Learn how to make your own fruit-flavored soda at home with this easy Italian strawberry soda recipe. Made with a homemade strawberry syrup, it’s a refreshing and flavorful way to cool off on a hot day.
Everyone loves a fizzy drink and these days the supermarket shelves are filled with all kinds of lightly flavored seltzers and sparkling waters.
Unlike like regular soda, fizzy water is light and refreshing with just a hint of flavor. A glass filled with lively bubbles and a hint of fruit is a nice way to cool off and stay hydrated. But did you know it’s easy to make your own flavored soda water right at home?
Easy, refreshing and fun to make, strawberry Italian sodas are perfect for a hot day.
What are Italian Sodas?
You may have already come across Italian sodas at your local coffee shop where they’ll combine a few pumps of the syrup of your choice over ice and top if off with sparkling water. Simple yet sophisticated, Italian sodas are a great alternative to caffeinated drinks. Top that soda off with a little cream and you have yourself an Italian cream soda. Luckily, this pretty pink drink is easy to make once you have your syrup ready.
Rather than using store-bought syrup, we’re making an easy homemade strawberry syrup. This is what we will use to flavor the sodas. (Once you make it, you’ll want to keep some on hand because it also makes a great topping for ice cream.) Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredient Notes:
(Here are a few notes about the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. As always find the full list of ingredients and directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- Strawberries – You can use either fresh or frozen strawberries. (Of course feel free to swap out strawberries for other berries if you’d prefer, a raspberry soda would be equally delicious.)
- Sweetener – I’ve sweetened the strawberries with honey but you can also use maple syrup for a vegan version.
- Vinegar – A hint of balsamic vinegar compliments the strawberries nicely but you could also make plain strawberry syrup by omitting it and using lemon juice instead.
- Carbonated Water – You can use sparkling water, club soda or seltzer but stay away from tonic water which will give your soda a bitter taste.
- Cream or Milk (if making cream sodas) – Traditionally Italian cream sodas are topped with a bit of cream but I’m using coconut milk instead for a dairy-free version.
How to Make a Strawberry Soda:
(Here are the basic steps and some helpful tips on how to make the recipe. Find the full directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- You start by roasting the strawberries on a sheet pan with a little honey (or maple syrup if you prefer) for added sweetness along with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for depth and acidity. As the berries roast they release their juices, creating a concentrated syrup that serves as the base of the drink.
- Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve (pressing hard on the solids to extract as much juice as possible) and refrigerate until completely cool.
- When you’re ready to make your soda place a few spoonfuls of the strawberry syrup into an ice-filled glass, top with the carbonated water of your choice. If you’re making the cream soda, then top everything off with a few spoonfuls of coconut milk or cream that will sink and swirl into the glass as you stir. Drop a few sliced strawberries in the glass for garnish and serve!
Variations:
- While I’ve included measurements below, there’s really no wrong way to make a strawberry soda. Add as little or as much syrup, soda and cream as your tastebuds prefer.
- Once you see how easy it is to make your own flavored syrup at home experiment with your favorite fruit. (Peach or raspberry would be nice.)
More Homemade Sodas:
Strawberry Soda
This fizzy and refreshing strawberry cream soda is made with an easy homemade balsamic roasted strawberry sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb/454g strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 teaspoon/5ml good quality balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup/120ml honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup/60ml filtered water.
- 1 cup/ 240ml regular coconut milk (if making cream sodas)
- Sparkling water, club soda or seltzer for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Toss the strawberries with the balsamic vinegar, sweetener and water in a shallow oven-proof dish.
- Roast until the strawberries are soft and the syrup is bubbling, (about 30 minutes).
- Let cool slightly. Strain syrup through a fine mesh sieve and refrigerate syrup until completely cool. (Save the roasted strawberries and stir them into yogurt.)
- Place 2 Tablespoons of the cooled strawberry syrup into an ice filled glass. Add 6 to 8 oz of carbonated water of choice and garnish with a few slices of fresh strawberries.
- If making the cream soda top off the strawberry soda with 2 Tablespoons of the coconut milk before serving.
Notes
Variations:
Top with coconut milk or cream to make a cream soda.
Use other fruit to make the syrup.
Storage:
Syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in fridge up to a week.
Dietary Info:
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan Option (use maple syrup), Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Paleo
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 98Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 1g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Krystal says
Oh my goodness I need this in my life right now! I go crazy at the farmer's market as well especially with berries. I don't know strawberry season seems way too short don't you think?
Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says
I am the same way - I have absolutely no impulse control at a farmer's market, lol! Berries are so hard to resist especially when they're as perfect as these. And your sodas are gorgeous!!
Mercedes says
Can I just say wow to everything in this post, firstly I think you have the best looking strawberries I have every seen, do you freeze them to make them look that good or do you have the best farmers market ever.
My other point of amazement just has to go to the drink, it is one of the nicest things I have seen in ages. I have some strawberries in my freezer that I want thinking about using in a smoothie but i might use them in this instead.
The Food Hunter says
This sounds fabulous...I can't wait to try it.
Loriann Cargill Bustos says
I love this idea! I want to make a tipsy version!
Maria | Pink Patisserie says
I completely understand your lack of self control at the Farmers Market.. I'm guilty of the same! That and berry and apple picking.. It's a problem.. 🙂 I love this recipe! Such a refreshing use of my favorite berry.
Audrey @ Unconventional Baker says
Balsamic roasted strawberries are just about my favorite summer go-to ♥♥♥ What an awesome idea to make a cream soda out of them!
Jessica says
Your photos are beautiful. THis looks great.
Amanda Paa says
Sylvia, this cream soda is dreamy! And I love that you created it with all real food ingredients. I too can never leave the farmers market without a few too many bags, but there really is no way to embrace the seasons. Berries haven't quite popped in Minnesota yet, but I will definitely be making this when they do! xo
Susan says
These are beautiful, Sylvie! And I am sure they taste as good as they look!