Вход на сайт
Просмотр новости

Найдите то, что Вас интересует

Comment on Homemade Cola by Kim

Дата публикации: 17-08-2026 20:16:57

This looks refreshingly delicious, and a much better alternative to purchased sodas. I'm eager to try it soon. Thank you for the recipe!!

Основное содержимое страницы с новостью.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

This easy homemade cola recipe is a great all natural substitute for Coca Cola if you want to try it at home! The cola syrup combines fresh citrus, ginger, and other warming spices with brown sugar for that rich molasses taste. Best of all you can add caffeine to the drink, if desired, or leave it caffeine-free. Perfect for a refreshing summer drink.

A glass of homemade coke with ice and a slice of lime.
Quick Look: Homemade Cola
  • Prep time: 20 minutes.
  • Servings – This will make between 4-6 drinks, depending on how much syrup you prefer.
  • Main ingredients: Brown sugar, orange, lemon, and lime peels, cinnamon, ginger, coriander, and sparkling water or soda water.
  • When to serve: For a refreshing, non-alcholic drink, a healthy replacement for soft drinks, and a great alternative for nausea.
  • Dietary information: This recipe fits a Mediterranean-style diet, gluten free, and dairy free, as well as vegetarian. This would not fit the HYH diet.
  • Why you’ll love it: If you’re looking for a cola drink that is not ultra-processed and doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavorings, or preservatives – this homemade Coca Cola recipe is for you! It’s great for those wanting a caffeine-free cola version as well.

Coca cola was such a craving for me during my pregnancy since I was so nauseous, and has been a craving for me during the prodrome phase of a few migraine attacks, but I am sensitive to caffeine and wanted a natural alternative with similar flavors. If you love this recipe, check out my homemade sprite or homemade gatorade.

Ingredients for homemade cola on a white background. Ingredients

Below are comments on the main ingredients, where to find them, and what I found testing this cola recipe multiple times. The full recipe card with amounts is at the bottom of this post.

  • Brown sugar – I chose brown sugar for this recipe because it’s a great way to add the molasses flavor but in one single ingredient. I also found with using brown sugar, you don’t have to worry about caramelizing the sugar before adding the water.
  • Citrus peels – We only need the peels of lemon and orange for this recipe. For lime, you’ll use the peel and the juice inside. Simmering the peels will infuse the syrup with citrus flavor. I recommend purchasing a medium to large navel orange.
  • Fresh ginger – Phosphoric acid in Coke provides that spicy, sharp, acidic flavor and can also help some people with nausea. The best way I found to replace this same spiciness and add the element of nausea relief is through fresh, grated ginger.
  • Cinnamon stick – This recipe was tested with a whole cinnamon stick, but some of the recipe testers felt it was overpowering, so we settled on half of a cinnamon stick. If you prefer a lot of cinnamon flavor, you can leave the whole stick.
  • Coriander and nutmeg – This is the seeds of a cilantro plant, and it adds a bright, grassy flavor to the profile. I tested this natural cola recipe with a few different ground spices, but felt coriander and nutmeg was the most important. Adding too many ground spices caused the mixture to be gritty, so I felt limiting it to 2 essential flavors was the best way to go. I found cloves added too heavy of a spice, especially with the cinnamon.
  • Sea salt – This adds some natural electrolytes for hydration, but also helps to balance the sweetness. You’ll notice most soda recipes have some sodium in them.
  • Sparkling water – This can also be soda water, but it needs to be highly carbonated. Topo chico does this well. Q club soda, polar seltzer, saratoga all have a strong carbonation. If you use club soda, you may not need to use the added sodium.

I tried to keep the ingredient list as simple and approachable as possible as I felt like the average person is not going to go out and buy powdered citric acid, gum arabic, browning sauce, etc. just for this recipe.

Cola Variations

When I posted this recipe online, I got so many opinions! Some people said it was missing vanilla, others said they needed caffeine. So here are some variations that were also tested.

