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A quick, three-ingredient strawberry syrup can be used to flavor drinks like this refreshing, bubbly, homemade Strawberry Soda, or it can be drizzled over ice cream, pound cake, waffles, and more!

Happy almost-Easter, everyone! I know that most of you probably already have your Easter menus set and your grocery lists made and/or purchased, so I'm not going to take up your valuable time today with another Easter-friendly post. Instead, today I'll be sharing a delicious, refreshing beverage that will carry you from the beautiful days of spring all the way through the long hot summer...homemade Strawberry Soda!

Ingredients

I don't typically stock our refrigerator with soft drinks, but sometimes it’s fun to sip on a little something that’s sweet, refreshing, and bubbly. On those occasions, I like to grab a bag of frozen strawberries out of the freezer and whip up a quick batch of strawberry syrup.

Using just strawberries, water, and sugar, it’s a snap to make, and mixed with chilled seltzer, it tastes like summer in a glass.

Strawberry Soda is delightful with or without ice, and I even like adding a squeeze of fresh lime juice to mine for an extra layer of flavor.

Ways to Enjoy It

If you're craving a drink that's a bit stronger than soda, this syrup can also be added to cocktails with delicious results. Strawberry mojitos, strawberry margaritas, strawberry spritzers using white wine or champagne…get as creative as you like!

And aside from a plethora of beverage options, this strawberry syrup is also yummy poured over ice cream, drizzled over pound cake, used to jazz up waffles, etc., etc.

No Food Coloring

On top of all of that, how gorgeous is this color?! I love that you can achieve this beautiful shade of red with all-natural strawberries and no food coloring!

Now this carbonated drink doesn’t shy away from the sugar, so it’s certainly not health food, but at least it’s not full of preservatives, additives, and artificial dye.

It's a treat that I don’t mind allowing my kids every once in awhile…and if you twist my arm, I'll even down a glass (or three) myself!

I hope you’ll kick up your feet on the patio one day soon with a frosty glass of Homemade Strawberry Soda!

I think you'll appreciate the versatility of this strawberry syrup, and I don't know anyone who wouldn't love the refreshing taste and cheery color of this beautiful beverage!

More Refreshing Drinks

• Strawberry Iced Tea
• Cucumber Mint Infused Water
• Homemade Copycat Gatorade

Strawberry Syrup for Strawberry Soda

Ingredients

• 16 ounces frozen strawberries, thawed
• Water
• 1 cup sugar
• Seltzer, chilled

Instructions

TO MAKE STRAWBERRY SYRUP:

• With a slotted spoon, scoop thawed strawberries into a medium pot and mash with a potato masher or fork. Pour reserved juices from thawed strawberries into a measuring cup. Add enough water on top of strawberry juice to equal 1 ½ cups of total liquid. Add liquid to pot with strawberries and turn heat to high. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Set a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and strain strawberry juice into bowl, pressing on strawberry pulp to ensure that all juice has been extracted. Discard pulp. Return juice to pot, stir in sugar until dissolved, and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and skimming off any foam that may appear.
• Remove syrup from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.

TO MAKE STRAWBERRY SODA:

• Measure one part chilled strawberry syrup to two parts chilled seltzer. Taste and increase syrup or seltzer, depending on your preferences. Pour over ice or serve as-is.

Notes

• You may use fresh, very ripe strawberries instead of frozen strawberries if that's what you have available. Just hull and dice them before mashing, and use a full 1 ½ cups of water in which to cook them.
• If desired, strawberry soda may be enhanced with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
• Strawberry syrup can also be used over vanilla ice cream, pound cake, waffles, pancakes, French toast, etc.

Nutrition

Adapted from AllRecipes.com
Recipe originally posted at Or So She Says on March 18, 2014.

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