Given that Coke and root beer are probably the most popular soda flavors, I’m starting there.

But I’m not stopping there–no. The soda industry will hate to see me coming my the time I’m through developing delicious homemade soda recipes. Okay, they’ll never even know that little ole me was over here doing this, but hopefully YOU will & your family will love these.

To start, let’s talk about why we should be avoiding conventional sodas in the first place. I mean, they’re crisp, sweet, delicious perfection. What can be wrong? If you like artificial flavors, colors, and sugars in your drinks and don’t mind the havoc those ingredients are wreaking on your body, by all means, skip this post by.

Sidenote, to be totally transparent, I definitely enjoy my fake-sugar-fake-color-fake-flavored conventional sodas once in a great while. But these homemade ones have replaced the junk for me and they’re great when I’m craving a soda but don’t want the junk.

More of a Dr Pepper fan? Don’t miss my viral Dr Pepper recipe.

Why is homemade root beer better than store bought?

Store bought root beer is packed full of artificial sugars (hello high fructose corn syrup!), dyes, and flavors.

In fact, most of the soft drinks on the market today are essentially liquid cocaine. Scientific studies have shown that they induce cravings that are comparable to addictive drugs. (source) We dove deep into this in episode 11 of season 3 of the Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy podcast. 

But when you make your own root beer, not only can you control the amount and type of sweetener you’re using, but you can also completely control and customize the ingredients. For example, did you know that homemade Coke can be medicinal?

The same is true of homemade root beer. It contains real ingredients like sarsaparilla root (anti-inflammatory and naturally helps detox your body), licorice root (high in antioxidants), ginger root (good for managing blood sugar and cholesterol), and other beneficial ingredients.

Did you also know that unrefined sugars can be packed full of antioxidants and other beneficial things? Learn more about the best sugars to use.

So homemade root beer can be backed with beneficial ingredients, from the spices used to the sweetener you choose to use. The choice is clear–homemade root beer is SO much better than the fake store bought kind.

Root beer recipe with REAL ingredients

This root beer recipe comes with a few different options.

1. You can purchase an all-natural root beer syrup kit and use that to make your homemade root beer.
2. You can make your own root beer mix (recipe below).
3. You can order a root beer concentrate to use in place of a dry mix. (This is my least favorite option because you miss out on the benefits of the herbs and spices)

What ingredients are in homemade root beer?

Whether you’re using the root beer syrup kit or making your own, the ingredients are relatively the same and will have a similar outcome. The ingredients in this homemade root beer are:

• sarsaparilla root
• licorice root
• anise seed
• ginger root (either fresh or dried)
• clove
• allspice
• vanilla
• mint, optional

Technically you can substitute wintergreen for the anise and licorice root with a similar result. But I found wintergreen difficult to find, and the combination of anise and licorice create a similar flavor profile as wintergreen. (If I keep making my own root beer I just might have to invest in a wintergreen plant so I can harvest my own! I’m eyeing the wintergreen plants from this company.)

I still like to add a little mint in there to add a touch of the wintergreen-esque flavor. But since I don’t have wintergreen around, I just use any old mint I’m growing at the time. This one is orange mint, which adds a nice little “zesty-ness” to this root beer recipe.

Where do I get the ingredients to make root beer?

I’m currently starting my first ever Medicinal Drink Garden and hoping to soon grow every ingredient I need to make homemade sodas.

But, thankfully, you can source every single one of these ingredients from my all-time favorite food supplier. And you’ll save $30 off your first order of $100 or more with code SOULYRESTED. Go here to find a delivery location near you.

Is homemade root beer good?

I’m not going to tell you that homemade root beer (especially the kind made with real spices) tastes exactly like A&W or Barqs. But I will say, when the craving for a bubbly, sweet drink hits, this homemade root beer hits the spot.

I’m a huge fan of olipop soda knockoffs, and honestly that’s exactly what this tastes like, an olipop knockoff of name brand root beer.

