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Italian Sodais a classic, refreshingdrinkthat’s easy to make with 3 ingredients! I’m sharing the details on how to create anItalian soda recipe, my favorite flavor combinations, and two of the best Italian soda recipes!
This drink is one of my absolute favorite summertime treats! They’re refreshing, flavorful, and oh-so-easy to make. And the best part? You can customize them and use your favorite flavors!
If you love serving fun drinks at parties, try myagua fresca recipes,virgin piña coladas, andlemon-lime spritz!
IN THIS POST
Growing up, this was my favorite summer treat. My mom and I would always stop by a coffee shack called Coffee Heaven on road trips to Oregon. I remember ordering Italian blueberry soda instead of ice cream because they were refreshing. I wanted to recreate these for my kids to experience the same joy.
What’s in an Italian Soda?
Whatexactly is in an Italian soda? It’s a drink made of club soda and flavored syrup, often served with cream (aka Italian cream soda).
Torani, the San Francisco-based syrup company, invented this tasty concoction. Rinaldo and Ezilda Torre were the first to create the term “Italian soda” in 1925.
So, what’s the secret to this delicious drink? The key ingredient is, of course, the flavored syrup. You can find a variety of syrups on the market, ranging from classic flavors like strawberry and chocolate to more unique options like lavender and almond.
Once you’ve chosen your syrup, add a few pumps to a glass of club soda and enjoy. If you’re feeling fancy, you can top it off with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.
You can use syrup from the store if you don’t want to avoid going through the hassle of making your syrup.Torani syrupworks perfectly!
These sodas are the perfectsummer drink. Now, let’s make some!
Italian Soda Video Recipe:
Looking for more drinks to make at home? Try my berry lemonadeand my freshly madewatermelon juice.
How To Make Italian Sodas
These are easy drinks using seltzer water, heavy cream, and sweet syrups. Use different flavors to create your fun drink!
The full recipe is in the recipe card below.
Shopping List and Ingredient Notes
Flavored Syrup: This can be homemade or already made, like Torani. There are a variety of flavors that you can use!
Cream: Half and half, heavy or whipping cream, all work well.
Sparkling Water: Club soda or seltzer water works. A soda makerthat works well, too. I use mine all the time. Any type of carbonated water is suitable.
Steps to Make Italian Soda
Step 1: Fill a glass with ice and pour in the syrup. Add more syrup for extra flavor.
Step 2: Add the soda water over the top.
Step 3: Next, pour in the cream and then stir it. This will make a delicious creamy drink.
Step 4: Garnish with fresh berries.
Homemade Italian Soda Syrup
The homemade syrup issimple. You can make any flavor you want using sugar, whatever, and fresh seasonal fruit or spices.Homemade syrupsare easy to make, too!
I store them inthese inexpensive glass bottles, and they work perfectly.
If you want to make something other than your own, use flavored syrups likeToraniorMonin.
Ingredients
Granulated Sugar: This is used to sweeten the syrup.
Water: Used to dilute the sugar and create a syrup.
Berries: We used fresh strawberries and blueberries.Raspberrieswould be great, too.
Directions
To make the homemade syrup, add 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup of berries (your choice) into a saucepan.
On medium heat, allow the sugar to dissolve into the water. Add in the berries and continue to simmer for at least 10 minutes until the berries are soft.
Remove from the heat and let the syrup sit for another 5 minutes. Strain the mixture through a mesh sieve – keep the juice and discard the berries.
Let the mixture cool before using. It will stay fresh for a few days in the fridge.
Try my homemadehibiscus simple,cranberry, gingerbread, orhoney syrup.
Recipe Tips
- Let the simple syrup cool before mixing in.
- Use flavored carbonated water to add to the flavor depth.
- Use the freshest fruit available to make syrups.
- Use a generous amount of ice for each drink.
- You can use whole milk for these sodas, too.
- Add an extra splash of cream if you prefer.
Italian Soda Flavors
Syrup Flavors
The flavor combinations are endless when making anItalian soda with cream! You can mix flavors to create delicious combinations. Here are some of the best Italian soda flavors:
- Berries: Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries
- Cranberry would be great with my simple cranberry syrupand for a holiday party.
- Peaches, Apples, Pear
- Lavender, Rosemary, Mint
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Gingerbread
- Caramel
- Orange
Flavor Combinations
Try any of these syrup flavors! Here are my favorite flavors and combinations:
Pear and Vanilla– Nothing better than a pear and vanilla combo.
Lavender and Peaches– The perfect summer combination.
Caramel and Cinnamon– Another favorite and incredible year-round.Add a little homemade caramel sauce over the top of the whipped cream for a caramel twist!
Cherry and Lime– Make this when cherries are in season. You can also do raspberry syrup.
Pineapple and Coconut– Apina coladaversion!
Rosemary and Cranberry– Great for the holidays and look beautiful with a rosemary garnish.
Sugar-Free Options
There are sugar-free flavor options for this drink. You can find sugar-free fruity syrups at most grocery stores. When choosing sugar-free syrups, check the label to see if it is gluten-free.
Types of Sparkling Water
Here are some soda water variations for this recipe:
Soda Water– Carbonated water that contains no sodium. It is often used in place of regular water or Soda.
Mineral water– contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium. It is often used in place of regular water or Soda.
Club soda– Club soda is carbonated water that contains sodium. It is often used in place of regular water or Soda.
Seltzer Water– carbonated water that contains no sodium. It is often used in place of regular water or Soda.
Non-Dairy Options
For a non-dairy Italian soda, use coconut cream or a non-dairy heavy cream alternative to replace the cream. Here are some ideas:
- Almond Milk
- Soy Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Oat Milk
- Cashew Milk
How to Make an Italian Soda Bar
Making an Italian soda bar is a great way to entertain guests or enjoy a refreshing treat on a hot day. All you need is a selection of flavored syrups, club soda, and ice. Add toppings like whipped cream, fruit slices, orchocolate chips.
