This Italian Soda recipe is so easy, only 3 ingredients. They are a perfectly refreshing and fun drink. Great for parties because the drinks can be customized with a variety of flavors.
Italian Sodas are so easy to make with only 3 ingredients (plus ice!) and so fun to make at home because you can make them into whatever flavor combinations you like.
Ingredients Needed to make Italian Sodas?
- Flavored syrup (see some of my favorite flavor combos below)
- Torani syrups have lots of good options!
- club soda or soda water
- half and half
- ice
How to Make Italian Soda:
All you need to make these is flavored syrups, club soda or soda water, half and half and ice. You will fill your cup first with your choice of syrup, just a couple tablespoons. Then fill the cup almost to the top with ice. Then pour club soda over the ice all the way to the top. Then add a dash of half and half. They are best when topped with whipped cream too 😉
You can find the flavored syrups near the alcoholic drink mixer section, or near the coffee in your local grocery store, or you can order them online too.
I had never had an Italian Soda before till a couple years ago at a family reunion. We had over 60 people there and my dad’s brother and his wife organized all the food, they bought the food and let every one else take turns cooking. One of the things that we had for a fun evening treat was an Italian Cream Soda. Can you believe I had never had an Italian Soda before? I had no idea how easy they are to make and such a fun and tasty treat!
If you’ve been to any Italian restaurants (at least in the USA) many of them serve Italian sodas as a delicious specialty drink. They aren’t cheap, but a delicious fun treat that is so fun to get with dinner – but they are so easy and so much cheaper to make at home!
Flavor ideas for Italian Sodas:
- strawberry and coconut (tiger’s blood)
- orange and vanilla (creamsicle)
- strawberry and vanilla (strawberries and cream)
- pineapple and coconut (pina colada)
- raspberry and peach
- strawberry and lemon (strawberry lemonade)
- cherry and lime
My favorite flavored syrups are made by Torani. They have a variety of flavors to make any drinks you’d want. Many can be found in the grocery store near alcoholic drink mixers, or you can order them online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Italian soda?
Italian soda basically means carbonated water with syrup, frequently served in a tall glass. Usually club soda is used, but seltzer water can also be substituted for a slightly less salty taste.
Why do they call it Italian soda?
Due to the fruity syrups (made by an Italian company) usually used in Italian sodas, the name stuck. They actually originated in the United States over a century ago in San Francisco when two Italian immigrants introduced recipes to thirsty Americans.
Is there a standard flavor for Italian soda?
No, there is not a standard flavor for Italian sodas. You can make your own Italian soda bar with your favorite flavors and mix it up with things like raspberry syrup, tonic water, or any variety of different flavors with some of your favorite sweet syrups.
What are some Italian soda flavor combinations?
Some of our favorite flavor combinations are strawberry and lime as well as mango and banana. You can even use your own homemade syrups, add a scoop of ice cream, or keep it simple with easy drinks like a single syrup flavor of vanilla or blueberry.
What are Italian sodas called outside of the United States?
In other countries they are frequently called French soda or creamosa, with variations having ice cubes, syrup flavors that vary wildly, and can sometimes be found your your local coffee shop.
I love making Italian sodas at home because they are so easy, and so fun, and they seem a bit fancy! It’s so fun to make them for a special dinner, or set up and Italian soda “bar” where everyone can pick their own flavors to drink! Check out this Italian cream soda recipe and plan a fun get together to cool off during hot summer days (or any time of year of your choosing) with your own tasty concoction.
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Italian Sodas
Ingredients
- 2 TBS flavored syrups
- Crushed Ice (to fill the glass almost to the top)
- 12 oz club soda
- 1 TBS half and half
Optional Toppings:
- 2 TBS whipped cream
- 1 maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Select your flavored syrups and pour 2 TBS into the bottom of your glass.
- Put crushed ice in your glass and fill the glass almost to the top.
- Pour your club soda over the top of your ice.
- Pour a splash of half and half on top.
- Top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry and enjoy.
Nutrition
Recipe Originally Posted on October 10, 2014. The photos were updated on November 8, 2020.
Fafalina says
Been drinking this since childhood in the 60s. Wasn’t called “Italian soda’. We called it egg creams.
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
Oh these sound fabulous!!!
I have never had one! Rather taken with the idea of cherry and lime.
Although the coconut and pineapple sounds good too 😀
Jessica says
Raspberry and peach would be my flavor combo pick! I think I’ll have a cream soda bar at my next book club meeting.
georgia garry says
Where do you get the syrup
Ellen Garrett says
I know you can purchase the flavored syrups from Amazon but you probably can find them in your local grocery store too.
Sarah says
Aaron LOVES Italian sodas, so we made these tonight (raspberry and vanilla mixed) soooooo good! He was over the moon!
Aimee Berrett says
I’m so glad you liked them! Raspberry and vanilla sound like an awesome combo!
Thien-Kim says
Looks so simple! #client
Lauren Allen says
I’m already a huge 7-up ten fan, so I know I’ll love these! Pinned
Aimee says
I love Italian sodas Going to have to give this a try. 🙂