A couple tips for making homemade soda taste amazing:

• Make sure it’s ice cold. Nobody likes a lukewarm soda, and using plenty of ice and making sure your seltzer water is crisp and cold will help your homemade root beer taste its best.
• Add enough sweetener to make it taste good. We all want to drink less sugar, but if you’re really craving a sweet, cold, crisp soda, a barely-sweetened one just might not hit the spot. Find the sweet (pun intended!) spot for you.
• Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste buds. More of an A&W root beet fan? Add some extra vanilla (or even a splash of cream!) to lighten it up and add that signature vanilla-y creaminess that A&W has. If you’re more of a Barq’s fan, you might want to add a bit more cloves or allspice for that signature dark, spicy flavor. Or sweeten your drinks with molasses to make them even richer.
• Try adding other flavorings, like citrus peels, fruit syrups, or peppercorns to adjust the flavor. Have fun with it!

How to make homemade root beer recipe

Making root beer is really simple. Basically you’ll mix up the ingredients into a root beer “mix” (or purchase a pre-mixed version).

Then you’ll simmer that mixture in water until it evaporates into a root beer syrup.

Then you simply strain and sweeten the syrup and mix it with sparkling water whenever the root beer craving strikes.

You can store the root beer concentrate syrup in a jar in the fridge for a couple weeks.

Bam–healthy, homemade root beer that tastes delicious.

In order to assemble your homemade root beer recipe, you’ll need some form of sparkling water or seltzer. I use this handy-dandy machine to make my sparkling water at home, but if you don’t have a machine any ole’ can or bottle of plain sparkling water will do the trick. I made soda for years before investing in seltzer water machine by keeping cans of plain seltzer on hand. Does the trick perfectly.

Old-fashioned root beer float recipe (with homemade root beer recipe!)

It’s hard to not love a good old root beer float, isn’t it? The sparkling, spicy goodness of the root beer combined with the sweet creaminess of the ice cream? Unreal. But when it’s made with this homemade root beer recipe, and homemade maple ice cream? It’s not only insanely delicious, it’s also, dare I say, healthy!

It’s still obviously a treat, but it’s packed with REAL ingredients that you can pronounce. Enjoying a root beer float knowing every single ingredient in the entire float is awesome. 

How to make a root beer float with homemade root beer recipe

• Homemade root beer (recipe below)
• Homemade maple ice cream (or any ice cream will work, but I’m partial to this one!)

Simply mix your root beer syrup with the sparkling water, as described below.

Add a scoop (or two) of ice cream on top, making sure you have enough room in your glass to allow for the fizz.

Enjoy your completely-from-scratch root beer float!

Are you team spoon or straw for your root beer floats? I tend to find I need one of each to fully enjoy mine.

Let’s talk about why we’re addicted to junky soda…

FAQ: your root beer recipe questions, answered

Is this recipe safe for kids?

Absolutely! In fact, all the same principals we talked above about above apply to kids, as well. It’s lower in sugar than the “real” thing and packed full of healthy (and tasty!) spices. They’ll love this sweet, sparkly homemade root beer!

How do I make this without a sparkling water machine?

Although I love my sparkling water machine, it’s easy to make homemade root beer without one. Simply purchase canes (or bottles) of plain seltzer water, and use them as needed to make your root beer!

Can I substitute ingredients if I can’t find one?

You certainly can. I can’t guarantee the end result will taste exactly the same unless the recipe is followed as written, but, who knows–maybe you’ll come up with a homemade soda you’ll love even more than the original!

Can I ferment this recipe for natural bubbles?

Definitely. In fact, I’ve even made all-natural root beer kombucha before! It’s tasty, but I will warn you that the kombucha overpowers the root beer flavors just a bit and still tastes like, well, kombucha. That’s why I tend to just use sparkling water when I’m craving that “real” soda flavor. But play around with what you like and let me know what you try in the comments!

If you want to know more about kombucha, find out How to Make Kombucha with a SCOBY.

Print

Root Beer Recipe (real ingredients!)

Servings 8 cups root beer

Ingredients

For homemade root beer mix*

• 2 tablespoons dried sarsaparilla root
• 1 tablespoon licorice root
• 2 teaspoons anise seed
• 2 teaspoons dried ginger root
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 2 sprigs fresh mint* optional
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-1.5 cups coconut sugar or brown sugar

For homemade root beer

• 1/4-1/3 cup root beer syrup concentrate
• 1 cup sparkling water

Instructions

For the Root Beer Syrup

• In a saucepan, combine either 1/3 cup of THIS root beer mix, OR entire mixture listed above (minus the vanilla and sugar) with 4 cups of water.
• Bring to a boil, than reduce heat to simmer. Allow to simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the water has been reduced to roughly half.
• Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer, add sweetener, and store in a jar. If using homemade root beer mix, add the vanilla extract now.

