Refresh and Save with DIY Soft Drink Mixes at Home

The Best Soft Drink Mixes for a Refreshing Beverage

Who doesn't love a cold, fizzy soft drink on a hot day? The sweet taste and bubbles can really hit the spot when you're thirsty. But sometimes, all that sugar and artificial ingredients aren't so appealing. That's where making your own healthy soft drink mixes at home comes in!

Why Make Your Own Soft Drink Mixes?

Mixing up your own soft drinks allows you to control exactly what goes into your glass. You can avoid unwanted additives and switch up flavors to suit your tastes. Making them at home saves money too!

Some key benefits of DIY soft drink mixes include:

• No artificial sweeteners or preservatives
• Reduced sugar and calories
• Natural flavors from fruits, herbs, and spices
• Fun flavors not found in stores
• Very inexpensive compared to store-bought

Equipment You'll Need

The good news is you likely already have everything required:

• A pitcher or drink dispenser
• Long handled spoon for stirring
• Fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Glass bottles, jars, or pitchers for storage

If you want to get really fancy, a SodaStream or soda maker device allows you to easily carbonate water and custom mixes. But it's not essential gear.

Choosing Ingredients for Soft Drink Mixes

Flavors and sweeteners are key, but don't forget the all-important fizz factor. Here's what to stock up on:

• Sweeteners - Sugar, honey, maple syrup, stevia
• Flavorings - Fruit juices, purees, zests, spices, extracts, herbs
• Bubbly water - Plain seltzer, club soda, sparkling mineral water
• Fun extras - Citrus slices, fresh mint, berries

5 Refreshing Soft Drink Mix Recipes

Ready to get to mixing? Try out these tempting flavors:

Sparkling Cranberry Spice Cocktail

With its gorgeous hue and zip of holiday spice, this fizzy drink feels decidedly festive. Mix up a batch for your next celebration!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 (4-inch) cinnamon stick
• 5 whole cloves
• 4 cups sparkling water

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon stick and cloves.
2. Heat just to a simmer over medium-high. Remove from the heat and let stand for 30 minutes.
3. Strain the mixture, discarding spices. Let cool completely.
4. In a pitcher, mix together syrup and sparkling water. Serve over ice.

Sparkling Peach Green Tea

This elegant drink is a little sweet with a gentle green tea backbone. Pretty served garnished with slim wedges of fresh peach too.

Ingredients:

• 3 green tea bags
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 cup peeled, chopped peaches
• 14 cup sugar
• 14 cup water
• 4 cups chilled sparkling water

Instructions:

1. Steep the tea bags in 1 cup hot water for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags.
2. In a small saucepan, combine peaches, sugar and 1/4 cup water. Simmer for 5 minutes, mashing peaches slightly.
3. Remove pan from heat and let peach mixture cool completely.
4. Strain, discarding solids. Chill peach simple syrup and tea separately in the fridge until very cold.
5. For each drink, mix together 14 cup green tea, 14 cup peach syrup and 1 cup sparkling water in a tall glass filled with ice.
6. Garnish with a peach slice if desired. Enjoy!

Tangy Pineapple Mint Fizz

Sweet tropical pineapple gets a boost from vibrant ginger and lemon. Garden-fresh mint adds flair too. So refreshing!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped pineapple
• 12 cup water
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped mint
• 12 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 (12-ounce) can soda water

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the pineapple, water, sugar, mint, and ginger. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
2. Remove pan from heat and stir in lemon juice. Let cool completely.
3. Pour the pineapple mixture through a mesh strainer to remove solids. Discard solids.
4. To serve, stir 3 tablespoons syrup into 8 ounces of soda water over ice. Garnish glasses with mint sprigs.

Homemade Italian Cream Soda

Sweet vanilla syrup and creamy milk transform simple fizzy water into a sublime old-fashioned cream treat. Irresistible!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 6 cups sparkling water, chilled
• Ice cubes
• Milk or cream

Instructions:

1. Make vanilla syrup by combining sugar, water and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Heat until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently.
2. Remove pan from heat and let cool. Store covered in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
3. To make drinks, pour 2 tablespoons syrup into tall glasses filled with ice.
4. Top with 6-8 ounces sparkling water and stir gently.
5. Add milk or cream as desired and serve with a straw.

Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade

Sweet-tart raspberry lemonade always quenches thirst. Fizzy bubbles make this pretty pink version even more fun to drink.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• 34 cup sugar
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 quart sparkling water

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, mash together raspberries and sugar and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes to infuse flavors.
3. Remove pan from heat and strain mixture into a bowl, pressing berries to extract liquid.
4. Discard berry solids. Stir lemon juice into syrup.
5. Refrigerate until chilled. To serve, stir 14 cup syrup into 8 ounces sparkling water over ice.

Don't those fruity fizzy drinks sound tempting? Mix up a batch or two to liven up snack time, family dinners or parties. With a little imagination, you can invent all kinds of bubbly beverages at home.

What unique soft drink flavors will you whip up?

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.