Start by placing the flavored syrups in individual jars with spouts for easy pouring. You can also use the bottles they come in and add pumps to make it easier.
Then, set out a pitcher of club soda and some glasses.
Add ice to the glasses and place them on a tray.
Finally, put out any toppings you want to offer.
Invite your guests to choose their favorite syrup and add a few pumps to their glass. Then, they can top off their drink with club soda and add toppings they like.
Check out my snow cone bar and mojito bar for more fun ideas.
Garnishes
A garnish is typically a fruit slice, candy,chocolate chips, sprinkles, or whipped cream. Here are some more ideas:
- Fresh Fruit Slices
- Fresh Berries
- Candy
- Sprinkles
- Maraschino Cherry
Serving Recommendations
These festive drinks are perfect for many occasions! Create an Italian soda bar where guests can make sodas and mix flavors. Here are some occasions you can serve this:
- 4th of July Parties
- Summer BBQ’s
- Garden Parties
- Summer Pool Parties
- Backyard Carnival Party
- Birthday Party: they’re also perfect for alast-minute birthday party!
- Mother’s Day Brunch
- Serve them with myItalian cookies and a fresh fruit platter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is An Italian Soda?
An Italian soda is a soft drink made from carbonated water, cream, and simple flavored syrup.
Flavors can be fruit, herbs, or spices. The flavors are inspired by desserts or other beverages, such as amaretto or chocolate.
What does Italian Soda taste like?
The Soda is a mixture of cream, sparkling water, and whatever flavor syrup you want. If you’ve had a cream popsicle, it tastes like that. It’s sweetened with a creamy flavor and carbonation from sparkling water.
How is Italian Soda different from regular Soda?
They are made with syrup, carbonated water, and cream and do not contain caffeine like regular sodas, and they are freshly made. They also look different from the cream; you can create as many flavors as possible.
What cream should I use?
You can use a few different types of cream to make Italian sodas, but the most popular option is heavy cream. You can also use half and half; if you want a lighter option, use milk instead.
What do you serve Italian Sodas in?
This refreshing drink is typically served in a tall glass with ice. You can also garnish your drink with fruit slices, chocolate chips, or sprinkles.
Is this a gluten-free recipe?
Absolutely, the Italian soda recipe outlined in this post is naturally gluten-free. However, it’s always prudent to check the labels of the products you use, especially the flavored syrups, if you have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease, to ensure they are free of gluten-containing additives.
Is Italian Soda the same as club soda?
Italian Soda and club soda are distinct beverages, each with unique characteristics. Italian Soda is a sweetened drink made with flavored syrup and carbonated water, often garnished with a slice of fruit or a splash of cream.
On the other hand, club soda is plain carbonated water infused with added minerals. It is typically used as a mixer in co*cktails or enjoyed as a standalone refreshing drink without the sweetness associated with Italian sodas.
How Much Does it Cost to Make an Italian Soda at Home?
Making an Italian soda at home is a lot cheaper than buying one in the store. On average, it costs about $1-$2 per 12-ounce glass. The ingredients you’ll need are just seltzer water, ice cubes, flavored syrup, and cream if desired.
You can buy a liter of seltzer for around $0.50, and flavored syrups typically range from $6-$7 for a 750 ml bottle. This amount will make at least 12 glasses of Italian sodas. Adding cream will add about $0.50 more to the cost of each glass.
Where do I find the Club Soda? Can I use La Croix?
Club Soda can typically be found in the beverage aisle of most grocery stores, often near other carbonated drinks like sodas and sparkling water.
Most major supermarkets carry a selection if you’re looking for a specific brand or a store near you. La Croix, a famous sparkling water brand, is a suitable substitute for Club Soda in many recipes and drinks, especially if you want a hint of flavor without added sugars or calories.
More Sweet Drink Recipes
If you like this fun drink, try these recipes:
- Hydrating Watermelon Cucumber Refresher
- The Best Homemade Lemonade
- Peach Lemonade Recipe
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Arnold Palmer Drink
- Meyer Lemonade
- Dirty Shirley Temple
Be sure to check out myStrawberry Tequila SodasandItalian Paloma co*cktailtoo!
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Easy Italian Sodas
An Italian soda is a classic, refreshing drink that's easy to make with just 3 ingredients! We're sharing all the details on how to make an Italian soda and two of our favorite Italian soda flavors!
4.46 from 31 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Calories: 258kcal
Author: Eden
Ingredients
Italian Soda
- 2 ounces syrup, homemade blueberry or strawberry syrup
- 3 ounces club soda, any sparkling water
- 1 ounce cream, heavy cream or half and half
Instructions
Italian Soda
Fill a glass with ice.
Pour 1/4 part syrup over the ice.
Add in the club soda.
Pour in a small amount of cream and stir.
Notes
Homemade Italian Syrup
To make the homemade syrup, add 1 cup of water, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup of berries (your choice) into a saucepan.
On medium heat, allow the sugar to dissolve into the water.
Add in the berries and continue to simmer for at least 10 minutes until the berries are soft.
Remove from the heat and let the syrup sit for another 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a mesh sieve – keep the juice and discard the berries.
Let the mixture cool before using. It will stay fresh for a few days in the fridge.
Sweeter Italian Soda
To make a sweeter Italian soda, add more syrup. To create a creamier soda, add more creamy.
Italian Soda Ratio
Use these measurements as a guide, but you can add more or less syrup, sparkling water, and half and half to make it exactly how you like it.
Nutrition
Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 24mg | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 417IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
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