To Make Root Beer Soda

• Combine 1/4-1/3 cup root beer syrup with about 1 cup cold sparkling water (I make my own with this fancy machine). Adjust the syrup-sparkling water ratio to suit your taste. Add ice and enjoy.

Notes

*OR substitute for pre-mixed Root Beer kit. Use code "soulyrested"

I like to add fresh mint to my root beer syrup whether I'm using a homemade or bought mix. It adds a touch of extra flavor that I enjoy. I usually just use peppermint or spearmint, but any type of mint will do.

My favorite way to "jazz" this homemade root beer up is to finish each cup with a splash of lemon juice and a dallop of vanilla bean paste.

More like root beer recipe (with real ingredients!):

• DIY coke… yes you can make your own homemade soda!
• Lipton tea knockoff recipe
• Homemade chai latte: 3 easy ways
• Make Kombucha
• Dr Pepper recipe: homemade soda

The post Root Beer Recipe (with real ingredients!) first appeared on Souly Rested.

Copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball

INGREDIENTS for Medicine Ball

16 oz hot water

1 TB Lemon Pound Cake

1 TB mint

1 tsp lemon balm 

1/4 tsp stevia leaves

1-2 tsp local honey or wood-fired maple syrup (save with code SOULYRESTED)

DIRECTIONS for Medicine Ball

• Steep all ingredients, except honey, in water for at least 3 minutes, using a tea strainer like the one linked at the end of this article.
• Remove tea strainer and stir in honey.

NOTES for making a Medicine Ball

Another great tea to use for the base of this recipe is Peach Oolong . Substitute for Lemon Pound Cake for a slightly different taste profile.

Print

Copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball

Ingredients

• 2 cups hot water
• 1 tbsp Lemon Pound Cake tea
• 1 tbsp dried mint leaves
• 1 tsp dried lemon balm leaves
• 1/4 tsp stevia leaves
• 2 tsp honey or maple syrup

Instructions

• Steep all ingredients, except honey, in water for at least 3 minutes, using a tea strainer like the one linked at the end of this article.
• Remove tea strainer and stir in your choice of sweetener.

Notes

Another great tea to use for the base of this recipe is Peach Oolong . Substitute for Lemon Pound Cake for a slightly different taste profile.

The post Copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea first appeared on Souly Rested.

But when an energy bar meets a granola bar, meets a chewy, sweet snack? I’m hooked.

Easy double chocolate energy bars without refined sugar

As a sugarmaker, I’ve been a huge fan of all-natural sugar for a long time. But lately science is showing us just how bad the refined sugars and man-made chemically laden sugars are. Never mind the carcinogens, I also hate the sugar high that’s always followed by a sudden drastic drop in my energy… the exact opposite of what you want in an energy bar, right?

These Larabar copycats are made with zero refined sugars.

They’re a knockoff of the “chocolate chip brownie” Larabars, which, naturally, are my favorite. The sweet and salty combo, with the rich chocolate chew factor–man they’re good.

These bars have simple ingredients, are simple and easy to make, and store well. What’s not to love?

Are energy bars healthy?

As long as the ingredients are solid and the bars contain healthy fats, fiber, and maybe even protein, energy bars are a great option for snacks, as a side to an on-the-go meal, or healthier option for a late-night dessert.

Are Larabars energy bars?

Although Larabars aren’t designed to be a meal replacer, they’re full of fruits, nuts, and vitamins, which do give you energy.

Are energy bars high in sugar?

Yes, energy bars are typically high in sugar. If you’re purchasing your bars, they may be high in refined sugars.

But these energy bars have zero refined sugars.

Instead, they are made with complex sugars, which don’t cause glucose spikes. The natural sugar from the dates is also helpful if you’re feeling a midafternoon slump or trying to summon the energy to finish a hike or workout.

These are the dates I love for these energy bars (I also link to them here, on my list of favorite ingredients).

