Did you know that you can make your own healthy soda at home?
It’s not hard at all!
And it’s absolutely delicious in a cream soda float!
Use your favorite coconut, vanilla, or homemade Healthy Ice Cream.
(S is not a fan of coconut, which gave me a great excuse to try out a cashew-based version for our floats.)
Way back in the 1920s, my great grandmother would make homemade soda in her basement, then invite all the neighbors over for a party.
Well, soda is not all she made in her basement. But we probably shouldn’t go into that… 😉
Homemade root beer and ginger ale were her specialties; however I’ve always liked cream soda best, and so I adapted my great grandma’s homemade soda technique for the recipe I’m posting today: homemade and healthy cream soda, high in B vitamins, and much lower in sugar than the cola you’d get from a store.
Homemade Cream Soda
- 1/4 cup warm water (60g) (about 110 degrees F)
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar or regular sugar or agave (12g)
- pinch stevia extract, or 2-3 tbsp sweetener of choice
- 1/4 tsp brewers or dry active yeast (see below for yeast-free version)
- 1/2Â tsp pure vanilla extract (2g)
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 strip lemon zest (2-in or so)
- 2 cups water (480g)
- 32oz soda bottle, with a cap
Dissolve the 1 tbsp sugar (not xylitol or stevia) in the water, then sprinkle the yeast over top. Set aside 6-10 minutes, or until it bubbles. (If it doesn’t bubble, either your yeast is bad or your water was too hot.) Meanwhile, put all other ingredients into the soda bottle and shake well. Pour the bubbly yeast mixture into the soda bottle, either using a funnel or pouring through a paper cup with a small hole at the bottom. Shake, then put the cap on the bottle and store it in a warm, dry place. Wait about a day and a half (no longer), then slowly open the bottle over the sink—just in case. Your soda is ready to drink, or store it in the fridge. I’m sure that if you want instant cream soda, you could just use carbonated water and skip the yeast
For Instant Cream Soda: Omit the yeast and the 1 tbsp sugar. Use carbonated water for all the water in the recipe. Stir all ingredients together, and there is no need to wait.
Click for: Cream Soda Nutrition Facts
 
 
Question of the Day:
Pepsi, Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper… What’s your favorite type of soda?
When I was really little, I loved to buy orange sodas from the vending machine at a park near our house. But I’d never actually drink the sodas, as I didn’t like the sugary sweetness or carbonation. This was always a struggle between my mother and me… she knew the only reason I’d ask for money for a soda was because I liked pushing the button and watching it fall from the machine. The actual drink would end up in the trash after a few sips. Looking back, I tell my mom she should’ve been happy about this; she didn’t have to deal with a crazy-hyper kid on a sugar high!
Link of the Day:
……Greek Yogurt Cheesecake
I’m not much for pop, either, but beyond the occasional craving for a Pepsi on a really hot day (??), the most recent ones I’ve loved are the Jarritos Mexican sodas. There are several fruity flavors, and our favorite Mexican restaurant growing up served them — tons of good memories associated with Jarritos!
Wow, that’s not very much sugar at all! I may have to give this a try. I’m a little gun-shy, though – my dad tried to make root beer in our bathtub for a few months, and that stuff was seriously nasty 🙂
I know, I’m so excited. I believe one of the main reasons that Americans are so obese is that we drink a lot of soda (I’m not saying that soda causes obesity, or that if you cut soda out of your diet, you won’t get obese), and we don’t feel like exercising it off. And we drink probably more than one 12-oz can everyday.
Root Beer & Ginger Ale are my FAVORITE sodas! Do you think you’ll be posting those recipes anytime?
Maybe someday I will try the root beer one. I don’t actually have real recipes from her… I only know the technique.
Great recipe to share. We have a Soda stream that I got for a gift last year that I’ve been experimenting with to get lots of natural flavors.
Whoa, Katie!! This is so clever! You’re so creative! Great recipe!! I was hoping you were going to include the cashew ice cream, but I’ll be patient! Heehee!! 😀
oh my gosh katie this sounds awesome!
You should add the Root Beer recipe to the article if you have it. We love Root Beer Floats but dont’ have them often due to the ingredients…
Wow Katie, what a great idea!! I haven’t had soda in 4 years now, but I may break my chain for some healthy cream soda!!
I had no idea it was so easy to make homemade soda. I love cream soda & root beer floats, but rarely order or make them because of all the sugar. I can’t wait to try this receipe.
I gave up soda (pop) in the 90’s, but the recipe sounds interesting and I may try it just out of curiosity, plus I know it wouldn’t be near as sweet as regular soda. Also, is it just my computer, or did your print button disappear? Thanks
I am having trouble with the recipe plugin (or site, since it’s not really a plugin). I’m trying to work on it, though!