Homemade Italian Soda
Trips to the Slurpee shop can get pretty expensive, especially when you have aisles of tempting snacks and candies in the wake of your children! Save a few bucks and a trip to the dentist with our easy Italian soda recipe.
It’s healthier than a Slurpee and a fresh alternative to canned soda. Rather than using store bought syrup (which can also put a ding in your wallet), we used fresh fruit to make the fruit sauce.
If you’ve purchased a Costco-sized crate of blueberries lately, chances are that those berries will go bad quicker than your family can eat them. Put your wilting produce to use! Fruit that’s a smidge past its prime is perfect for this recipe.
We admit, there is quite a bit of granulated sugar that goes into the syrup, but you can easily substitute the sugar for Truvia, Splenda or raw agave nectar. Your Italian soda will be just as tasty! You can even add a splash of cream to turn this drink into an Italian cream soda.
This recipe is a great treat at kids’ birthday parties, backyard barbecues, holiday dinners and beyond! If you have any syrup left over, use it the next morning on top of your pancakes or waffles—yum!
Italian soda recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups berries, (strawberries, blueberries or blackberries)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice, about ½ lemon
- club soda
- ice, crushed
Instructions
- Add berries, sugar, water and lemon juice to saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Immediately reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat then strain through fine mesh sieve, pressing to release all juices. Discard what remains of cooked fruit.
- Allow syrup to cool then combine 1 part syrup to 3 parts club soda and mix well.
- Add crushed ice and garnish as desired. Enjoy!