Fanta Recipe

Make a simple orange syrup

Combine the granulated sugar, orange zest, and 1/2 cup of water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is just simmering (about 3–4 minutes). Do not boil hard. Remove from heat and let steep for 5 minutes to extract more orange flavor from the zest.

Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl to remove the zest solids, pressing to extract liquid. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature (about 10–15 minutes).

Stir in the fresh orange juice, lemon juice, orange extract, vanilla extract, and citric acid into the cooled syrup until fully combined. If using food coloring, add 1–2 drops and mix until color is uniform.

In a large pitcher, combine the carbonated water and the prepared orange syrup mixture. Gently stir once or twice to combine — avoid vigorous stirring to preserve carbonation. Taste and adjust: add up to 1–2 tbs more orange juice or 1–2 tsp more citric acid if you prefer brighter, tangier flavor; add a little simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) if you want it sweeter.

Fill four serving glasses with ice. Pour the Fanta-style soda over ice, about 1 cup per glass. Garnish each glass with an orange slice. Serve immediately while fizzy.