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:
I’ve never used coconut sugar before. Does it have a strong coconut flavor? My husband hates coconut (the weirdo, lol) so I don’t know if I’d want to use that. I was thinking about trying sucanat or maple syrup instead. Any idea if either of those would work?
Thanks!
I just used sucanat and it turned out really well!
Great! Thanks Laura 🙂
Can you post the root beer and other recipe your grandmother used to make? This is really cool.
I tried the recipe for instant cream soda. At first it tasted very much like chemicals…blech. But then I let it sit out for a day and it tasted SO much better. Still not exactly like cream soda, but good. Also, if you are doing the instant cream soda–use half the vanilla and omit the cream of tarter. The cream of tarter just makes it taste like chemicals and the vanilla is way too strong. I had to end up using way more carb water to get it to taste right.
I really appreciate you sharing this recipe. I used it to make one of the many home made sodas I sell at festivals and farm markets. May the Lord Jesus bless you for your generosity! I’ve shared your recipe on my G plus page too!
When recipes call for “sparkling water” or “carbonated water” are you talking about Mineral Water? Because that’s kind of salty. I’ve seen a lot of recipes ask for “sparkling water,” but I’ve never seen it in stores. Just curious, because I don’t care for mineral water.
You are correct about the mineral water being salty (I think it’s also bitter), you are tasting the minerals. These recipes are calling not calling for that, but for plain carbonated water, which you may have seen in stores with any of the following names: “soda water,” “club soda” or “seltzer water.”
I’d love to try the yeast free version, but do not see it below. Are you able to post it?
Thanks so much!
It’s just below the recipe:
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.
If you want to omit the yeast all together, you can make a “ginger bug” to add natural carbonation. Mix 1T grated ginger root, 1T chlorine-free water, and 1T sugar in a non-reactive container (I use an old peanut butter jar) and cover with a coffee filter and store at room temp. For the next 6 days (7 days total) continue to add the same ingredients. You’ll end up with a wonderful smelling ginger concoction alive with healthy microbes to carry out your carbonation! This bug is alive, and if you want to keep it that way it has to be fed. Put it in the fridge and feed 1T sugar, 1T water, and 1T grated ginger once a week. To use, strain off 1/4C of liquid for a half gallon or 2L bottle. Replace the activated yeast in the above recipe with this ginger bug. Whenever the bug is used, replace the amount removed with a mixture of equal parts water and sugar. Your soda will become naturally carbonated, and you can use it in ALMOST anything. Fizzy chai tea is AWESOME.
I forgot to add that the sugar isn’t for you, its for the microbes. They process the sugar to make CO2. Be careful when reducing the sugar by too much — if the bugs starve they won’t carbonate your soda.
One more thing — if your ginger bug is working you’ll start seeing bubbles around day 4 or so. A quick shake or stir will release the gases and make a slight fizz in your jar.
Is tonic water and carbonated water the same thing?
no it is not!
hmmmm, sounds simple enough! would you happen to have the ginger ale recipe on here some where already? any thing from your grand mother’s basement sounds rather intriguing 🙂
better yet, i would love to make tonic water!!!! Any successful trials on your end???
you guessed it, i am not a fan of soda, ice cream floats or any of that, how ever tonic water i like a lot – just don’t want the HFCS kinds and the natural ones, well i simply can’t afford on a regular basis 🙂
thanks much!
I can put it on my list of things to try! 🙂
OK, I’m looking at this recipe and it looks like you’re using a 32oz bottle to make 16oz soda. Is that correct? If that is the case would you just increase all the ingredients except the yeast to make a gallon?
I am so glad to find this recipe! I already make Ginger Beer and Homemade Wine. Why not? This looks easy and delicious! Thanks so much!