Artificial Flavors Free Cherry Lime Soda
Bright, tangy, and deeply refreshing, this cherry lime soda is the kind of drink that makes you wonder why you ever reached for a can in the first place. The star of the show is a quick homemade cherry syrup — just fresh or frozen cherries, water, and a touch of honey simmered until the liquid turns a gorgeous, jewel-toned ruby. That syrup gets strained smooth, then paired with freshly squeezed lime juice and chilled sparkling water for a fizzy sip that tastes genuinely vibrant. Store-bought sodas and flavored drinks are notorious for sneaking in synthetic additives, so making your own is the easiest way to know exactly what's in your glass. The slow pour of sparkling water down the side of the glass keeps every sip perfectly effervescent, and the whole thing comes together with almost no effort. Garnished with a lime wedge and a few fresh cherries, it looks as good as it tastes — impressive enough for guests, simple enough for a Tuesday afternoon.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the cherry syrup
- 1 cup fresh or frozen sweet cherries, pitted
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp honey
For serving
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 ½ cups sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 lime wedges (optional)
- 4 fresh cherries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the pitted cherries, water, and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing the cherries gently with a spoon, until the cherries have softened and released their juice and the liquid is a deep ruby color, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Pour the cherry mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a small bowl or measuring cup, pressing the solids firmly to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the solids. Let the cherry syrup cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!