BHA & BHT Free Cherry Lime Soda

Total time30 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.5

(14)

That deep ruby cherry syrup is the star here — simmered down from fresh or frozen cherries, honey, and a splash of water until it's glossy, fragrant, and intensely fruity. Paired with bright fresh lime juice and chilled sparkling water, the result is a refreshing soda that tastes genuinely homemade in the best possible way. Commercially made sodas and flavored drinks are notorious for sneaking in synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT, so mixing your own from scratch is the cleanest route to a fizzy treat you can actually trust. Every ingredient in this recipe is straightforward and whole — no mystery additives, no artificial anything. The slow pour of sparkling water down the side of the glass keeps the bubbles lively, so you get that satisfying fizz all the way to the last sip. It's elegant enough to serve at a dinner party but easy enough to throw together on a weeknight when you just want something a little special.

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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.

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