Xanthan Gum Free Cherry Lime Soda

Total time30 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.5

(14)

Bright, tart, and deeply refreshing, this cherry lime soda is the kind of drink that makes you feel like summer arrived early. The homemade cherry syrup is the real star — fresh or frozen cherries are simmered down with honey and water until they release a gorgeous, jewel-toned juice that tastes nothing like anything from a bottle. Squeezing in fresh lime juice adds a citrusy punch that balances the sweetness perfectly. For anyone navigating thickeners and stabilizers in store-bought sodas and flavored drinks, this recipe is a clean, fuss-free alternative built entirely from whole ingredients you can actually recognize. The slow pour of sparkling water down the side of the glass keeps every sip bubbly and lively, and the garnish of lime wedges and fresh cherries makes it look genuinely impressive. It comes together with minimal effort and zero specialty ingredients, which means you can make it on a weeknight or dress it up for a weekend gathering without any stress.

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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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