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Bring out a playful twist on the classic cream soda with this fizzy cherry vanilla drink. The vibrant, homemade syrup jazzes up plain soda water and gives you an awesome, thirst-quenching sip—great for sunny days or whenever you want a fun, alcohol-free party option.
The first time I put this together, I was hunting for new ways to use up my giant cherry haul from the market. Now, whenever someone drops by for a summer hang, it’s our go-to drink.
Inviting Ingredients
- Sparkling water: Grab this from the fridge so your drink’s super bubbly and cold
- Pitted cherries (fresh): These pack in both tart and sweet flavors—find shiny, nice-looking ones for the best results
- Vanilla extract (real): Makes everything taste cozy and warm—always pick the real deal, not imitation stuff
- Sugar (white granulated): It pulls out all the cherry goodness and brings the syrup together just right
- Water: Helps everything meld while simmering and makes sure your syrup is smooth
Simple Steps to Follow
- Mix it up for serving:
- Drop some ice in your glass, pour the cherry vanilla syrup in (however strong you want it), and finish with a splash of chilled soda water. Give it a gentle swirl to mix without losing bubbles.
- Strain and cool it down:
- Once you’re done simmering, take the pot off the burner and let the syrup chill for around 15 minutes. Pour everything through a sieve into a jar, pushing on the cherries to get all that tasty syrup out.
- Simmer and reduce:
- Keep cooking the cherry mix for about 10 minutes. It’ll thicken and the flavor and color get bolder. Give it a stir now and then so nothing sticks.
- Crush for big flavor:
- When it’s been bubbling gently for 5 minutes, grab a potato masher or wooden spoon. Press down to squish the cherries and push out all the juice and oils—but be careful so you don’t splash yourself.
- Syrup base, here we go:
- Pop those halved cherries, water, sugar, and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Heat it up over medium until the sugar melts and everything turns that lovely cherry pink.
- Prep your cherries:
- Slice each cherry in two and get rid of the pit. Things can get messy and stain, so pull on gloves if you want and work on a cutting board you don’t mind coloring.
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Handing my grandma her first glass of this took her straight back to sneaking cherry sodas at the diner as a kid. That kind of memory makes every glass super special to me.
Storage Tips
Once your cherry vanilla syrup’s ready, stash it in a sealed jar in the fridge and it'll last a week. The color might get a bit deeper, but the flavor stays awesome. If you want it to keep longer, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Pop the cubes in a freezer bag and you'll have syrup on hand for up to three months—just grab one whenever you’re craving something sweet and fizzy.
Flavor Swap Ideas
You don’t have to stick with cherries—try mixing in blackberries or raspberries for a cool, berry twist. Making it for grownups? Finish the drink with a shot of bourbon or rum. When it’s cold outside, warm the syrup up with some cinnamon and cloves. Pour it into steamed milk instead of soda for a cozy, cherry vanilla treat.
More Than Just Sipping
This syrup does way more than make awesome drinks. Pour it over vanilla ice cream for a sundae, brush it on cake layers before you frost them, or mix a spoonful into plain yogurt for a sweet breakfast. You can even add a touch to homemade salad dressings when you want a bit of sweetness to cut through tartness.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Could I make this with frozen cherries instead of fresh ones?
Yep, frozen cherries work just fine. Toss them in the saucepan straight from the freezer. You might need to cook them a little longer since they're juicier.
- → How long does the homemade syrup keep?
The syrup lasts up to a week if you stash it in a sealed container in your fridge. Don’t put it away until it’s cooled down, though.
- → Is it possible to make this without plain sugar?
Sure thing! Try using honey or maple syrup if you don’t want granulated sugar. Start with one-third cup since those are sweeter. Play around and see what tastes best—you’ll notice the drink's flavor will change a little.
- → What if I don’t have soda water?
No problem. Tonic water is good for a little bite, ginger ale gives it spice, or make it grown-up with prosecco or champagne. If you want to skip bubbles, cold water or chilled tea is nice too.
- → Can I switch up the fruit in this method?
For sure! Swap in strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries. You could also try peaches or plums for a totally different twist on the syrup.
- → How do I make this drink look fancier for company?
Stick a few cherries on a toothpick, toss in fresh mint, or coat the rim of your glass in sugar. Pop some frozen cherries in as ice cubes—they cool your drink and look cool too.