Nutmeg Free Cherry Lime Soda
Tart cherries, bright lime, and a cascade of bubbles make this homemade soda feel like something you'd pay way too much for at a fancy café. The cherry syrup comes together in just minutes on the stovetop — fresh or frozen cherries simmer with honey and water until the liquid turns a gorgeous, jewel-toned ruby. Straining out the solids gives you a silky, concentrated syrup that layers beautifully with fresh lime juice in the glass. Warm spices like nutmeg are nowhere near this recipe, so anyone avoiding them can sip freely without scanning a single label. Pouring the sparkling water slowly down the side of the glass is a small but satisfying trick that keeps every sip perfectly fizzy. Garnish with a lime wedge and a few fresh cherries and it looks almost too pretty to drink — almost.
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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.
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