Soft Drinks Recipe
Enjoy a tipple with your meal or quench your thirst with free refills of your favourite soft drinks.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Classic Fountain Soft Drink (single serving)
Homemade Lemon-Lime Soda (single serving, non-concentrate)
Garnishes & Add-ins (optional)
Method
Classic Fountain Soft Drink (single serving)
Prepare glass and ice
Fill a 16–20 oz serving glass with about 1 cup of fresh ice cubes to chill the drink and keep dilution moderate.
Add syrup or concentrate
Pour 1.5 fl oz of soft drink syrup or cola concentrate over the ice. If using a commercially bottled concentrate, follow the label ratio (this recipe assumes a roughly 8:1 dilution).
Top with carbonated water
Slowly pour 12 fl oz of chilled carbonated water down the side of the glass to preserve effervescence and minimize foam. Leave a little headroom (about 1/2 inch).
Stir gently and garnish
Give the drink one or two gentle stirs with a long spoon to combine syrup and carbonated water without losing too much carbonation. Garnish with a lemon or lime wedge if desired and serve with a straw.
Homemade Lemon-Lime Soda (single serving, non-concentrate)
Chill ingredients
Make sure the carbonated water is well chilled. If you don't have pre-chilled water, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the soda stays fizzy when served.
Combine juices and sweetener
In the serving glass, add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, and 0.75 fl oz (about 1.5 teaspoons) simple syrup. Adjust sweetness to taste.
Add ice and carbonated water
Add 1 cup of ice to the glass, then slowly pour 12 fl oz chilled carbonated water over the ice to preserve bubbles. Leave a small gap at the top.
Mix and garnish
Stir gently once or twice to combine. Taste and adjust by adding more simple syrup for sweetness or an extra squeeze of citrus for brightness. Garnish with a lemon or lime wheel and serve immediately.
Garnishes & Add-ins (optional)
For a flavored variation, add 1/2 tablespoon of flavored syrup such as vanilla (for cream soda notes) or grenadine (for a cherry twist) to the bottom of the glass before adding ice. Drop in a maraschino cherry and/or a sprig of mint for presentation. If using mint, clap it briefly between your palms to release the aroma before placing it on top.