I would caution you from using refined sugars to make your bars, since that will cause a quick spike in your blood sugar and lead to a slump quickly after. So instead of average chocolate chips, I always use chocolate chips made with coconut sugar (I link to them here, on my list of favorite ingredients). Coconut sugar (like dates) is a natural, complex sugar that falls low on the glycemic scale and won’t cause that sugar rush that is always followed by a slump.

Go here for my Complete Guide to Sugars if you’d like to know more great options.

What is the healthiest energy bar?

Ideally, homemade energy bars are the best option to make sure they only have high quality ingredients in them.

There are a few decent energy bars on the market, with Larabars being one of them. Larabars are minimally processed and contain minimal ingredeints, with easy-to-read labels.

These homemade copycat larabars are great for when you’re craving an energy bar but want to know exactly what ingredients you’re consuming.

Print

Double Chocolate Energy Bars

Copycat Chocolate Chip Brownie Larabars

Servings 14 bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups walnuts
• ¾ cup cashews
• 4 tablespoons virgin coconut oil melted
• 3 tablespoons cacao powder
• ½ pound (1 1/2 cups) pitted dates
• ¼ teaspoon kosher coarse salt
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) chocolate chips, melted
• 2 ounces (1/3 cup) chocolate chips

Instructions

• In a food processor, chop the walnuts and cashews until you have small crumbs
• In a small bowl, with the melted coconut oil, stir in the cocoa powder
• Add the oil and cocoa powder mixture to your nuts, in the food processor, then add the dates, salt, and melted chocolate
• Blend until the mixture holds together well when pressed between your fingers
• Add the chocolate chips to the mixture and pulse a few times to break up the chips a bit and evenly distribute them
• Spread your mixture into an even layer on a piece of parchment paper and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes or the freezer for 10 minutes, until firm
• Cut bars into the size you want them and store in a lidded container in the fridge

Notes for making these chocolate energy bars

• Feel free to use whatever nuts your family prefers, or whatever type(s) you have on hand. As long as you’re adding 2 3/4 cups worth, it can be any nut or combination of nuts.
• These are the dates I love for these energy bars (I also link to them here, on my list of favorite ingredients).
• If, like me, you want to avoid energy bars that cause a quick spike in your glucose level, find chocolate chips that are made with natural sugars. I always use chocolate chips made with coconut sugar (I link to them here, on my list of favorite ingredients). Coconut sugar (like dates) is a natural, complex sugar that falls low on the glycemic scale and won’t cause that sugar rush that is always followed by a quick slump.
• I’m picky about my coconut oil. I want it to be expeller pressed, for the highest quality and zero solvents or chemicals. This oil is not hydrogenated and contains no trans fats.  In addition, because this oil is expeller pressed and refined, it doesn’t contain a coconut taste, but offers a totally neutral flavor. Bonus, this quality oil is high in lauric acid and other medium chain fatty acids. Lauric acid becomes 2-monolauren in the stomach. (Monolaurin is used for preventing and treating colds and other infections.)
• Go here for my Complete Guide to Sugars if you’d like to know more great options.
• Download my FREE Pantry Checklist and all the discounts on the best ingredients

More like this energy bar recipe:

• Mango granola
• Kamut chocolate chip cookies
• Giant skillet cookie
• Instant homemade oatmeal

Find out why SoulyRested was considered to be one of the One of the Top Homesteading Blogs.

Glance at my Resource Page if you’d like to get a glimpse of all the supplies I use and recommend for everything from gardening, to sugarmaking, to chicken care, to baking.

I’d love to connect!

To find me in some other neck of the woods, just click any (or every!) icon below:

The post Easy double chocolate energy bar recipe first appeared on Souly Rested.

So when my kids started talking about how Crumbl cookies were all the rage, naturally I was curious. The funny thing is, whenever I indulge in a Crumbl cookie, all I’m thinking about is how I can make them better, cheaper, and more nutritious at home.

A cookie, nutritious? Yep. With the combination of fresh milled flour, protein-packed beef gelatin, and locally-grown strawberries, these cookies can become somewhat of a superfood. Don’t mill your own flour yet? Don’t worry, these cookies will turn out great with regular all-purpose flour too.

