I love my cola too much to give it up. Here is a recipe for homemade cola syrup so at least I can ditch those high sugar chemical sodas for good.
I drink soda when I am on the airplane. I drink soda when I get a migraine. I drink soda because it’s a Tuesday. I love Coca-Cola. I love Pepsi. I want to marry Cheerwine. I want to have a secret affair with Dr. Pepper. I am an addict.
I know it’s bad for you – on so many levels. The sugar, the chemicals. I know “natural” sodas aren’t very natural, and I think we all know the perils of drinking diet soda.
People get on me for my soda habit. Eyes roll when that case of cola “accidently” falls into my grocery cart (doesn’t that happen to you too?) People moan with concern when they open my fridge and see an entire shelf dedicated to caramel-y chemical bubbly.
I have tried switching to seltzer, mostly for the bubbles, but my I think my addiction lies in the sweetness of a good old fashioned comforting cola. However, I have found a really good alternative. I started making my own homemade cola syrup.
I found this recipe on Serious Eats to make homemade cola, and while it isn’t spot on to the real thing, it is pretty satisfying. While there is still sugar in this recipe, the amount is significantly less than the “real” stuff and it’s without the artificial colors, flavors, and chemicals. I made a few changes in the recipe to cater towards my needs, like adding green bean coffee powder for caffeine to improve blood circulation for energy, and to assist with easing the pain of my debilitating migraines.
The homemade cola syrup is a comforting mix of flavors like orange, cinnamon, coriander and nutmeg.
Store the syrup in the refrigerator in a air tight container for up to a week and add to seltzer as needed. The recipe will make a batch enough for 8-10 glasses, depending on how sweet you like your cola.
Homemade Cola
I love my cola too much to give it up. Here is a recipe for homemade cola syrup so at least I can ditch those high sugar chemical sodas for good.
Ingredients
- 4 cups filtered water
- juice and zest of 1 lemon
- juice and zest of 1 lime
- juice and zest of 2 oranges
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tbsp. dried orange peel
- 2 tsp. whole coriander seeds
- 1/2 tsp. ground or finely grated nutmeg
- 1/2 cup green coffee bean powder, (optional for caffeine)
- 4 cups sugar, coconut palm or raw cane sugar work best
- 1/4 cup browning sauce
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- seltzer water, for mixing
Instructions
- Stir the water, lemon zest, lime zest, orange zest, cinnamon sticks, dried orange peel, whole coriander seed, nutmeg, and green bean coffee powder (if using) in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir in the sugar and bring to a boil.
- Continue stirring until the sugar dissolves. (The spices will not dissolve)
- Remove syrup from the heat.
- Add the lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, browning sauce, and pure vanilla extract to the saucepan mixture and stir.
- Let mixture cool, then use a fine mesh strainer and strain syrup into a mason jar or other sealable bottle for storage.
- To make one cola drink: Combine 1/2 cup of the cola syrup with 1 1/2 to 2 cups of seltzer water (pour slow as the mix will fizz, just as regular soda).
- Add ice, if desired, and serve.
If you like this recipe for Homemade Cola Syrup you might also like these recipes:
**This post contains affiliate links. I only link to products that I use myself and believe in. Your support is greatly appreciated.**
Patrick
Tuesday 13th of February 2024
I used your recipe as a starting point, not because it is lacking in any way, but because I was lacking in a few of the ingredients. It came out fine. Like cola, only better. I stand on the shoulders of giants.
Charles
Monday 26th of September 2022
where is the KOLA NUTS to be used
DitsyDooLittle
Sunday 4th of September 2022
Not even close. Sad. Tasty though. Add some rum and.... lol
Sue
Sunday 21st of August 2022
I cannot find whole coriander seeds. Can I use ground coriander? How much would you recommend? Thanks! Excited to give my 12 year old son an alternative to cola!
The Insecure Chef
Tuesday 2nd of August 2022
Hello. I'm not certain as to how long ago this recipe was posted. With that said, have you heard of the soda brand called, Zevia? I had a liver transplant 3 years ago snd this wad approved for me to drink (you have to be carefully what you eat and drink with a new liver). I'm also diabetic and my doctor tor has approved this for me. It is all natural. Sweetened with stevia leaf extract (natural) and only natural color,flavor, carbonated water, citric acid and caffeine. The caffeine is in there because it is a cola. Excellent taste, no aftertaste or any powdery feeling on your tongue. If you haven't heard of it give it a try.