flavor comes through.

Strawberry Homemade Soda in a Jar

Strawberry soda made with real berries is bright, sweet and a big hit with kids. Roasting or simmering the strawberries brings out their flavor, so the syrup tastes like strawberry jam. Serve it in mason jars with lots of ice for a fun, old fashioned feel. You can also blend a few fresh berries into the syrup for a thicker, smoothie style soda. Are you a strawberry fan?

You will need: 2 cups strawberries (hulled and chopped), 1 cup water, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, sparkling water, ice.

How to make it: 1. Simmer the strawberries, water and sugar for 12 minutes. 2. Mash and strain the syrup. 3. Stir in the lemon juice and cool. 4. Add 3 tbsp syrup to a jar of ice. 5. Top with sparkling water and stir.

Peach Soda With Homemade Peach Syrup

Peach soda tastes like a summer afternoon on the porch. Frozen peaches work great, so you can make it all year. Simmer them into a golden syrup with a little honey and a slice of ginger, then keep the syrup in a cute bottle in the fridge. Mix it with sparkling water and garnish with fresh peach slices. Quick poll: peach or mango? A) Peach B) Mango C) Both D) Neither.

You will need: 2 cups peaches (fresh or frozen, sliced), 1 cup water, 1/3 cup honey or sugar, 1 thin slice ginger, 1 tbsp lemon juice, sparkling water, ice.

How to make it: 1. Simmer the peaches, water, honey and ginger for 15 minutes. 2. Mash and strain. 3. Stir in the lemon juice and cool. 4. Pour into a bottle and refrigerate. 5. Mix 3 tbsp syrup with sparkling water over ice.

Sparkling Cranberry Spritzer for the Holidays

Cranberry spritzers are perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas because they look so festive. Mix unsweetened cranberry juice with a little orange juice and honey, then top with bubbles and fresh cranberries. It is tart, bright and much lower in sugar than most cranberry cocktails. Serve it in pretty glasses so everyone at the table can toast together. Do you have a special drink for holiday dinners?

You will need: 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice, 1/2 cup orange juice, 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup, 2 cups sparkling water, ice, fresh cranberries, orange zest.

How to make it: 1. Stir the honey into the cranberry and orange juice. 2. Chill well. 3. Fill glasses with ice and a few cranberries. 4. Pour in the juice until half full. 5. Top with sparkling water and orange zest.

Make a Homemade Soda Bar for Your Next Party

To finish, turn all these ideas into a fun party station. Set out three or four homemade syrups, a few bottles of sparkling water, a bucket of ice and bowls of fresh fruit, herbs and lemon slices. Let guests mix their own flavors. Kids and adults both love it, and it is much cheaper than buying cases of soda. So, which homemade soda will you make first? A) Ginger ale B) Cherry vanilla C) Strawberry D) Cranberry spritzer.

You will need: 3 or 4 fruit syrups (strawberry, ginger, peach, cherry), 4 large bottles sparkling water, ice, lemon and lime slices, fresh berries, mint, glasses and straws, small labels.

How to make it: 1. Make the syrups a day or two ahead and chill them. 2. Pour them into bottles or jars with labels. 3. Set out ice, sparkling water and garnishes. 4. Add a small sign: 2 to 3 tbsp syrup per glass. 5. Let everyone mix and taste.