  • Buoy caffeine drops – Their caffeine drops add a small boost and some electrolytes as well.
  • Vanilla cola – I tried vanilla extract and vanilla bean. The small piece of vanilla bean was a little lighter, but felt extravagant for a simple cola recipe. Then the vanilla extract was overpowering – tasted like artificial vanilla Coke. If you’re making this at home, I’d recommend about 1/4 vanilla bean to start.
  • Coconut sugar – A few people tested this with coconut sugar as an alternative and enjoyed it.
  • Homemade cherry cola – Add 10 sweet frozen cherries into the sugar and spices. For extra cherry flavor, top off with a cherry sparkling water like Spindrift.
How to Make Cola Syrup
Peeling the oranges, limes, and lemons, with a peeler.

Step 1: Using a peeler, remove the peel from the orange, lemon, and lime. Save the lime for juice.

Adding all the ingredients to a small pot with water.

Step 2: Add the peels, brown sugar, freshly grated ginger, half cinnamon stick, coriander, nutmeg, and salt to a small pot. Stir frequently over medium heat, allowing the sugar to begin to melt. Add in the water and bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat, then turn the heat to low to maintain a simmer for 8 minutes, Remove the cinnamon stick and simmer another 7-8 minutes.

Straining the ginger and citrus peels out of the cola syrup through a fine mesh strainer.

Step 3: Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to sit for about 15 minutes to cool. Then strain through a fine mesh strainer.

Pouring cola syrup into a glass with ice cubes.

Step 4: Pour 2-4 tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of a glass with crushed ice. Add sparkling water to top it off and freshly squeezed lime juice. Stir to combine. If adding in caffeine drops, stir them in here. Taste and add more syrup to adjust to your preference.

Pouring sparkling water on top of the syrup in a glass with ice.
Recipe Tip

Using 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup as a base for syrup will get you the closest in sweetness to real cola soda, but the great thing about making your own is you can adjust the sweetness. Sometimes I find the flavors with less sweetness is perfect for nausea, so I’ll just closer to 2 tablespoons with about 6 or 7 ounces of sparkling water.

Storage Information

Refrigerator – The cola syrup will keep for up to one week in a glass jar. The recipe only makes maybe 6 servings at most, so you probably won’t have it very long!

Freezer – Freeze the leftover syrup into ice cube trays to defrost as needed. I recommend 2 tablespoon trays.

Two glasses of cola with ice on a table next to the cola syrup. Recipe FAQ

Does it taste exactly like Coca Cola?

One reviewer on instagram said “Just tried this, tastes better than Coke or Pepsi, definitely making it again!”. I find the flavors to be a little more citrusy and spiced, rather than an exact copy. It’s difficult to make an exact copy using all natural ingredients!

Is this healthier than soda?

This recipe doesn’t use high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors, but does still contain a good amount of sugar. You can lower this through using less syrup to your blend, or just try one of my low sugar drinks like this blueberry mocktail. If you’re looking to limit caffeine or consume less ultra-processed foods, this is a great option.

More Popular Soda Recipes

Drinks

HDHeal Your Headache (HYH)MDMediterranean Migraine DietDFDairy FreeGFGluten FreeVVegetarian

Easy Homemade Ginger Ale

Recipes

MDMediterranean Migraine DietDFDairy FreeGFGluten FreeVVegetarian

Homemade Sprite (Quick & Easy)

Drinks

HDHeal Your Headache (HYH)MDMediterranean Migraine DietDFDairy FreeGFGluten FreeVVegetarian

Sleepy Girl Mocktail with Tart Cherry Juice

Drinks

MDMediterranean Migraine DietDFDairy FreeGFGluten FreeVVegetarian

Ginger Beer Mocktail with Lemon

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review in the recipe card! Don’t forget to tag me @thedizzycook on Facebook and Instagram, and follow along on Pinterest for more great recipes!

