Alaska has had a record-setting hot summer; it’s been ahhh-mazing. This Alaskan girl’s arms aren’t halibut-belly-white anymore, they are actually kind of tan. In fact, they are the tannest they have ever been!
My ice cream maker is broken (I just ordered a replacement piece), so we’ve been enjoying popsicles, sugar free lemonade, and Cherry Vanilla Italian Sodas (No Sugar Added) to beat the heat. As a rule, we don’t allow soda in our house, but I make an exception for club soda, because it’s plain carbonated water. It’s a perfect ingredient for building our own fun and healthy drinks.
In my early 20’s I worked full time in the sales and marketing department of Alaska Airlines, and part time at a coffee shop on the weekends. Back then I didn’t think twice about making someone an Italian soda or a coffee with the various flavored syrups. Little did I know, how unhealthy there were with all the added sugar and artificial “natural flavors.” Thankfully, I know better now. And am happy to recreate some of my coffee house favorites with real, whole food ingredients.
All my love,
Megan
Cherry Vanilla Italian Soda (No sugar added)
A cherry vanilla Italian soda without any artificial dyes or flavors, or any sugar.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces club soda
- 10-15 drops NuNatural’s Liquid Vanilla Stevia (or honey or maple syrup to taste plus 2 drops vanilla extract)
- 10 dark sweet cherries, pitted and halved (I use frozen)
- Ice
Instructions
- In a tall glass that holds at least 22 ounces, pour in half of the club soda and stir in the vanilla stevia and dark sweet cherries. Fill the glass up with ice, and pour in the remaining club soda. Stir and enjoy.
Notes
For an Italian Cream Soda, simply stir in 2 tablespoons of canned coconut milk.
This recipe will also work with raspberries or strawberries (use 3-4 whole, quartered).
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Megan - The Gluten Free Vegan says
I am going to make this all weekend long. Thank you for yet another amazing recipe! 🙂
Megan says
Thanks, Megan (great name BTW)! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Vicky says
Wow Megan this is such a gorgeous, refreshing drink and it looks so beautiful !
Megan says
Thanks, Vicky! 😉
Shirley @ gfe & All Gluten-Free Desserts says
YUM! And so pretty, too! I love cherry-based beverages! 🙂
Shirley
Megan says
I do too! Thanks, Shirley! 😉
xo
Arleen says
Do you mash the cherries a bit? This looks awesome! I love cherries!
Megan says
Hi Arleen,
No I don’t mash them, but I do cut them in half.
Megan
GiGiEatsCelebrities.com says
Looks so refreshing and PERFECT! Love Stevia SOOO much!
Megan says
Thanks, Gigi! 😉
Mark Triplett says
Can you tell me how many carbs would be in this drink..Thanks..:)
Megan says
Hi Mark,
I’m not sure what the carb intake is for this recipe. You could try popping the ingredients into http://caloriecount.about.com/. That should give you the carbs and other nutritional info. 😉
Megan
Kelly says
This looks & sounds amazing!! I’m always looking for healthier alternatives to soda & bubbly drinks. 🙂
Frederique says
woah! sounds like a fantastic usage for our soda stream! We make “club soda” by simply using the soda stream machine with tap water, either drinking it plain as you would “perrier” minus all the sodium, but adding the stevia and cherries sounds even better! 🙂
I do sometimes add a splash (ok ok a glug!) of lemon juice with natural stevia for fizzy lemonade too 🙂