And as a bonus these cookies have the additional benefit of nostalgia–I can’t be the only one who used to eat a hefty serving of Strawberry Pretzel Pie (or casserole) at every family gathering, can I?

How unhealthy are Crumbl cookies?

I read recently that there are more calories in a Crumbl than a Big Mac. And it’s made with seed oils artificial colors and flavors and a boatload of refined sugar… The plain chocolate chip Crumbl offers you more than a day’s worth of sugar–28 grams to be exact–and it’s refined sugar at that.

What are the negatives of Crumbl cookies?

While Crumbl cookies are made with refined flour and sugar, which offers you zero nutrients, extra starch, and a higher blood sugar level the minute you take a bite, you can make a homemade copycat Crumbl with nutrient-dense fresh flour and a complex sugar (one of my favorites is coconut sugar–find it here).

See my Complete Guide to Sugars for more great sweetener options.

Can I make Crumbl Strawberry Pretzel Pie Cookies at home?

You bettcha. And I promise, they’ll taste just as good (dare I say better?) than the “real” crumbl. Plus, this way you can customize the ingredients to suit your family’s needs, not to mention save lots of cash!

What is Strawberry Pretzel Pie?

Strawberry pretzel salad is a delicious dessert that takes jello salad to a new level. It offers a buttery, salty pretzel crust covered with a cream cheese and whipped cream filling, and topped with a strawberry Jell-O spread and chopped pretzels sprinkled on top for the big finish.

I don’t know about your family, but ours used to gather at a long table, picnic-style, with strawberry pretzel pie front and center, treated like a side dish, served with the meal. Personally, I always knew it was a dessert item rather than a side dish, but no one seemed to mind an excuse to enjoy dessert with our meal.

These strawberry pretzel pie cookies combine the best of these layers into a decadent cookie your family might become slightly addicted to.

Crumbl Strawberry Pretzel Pie Cookie Recipe

When Crumbl came out with this cookie I knew I had to try it. One bite in and I knew I had to make a nutritious version. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. If your family loves this recipe as much as mine does, please come back and leave a quick 5-star review so the Google gods share this deliciousness worldwide.

The world would be a “berry much” better place, yes?

Print

Crumbl Strawberry Pretzel Pie Cookies

Makes 8-10 large (crumbl-sized) cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/4 cup butter melted
• 1/2 cup sugar (I love coconut sugar for baking)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/3 cups flour * if you're using fresh milled flour, I used 1/2 hard white and 1/2 soft white, milled on a fine setting
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• a pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup crushed pretzels + 3 tablespoons melted butter, mixed together

For the Strawberry Toping:

• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons plain beef gelatin* or unflavored gelatin

For the Whipped Cream Cheese Icing:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2.5 ounces cream cheese roughly 1/3 of an 8 oz package, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a stand mixer beat both butters, sugar and vanilla for 1-2 minutes, until the mixture gets slightly fluffy. Add the egg and mix until combined.
• Add the flour, cream of tartar, salt, and baking powder and mix until a soft yet firm dough forms.
• While the dough mixes, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and stir the crushed pretzels into the butter. Add to the dough and combine.
• Forming a large dough ball (I usually make 9 total), flatten each ball until it's about 1/4 inch thick. Carefully smoosh the sides of the cookie until a ridge forms, leaving room for the fillings later. See images above for what this should look like. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet (you can use parchment paper if you have it) and bake for 7 1/2 minutes until they're just barely cooked through (they might look slightly undercooked when you first pull them out).
• While the cookies are baking, grab a sauce pan and add the strawberries, water, and sugar. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the berries start to soften. Using a banana masher or just a wooden spoon, smash the strawberries. Turn the heat up to medium/high and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Stir the powder in carefully, trying to avoid lumps. continue to boil the strawberry mixture until the gelatin is dissolved fully. When it's ready to remove from the heat your finger should leave a clean mark on the back of your spoon when you make a line with your finger. Set aside to let cool slightly.
• While the strawberries and cookies are cooling, make the cream cheese icing. First, in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Remove from the bowl and set aside. Next, beat the cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar together until creamy. Add the whipped cream back in and briefly beat the two together until combined.
• Assemble the cookies: spread a layer of the whipped cream frosting on the bottom, then spread the strawberry filling on top. Sprinkle additional crushed pretzels on top, if desired.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Notes for Making Copycat Crumbl Strawberry Pretzel Pie Cookies

I use unflavored beef gelatin like this one. Read more about the benefits of “real” beef gelatin here.