  • ▢ 1 large orange
  • ▢ 1 lemon
  • ▢ 1 lime
  • ▢ 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • ▢ 3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger root, does not need to be peeled
  • ▢ 1/2 cinnamon stick
  • ▢ 1/4 teaspoon coriander
  • ▢ ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ▢ 1 pinch sea salt
  • ▢ 1 ¼ cups water
  • ▢ 16 ounces sparkling water

  • Using a peeler, remove the whole peel from the orange, lemon, and lime. Add the peels, along with the brown sugar, grated ginger, half cinnamon stick, coriander, nutmeg and salt to a small to medium-size pot. (If making cherry cola, add 10 sweet frozen cherries here and omit the nutmeg.) Stir frequently over medium heat, allowing the spices to combine and the sugar to start to melt. Once the brown sugar starts to liquify, add 1 ¼ cups filtered water, stirring to combine.

  • Bring everything to a boil over medium high heat, then turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 8 minutes, then remove the cinnamon stick and continue cooking the rest of the mixture for another 7 minutes. Turn off the heat, and let cool for 15 minutes.

  • Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a jar. You will end up with around 1 cup of syrup. Pour about ¼ cup of syrup over ice and top with sparkling water – can use more or less depending on your preference for flavor and sweetness. Stir to combine. Add freshly squeezed lime juice on top, if desired.

  • If you prefer a stronger citrus flavor, you can grate the citrus peels instead of peeling.
  • Some readers reported success with using coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. I personally think the brown sugar is a more accurate flavor. 
  • Cola syrup will store well in the fridge for up to 7-10 days. 
  • Cherry cola – Add 10 sweet frozen cherries to the brown sugar mixture and completely omit the nutmeg. Use the same instructions for cooking. For extra cherry flavor, top off with sparkling water or soda + cherry sparkling water (like Spindrift)

Serving: 2ounces, Calories: 135kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 0.4g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.03g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 36mg, Potassium: 103mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 11IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Alicia Wolf

Alicia is a recipe developer, migraine advocate and the bestselling author of two books - The Dizzy Cook and The Mediterranean Migraine Diet. Her recipes and story have appeared in the New York Times, Healthline, Parade, mindbodygreen, Today, the Vestibular Disorders Association, Danielle Foundation, and the American Migraine Foundation. Read More

You May Also Like

Drinks

HDHeal Your Headache (HYH)MDMediterranean Migraine DietGFGluten FreeVVegetarian

Sour Green Grape Hydration Drink

Drinks

HDHeal Your Headache (HYH)MDMediterranean Migraine DietDFDairy FreeGFGluten FreeVVegetarian

Easy Mixed Berry Mocktail

Gluten Free

HDHeal Your Headache (HYH)MDMediterranean Migraine DietDFDairy FreeGFGluten FreeLCLow CarbVVegetarian

Blueberry Iced Tea with Mint

Juices

HDHeal Your Headache (HYH)MDMediterranean Migraine DietDFDairy FreeGFGluten FreeVVegetarian

Watermelon Juice with Mint

Схожие новости

#Наименование новостиТональностьИнформативностьДата публикации
1 Comment on Mediterranean Baked Halibut by Vicki heath 01020-08-2026
2 Comment on 10 Minute Garlic Butter Pasta by Lynn 017.6918-08-2026
3 Comment on Creamy Rosemary Chicken by Anonymous 01017-08-2026
4 Comment on Chicken Zucchini Poppers by Kim 016.6717-08-2026
5 Comment on Easy Zucchini Pasta by Lynn 01018-08-2026
6Yazın serinleten ev yapımı içecek: Şeftalili limonata tarifi08.124-07-2026
7 Comment on Boursin Orzo Bake by Stephanie Politis 01018-08-2026
8Получилось очень вкусно 🤤 Старалась над видео надеюсь в #рекомендации ...8206-07-2026
9No Yeast Puff Puff5702-01-2026

Классификация: . Схожих патентов: 0. Схожих новостей: 9. Тональность: 0. Информативность: 9.32. Источник: thedizzycook.com.