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Lemon soda is easy to make at home and irresistibly good! Fresh citrus brings a bright pop that’s infinitely better than store bought.
Love citrusy drinks? Then let us introduce you to your new soulmate: this homemade lemon soda! Sure, purchased citrus soda is tasty and refreshing. But make it at home with fresh-squeezed citrus juice and it’s next level!
All you need are 3 ingredients and it comes together in a flash. As two drink experts who have made hundreds of cocktail recipes, Alex and I love making homemade sodas and non-alcoholic options. Make it single serving, or as a pitcher for parties. Here’s how to make this incredible drink!
Ingredients in lemon soda
Canned soda versions of lemon soda are tasty, but they can be overly sweet and have artificial flavors added. So try this lemon soda recipe, aka sparkling lemonade! It’s bubbly and tangy, with just the right zing of the lemon. It tastes natural and authentic, like no store bought version you’ve ever tasted. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- Fresh lemon juice
- Simple syrup or maple syrup
- Soda water (aka club soda)
The most important part of this recipe is the fresh squeezed lemon juice. Do not use the artificial lemon juice that comes in a bottle: it doesn’t have the same flavor. (Don’t make that substitute in any recipe, really!)
By the glass vs pitcher
You can make DIY lemon soda two ways: by the glass or in a large pitcher! The pitcher is great for entertaining so you don’t need to pour each glass to order. Here’s what to do:
- By the glass: Add ¼ cup simple syrup and ¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, then add 1 cup soda water.
- Pitcher: Mix up a pitcher that serves 8 1-cup servings. Only do this for a gathering; leftovers don’t last because of the sparkling water.
Cocktails that use lemon soda
Want to use this homemade soda for a cocktail? Great idea. It tastes infinitely better with a DIY soda versus store-bought (trust us: we’ve tested it!). Here are a few cocktails that are traditionally made with lemon soda:
- A shandy (or summer shandy) is a British beer cocktail that mixes beer and sparkling lemonade or ginger ale.
- The Pimm’s Cup is a British cocktail that’s refreshing and bubbly, featuring Pimm’s No. 1 mixed with citrus soda.
Dietary notes
This lemon soda recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Lemon Soda
Lemon soda is easy to make at home and irresistibly good! Fresh citrus brings a bright pop that’s infinitely better than store bought.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) simple syrup
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) fresh lemon juice (1 large or 2 small lemons)
- 8 ounces (1 cup) soda water
Instructions
- Single glass: In the serving glass, stir the simple syrup and lemon juice. Add ice and top with soda water and stir gently to combine. Garnish with lemon wedge and serve with ice (makes 10 ounces or 1 ½ cups).
- Pitcher: In a large pitcher, combine 1 ½ cups simple syrup, ½ cups lemon juice, and 6 cups soda water. Add ice and serve (makes 8 1 cup servings).
More DIY soda recipes
There are lots of ways to make DIY soda at home! We love making this refreshing, bubbly drink. Here are a few other sparkling drinks:
- Make an Italian cream soda with syrup, soda water and heavy cream.
- Try a homemade lemon lime soda or strawberry soda.
- Opt for a orange cream soda, go big on citrus with grapefruit soda, or use coffee for a coffee soda.
Let us know if you have any questions!