Don’t mill your own flour? Regular all-purpose flour will work.

Not sure what sugar you want to use? Go here for a break down of all the best options.

Use Redmond Real Salt in this recipe and add more than 64 trace minerals! Use code SOULYRESTED to save & stock up on some of this amazing salt today. I buy it in the bulk size because it stores so easily and keeps forever.

Have duck eggs? They’d add a delicious richness to this recipe. Read more about duck eggs here.

Wondering what grain mill would be right for you?

There are many options for grain mills & it’s an important choice that people can wind up sitting on for years. Years of debate and wondering that could have been filled with better daily nutrition around their family table.

After years of using and comparing many varieties of mills I put together a Complete Guide to Choosing a Mill to help you make your decision.

In the end, these are the 3 I recommend: The Classic Nutrimill does a great job, at the lowest price point. The Harvest Mill wins for most beautiful to sit on your counter. And the Mockmill is a beautiful workhorse that wins for best engineered, best at milling alternative grains, and finest flour, but it also sits at the highest price point.

More about some of the alternative flours I make in the Mockmill here.

More in-depth info about all these mills (and others) in my Complete Guide to Choosing a Mill. 

My favorite ingredients for these Crumbl Copycat Cookies

Talk to me about your Crumbl Strawberry Pretzel Pie Cookies!

If you have any questions, leave a comment below. If you make and love these, leave a five star review! And please tag me on ig to show me your Crumbl Strawberry Pretzel Pie Cookies! @souly.rested

More recipes like Crumbl Strawberry Pretzel Pie Cookies:

• The Secret to Delicious Strawberry Pie
• Kamut Chocolate Chip Cookies
• The Best cut-out Cookies Ever
• Cookies Made with Bacon
• Want to mill your own flour? Learn Why I Started Milling my own Flour

Pin this for later!

Just click this image to pin and save this for later.

The post The Best Copycat Crumbl Strawberry Pretzel Pie Cookie Recipe first appeared on Souly Rested.

I’m about to show you something that will change the way you look at soda forever.

Can you really make homemade soda?

I don’t know when I last had a soda (I do give into my temptation a few times a year, probably), but today I had a crazy obsession for coke, so I knew today was the day to give this homemade soda idea a try.

So I started googling, and searching my pantry, and googling more for substitutes for many things I didn’t have on hand.

The result? Well I have a quart jar of soda syrup stashed in the fridge, I’m on my second glass of this DIY coke, and I’m in LOVE.

I also have a 1/2-gallon jar of DIY Coke Kombucha fermenting as we speak… more on that below.

Edit to add: If you’re here for ALL the homemade soda, don’t miss my Homemade Root Beer Recipe AND my VIRAL homemade Dr Pepper recipe.

Is Homemade soda better for you?

Most of the soft drinks on the market today are essentially liquid cocaine. Scientific studies have shown that they induce cravings that are comparable to addictive drugs. (source) We dove deep into this in episode 11 of season 3 of the podcast. 

So yes, homemade soda is much better for you. You are in charge of every ingredient, so you know exactly what is in your homemade soda. And, maybe most importantly, you can choose how to sweeten your homemade soda. You can choose to use an all-natural sugar that won’t spike your blood sugar level, which is what leads to so many problems and you can choose how much sugar. My goal is to slowly wean down the amount of sugar I’m using in our homemade soda so it’s even better for us.

How to make your own soda?

You have choices. You can pull together the ingredients yourself or you can use an all-natural syrup mix. Both are great options and I’ll walk you through both.

First, let’s start with the from-scratch option. I bet you have all of these things in your kitchen right now. Well, maybe not the lavender. But that’s okay. Read the recipe notes for substitution ideas for lavender, as well as many other items on this list.

If you’d rather opt for purchasing a completely natural, pre-mixed coke soda mix, this one is amazing. Not only is it made with the same quality of ingredients you’d stock your own kitchen with, but purchases support a small family-run business. Plus I even have a code just for my readers (“soulyrested”).

