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)
- 1/2 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:
great recipe – my boys will be thrilled. for years they did not like soda due to the carbonation (1 still doesn’t , thank goodness). When they were about 9 , one of them came to me at a graduation party (hubby is a teacher so we go to our fair share). All of these parties only had soda for kids drinks so he kept trying the orange. He came to me so proudly and said “guess what mom? I got used to that burning feeling in my mouth and now I like orange soda!” –like I was going to be so proud and excited! Now if he came to me and excitedly said “I got used to the feeling of a tree in my mouth and now I like broccoli’ – THAT would excite me 😉
Would LOVE LOVE LOVE if you could do a root beer version. We don’t get root beer where I live but my hubby grew up with it and misses it. I have a recipe for fake (read: natural) cola syrup that tastes like the cola bottle gummies and it is great but I have never tried to carbonate it myself with yeast. I haveonly ised soda water. Am going to have to have a play n the kitchen!
Mmmm… looks good. Usually don’t drink soda, but somehow I must try this. Thanks for the post.
You know what else starts with C, besides cream soda? Crepes… just sayin :). Gotta love dem crepes!
Love the dogs in the pics…too funny. I think they just want a little snack.
You’re amazing! How do you think of these things? Cannot wait till your book is out!
Oh, I can’t wait to try this! I’ve been trying to perfect a low-cal/stevia-sweetened cream soda in my never ending quest to make a healthier version of butterbeer. I’ve been trying making it with the NuNaturals vanilla stevia drops, but can’t seem to figure out what’s been missing. I’m thinking the cream of tartar and possibly the lemon zest might be it!
YUM! I can’t get over how authentic this tastes. Next time I might even change up the lemon with some orange zest. And there will be a next time for sure.
Thanks for a great recipe, Katie. I love your blog! 🙂
Katie,
Am a first time visitor and my jaw has given in to gravity and dropped off looking at all the stuff you have made 🙂
Had a question with the recipe though – I dont usually store cream of tartar. What could I use as a substitute for this recipe?
So you open the bottle and then put it in the fridge? You lost me on that part.
Hey Katie! Thanks for helping me manage my sweet tooth and my love for healthy things. Just a question, not sure if its a silly one.. is this supposed to taste um yeasty? I only put about 2 tbsp sugar in total and a bit of stevia. Keep up the good work Katie!
I know I’m late commenting on this but I just wanted to say I just came up with a recipe for chocolate soda that I am currently drinking a glass of. It’s really easy to make, just heat a little bit of water, mix in some cocoa and sugar, and add ice and sparkling water.
Hi Katie,
I made this the day you posted it (the longer version). There is already none left, which I guess means we liked it!
Tried the instant version! Loved it!
Can’t wait to try the yeasted version.
Thanks for this Katie!
Just wanted to let you know, I made a cherry soda, and you can do it in glass, no kaboom. I used less sugar, and substituted cherry juice for some of the water…. and added a strip of ginger… and yum!
Wow! This looks so yummmy – I’ve been invited to a picnic later this week and I think I’ll make a few bottles of this to share 🙂
I’d love to see the other pop recipes from your great-grandmother if you’re happy to share them!
My favourite soft drink was always the lemonade my mum made (we had a giant lemon tree in our back yard). It was perfect – not to sweet, not too fizzy, not too sour, but a little bit tart.
I never really liked commercial sodas – the fizz always went up my nose and made me sneeze!