Homemade Italian Soda Recipe

This Italian Soda Recipe is a healthy alternative to many store bought syrups and brands out there. I use fruit and a simple syrup to sweeten the beverage and allow you to customize based on your favorite flavors.

Traditional soda, both regular and diet, seem addictive for a reason... they are! Caffeine and sugar are enjoyable and cause your body to crave them on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, I was a soda lover too!

Diet Cherry Coke was my saving grace in college. Every time I'd get gas, I'd grab one from the cooler. Yet I realized that even with the caffeine + sugar fix I was still so tired. Cutting out this habit and turning towards plants actually gives me more energy and fuels my body the right way.

Plus, real food is actually quite delicious!

Perks to Homemade Soda

1. Most canned drinks are not whole food. Especially the "Diet" versions. Just because the word "diet" is in it, doesn't make it good for you. The artificial sweeteners and chemicals in soda are super processed. Instead, this homemade Italian soda recipe uses the cleanest ingredients out there so you can enjoy a refreshing soda on a hot day. When you eat real food, your body responds with strength and energy.
2. Each variation of this homemade soda recipe is amazing! You control how much flavor and sweetness you want to create a refreshing drink. Mix + match flavors in a way that makes your tastebuds dance.

How to Make Italian Soda

There are two steps to making your own homemade soda. First, you need to make a "simple syrup" using fruits and flavors that you love. My favs are included in the recipe card below.

You'll have to boil the syrup down into a concentrated form to get the flavor to really punch. Once that's done, you just add a few tablespoons to a glass of sparkling water and you've got the perfect summer drink!

Pro tip: using eco-friendly straws is a simple way to make this drink even more special. You can find colorful Reusable Stainless Steel Straws in our online shop. You can also get paper straws that are single use, yet biodegradable as well. These are much better choices than plastic straws.

Soda FAQs

Finishing touches for your Italian soda

I've seen several Italian soda recipes with whipped cream on top. I love adding a dollop of coconut cream on top (cream, not canned coconut milk!). You can also jazz it up with berries; frozen berries work double duty as ice AND extra flavor.

Turn your soda into a fancy mocktail by adding fresh herbs, or even creating a fun sugar rim. The syrup is naturally colorful, so these drinks already start to shine the moment you add the syrup to the sparkling water.

More fun drinks with real ingredients

If you love the idea of creating some specialty drinks this summer that are both simple and homemade, then I've got you covered. Here are recipes that will take those end-of-summer gatherings from drab to fab!

• Iced matcha latte
• Mocha coffee smoothie
• Ginger switchel
• Cinnamon dolce latte
• Chia fresca
• Fruit infused water
• Dalgona coffee

I've also got a whole section of my cookbook, Simple Green Meals, dedicated to all this party drinks. It's actually where this Italian soda recipe started for me. I'd love for you to give one of these recipes a try, and let me know how they turned out for you!

Italian Soda Recipe

5 from 4 votes

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When you embrace a plant-powered life and try to avoid processed foods, sodas are one of the first things to go. My twist on a classic Italian soda recipe is a fabulous way to bring back “soda” in a nutritious way. My kids still don’t like carbonated beverages, but as they get older and their tastes change, I know what we will be making first!

Total Time30 minutes

Servings1

Ingredients

Italian Soda Recipe

• 1 cup sparkling water
• 3 tablespoon simple syrup (recipe options below)

Strawberry-Vanilla Simple Syrup

• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 cups strawberries
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Peach Rosemary Simple Syrup

• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 .5 cups peaches
• 1 spring fresh rosemary

Lavender Blueberry Simple Syrup

• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 cups blueberries
• 3 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender buds

Mango Jalapeño Simple Syrup

• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 cups mango
• 2 tablespoon lime juice
• ½ jalapeño pepper (sliced)

Instructions

Simple Fruit Syrup

• Choose a flavor from the ones above and create a simple syrup. Place the sugar, water, fruit, and any other ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the fruit has released its juices and is very, very soft.
• Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds, peels, and other solids. There should be about 2 cups of syrup. Allow to cool, then transfer to a jar with a tight- fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for several months until ready to use.

Italian Soda Recipe

• Add 3 tablespoons of the strained syrup to 1 cup sparkling water. Serve chilled or over ice.

Nutrition (estimated)

Calories: 161kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 44g (15%) Sodium: 84mg (4%) Potassium: 43mg (1%) Sugar: 44g (49%) Calcium: 20mg (2%) Iron: 2mg (11%)