Oh, one thing you won’t find in either version of this DIY coke? Caramel color. Yeah, I’ll skip the cancer-causing, oh-so-bad-for-me ingredient that you find in every can of coke, and I’ll be perfectly happy with a yellow colored glass of soda.

More of a root beer fan? Get my root beer recipe here.

Can you buy a kit for making homemade soda?

YES! If you don’t want to try to source your ingredients and make your own cola syrup, you can absolutely buy a mix from a trusted, small-family business that I have been ordering from for many years. In fact, after years of making my own cola syrup, I heard that Farmhouse Teas came out with this Kola Syrup Mix and I knew instantly I had to try it. (Use code SOULYRESTED to save $$, if you want to try it out. Oh, and they make other delicious teas and a root beer syrup kit! If you spend $59 or more shipping is free!)

This syrup, when combined with carbonated water, tastes just like a tall, cold glass of Coke. BUT you get to choose the sugars you use, so you can make it with all-natural sugar options that don’t spike your blood sugar level.

Better yet, this Kola Syrup Mix is made with medicinal ingredients, not addictive ones. It’s made of powder from a nut that grows in West Africa that is world-renowned for providing energy, reducing appetite, and helping manage depression and anxiety.

While I’m not saying a glass of this will solve all your problems, it sure is a delicious step in that direction.

One Kola Syrup Kit will make 4 quarts of syrup, total, which means each kit makes about 13 2L amounts of homemade soda.

And bonus, if you care about the color of your soda, unlike my from-scratch soda, this soda even almost has the caramel color of Coke, since it’s made with kola nut powder.

Is homemade soda cheaper?

Because my Homemade Soda Syrup makes a whole quart of syrup, and you only need 1 TB for a cup of soda, it’s always going to be cheaper than buying Coke. Plus, you can make exactly how much you want instead of opening a whole 2L of soda and winding up with a flat drink that noone wants to drink before the 2L is empty.

If you make homemade soda with the Kola Syrup Mix that I love I’m very happy to report that you can make a 2-liter’s-worth of homemade soda for $2.99 worth of syrup. I don’t know about where you live, but we would have to pay that much at our local store for a 2L of Coke and this homemade soda is FAR superior and SO much better for our family.

I’m even going to try to grow some of the ingredients for making DIY soda in my garden this year… More about that here: Growing Herbs for Tea (& more)

Can you make cola kombucha?

Yes! You can make kombucha that either option above, the from-scratch recipe I share or the Kola Syrup Kit.

Cola kombucha recipe:

Combine 1/4 cup of soda syrup with 1/2 gallon of first ferment kombucha. Let sit at room temperature 1-3 days. (Find out more about how much money you save making your own kombucha here.)

Or, for another alternative, keep the ingredients you strain out of your sauce pan (the ginger and lavender), and steep that in 1 gallon of first ferment kombucha for 1-3 days at room temperature

Soda kombucha, without second ferment:

Combine soda syrup and first ferment kombucha, 1 TB syrup per every 1 cup kombucha, and enjoy immediately. (And here’s another floral kombucha recipe you might love.)

How long does homemade syrup last?

Homemade syrup lasts for a week or two in the fridge. But it can last for a year or longer if you want to freeze it.

It’s super easy to freeze your homemade soda syrup ! Simply fill ice cube trays with your soda syrup and freeze until solid. Store cubes in freezer-safe container and use 2-3 cubes in a tall glass of cherry seltzer water for the most amazing ice-cold homemade Cherry Coke you can imagine.

How do you make soda without a machine?

While I love our soda machine, it is new to us and I’ve been making homemade soda for years. Simply add a can of carbonated seltzer water to your syrup, no machine necessary. If you do have a soda machine, I don’t recommend adding your syrup to the machine. Unless you like volcanic-like explosions. Simply carbonate cold water and add that to your syrup.

What are the steps in making coke?

I have no idea what steps are included in making genuine Coca-Cola, and the ingredient list is closely guarded. But I’ve worked at creating a delicious drink my family enjoys that sure does taste a lot like the real deal.

And I’m going to break down exactly how I do it. Because, well, the world needs a Coke substitute that has zero junk. If you’re ready to skip the dyes and artificial ingredients and enjoy a guilt-free refreshing soda, here are the steps you need to know…

Homemade Soda Recipe

• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp anise extract (or see notes for substitution)
• 1 tsp dried lavender (save $$ with code SOULYRESTED)
• 4 tsp minced ginger
• 1 TB vanilla extract (I love this one)
• 3/4 tsp white vinegar OR apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 1 3/4 cups maple syrup

Combine all ingredients except the maple syrup in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and strain out the solids.

Pour into a quart jar and let cool.

Add the maple syrup and stir.

Keep refrigerated for up to a month.

Yield: 1 quart of soda syrup

To make homemade soda, combine 1 tablespoon of your homemade soda syrup with 1 cup of seltzer water or club soda. Serve over ice.

Or, we love making our own carbonated water too. This is our soda machine. I love it because I can use my own ingredients (usually fruit) to make any flavor of bubbly water I want. (Most soda machines don’t let you add ingredients to the machine.)

Sidenote: I source most of my ingredients from Azure Standard. Go here to find out how this independent food supply chain is fixing a broken food system and connecting food suppliers directly to consumers.

Homemade Soda NOTES

• Substitute 1/2 tsp anise extract with  1/4 tsp allspice.
• Swap in a ¼ teaspoon allspice, cinnamon or nutmeg for every tablespoon of fresh ginger. Or substitute 1/4 tsp ground ginger for every 1 TB fresh ginger.
• Or use 1/4 tsp turmeric powder in place of the 4 tsp fresh ginger in this recipe.
• If you want to always be prepared to make this, consider grating some fresh ginger and freezing it.
• You could substitute honey in place of maple syrup.
• Dried lavender leaves can be used instead of lavender flowers. But I love the great quality of these lavender flowers if you’d like to stock up on some. Use code SOULYRESTED and save.
• If you don’t have lavender on hand, or maybe are waiting on these great lavender flowers that you ordered, you could try an equal amount of a few other herbs instead that might work pretty well. (If you try one, please let me know!): rosemary, lemon thyme, or mint.
• Have fun trying all different flavors of seltzer, make lime coke, strawberry coke, orange coke, you name it… my favorite is black cherry coke. Mmmmmm.
• If you splurge on a carbonated water machine–we LOVE this one–then you can really experiment with lots of neat flavors that you make (I just made a raspberry ginger coke… so good!).
• I source many of these ingredients from Azure Standard. Go here to find out how this independent food supply chain is fixing a broken food system and connecting food suppliers directly to consumers.
• All the ingredients for this homemade soda are included on my Pantry Checklist, which is also loaded with discount codes for you on all my favorite real food ingredients. Download your own Pantry Checklist right here.

Print

DIY Coke-homemade soda

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp anise extract or see notes for substitution
• 1 tsp dried lavender
• 4 tsp minced ginger
• 1 TB vanilla extract
• 3/4 tsp white vinegar OR apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 1 3/4 cups maple syrup

Instructions

To make homemade soda syrup:

• Combine all ingredients except the maple syrup in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and strain out the solids.
• Pour into a quart jar and let cool.
• Add the maple syrup and stir.
• Keep refrigerated for up to a month.

To make homemade soda WITH your syrup:

• To make homemade soda, combine 1 tablespoon of your homemade soda syrup with 1 cup of seltzer water or club soda. Serve over ice.

Notes

• Substitute 1/2 tsp anise extract with  1/4 tsp allspice.
• Swap in a ¼ teaspoon allspice, cinnamon or nutmeg for every tablespoon of fresh ginger. Or substitute 1/4 tsp ground ginger for every 1 TB fresh ginger.
• Or use 1/4 tsp turmeric powder in place of the 4 tsp fresh ginger in this recipe.
• If you want to always be prepared to make this, consider grating some fresh ginger and freezing it.

This is the organic dried ginger I use if I don’t have fresh grated ginger available. (Use code SOULYRESTED)

If you like homemade soda, you’ll love these drink recipes:

Homemade gatorade

Homemade Healthy Tea Blend that Tastes Like Coffee

Healthy Hot Chocolate Mix

One Drink we Need to Ditch (podcast episode)

Homemade Root Beer Recipe (with REAL ingredients!)

Dr Pepper recipe: homemade soda

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3: 12-13

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