This blackberry Italian soda recipe is an easy blackberry cream soda that is full of bold berry flavor! It uses a homemade blackberry syrup and milk or cream of your choice to make a bubbly and refreshing drink!
Growing up with an Italian grandma who lived with us meant we got to spend a lot of time cooking classic Italian recipes. But, my grandma was also known for her sense of whimsy and playfulness, so we had a lot of fun creating our own spins on traditional recipes. Italian sodas are a nostalgic treat that are an Italian-American tradition, and there are few beverages that are more fun to make than homemade soda pop!
💕 💕 why you’ll love this Italian blackberry cream soda recipe…
💜 berrylicious. This soda is bursting with deep and jammy blackberry flavor. Fresh blackberries can be sour, so this soda is sweetened with a blackberry syrup!
🥳 fun & nostalgic. Soda fountain drinks are booming in popularity for a reason: they’re fun and indulgent! This blackberry cream soda is perfect for parties with kids or kids at heart.
🙌 easy. Homemade sodas are super easy to make, taking only 5 minutes or less!
🛒 ingredients
- blackberry simple syrup – the blackberry flavor in this soda comes from a homemade simple syrup that’s been infused with the sweet and jammy flavor of fresh blackberries! Trust me, take the time to make it!
- seltzer water or soda water– plain soda water or sparkling seltzer water is perfect for this recipe. I love using La Croix pure sparkling water because it’s widely available.
- whole milk or heavy cream – traditional Italian soda has a splash of heavy cream but I have also sometimes use whole milk if I have that on hand.
- whipped cream – whipped cream is an optional topping for this drink, but I highly recommend it!
- ice – You’ll need a glass full of ice to keep this soda frosty cold. Use whatever ice you like, in any size. Pebble ice makes for a great display in the glass, but cocktail ice works just as nicely!
- blackberries – a fresh blackberry makes the perfect garnish for your soda!
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
1: Fill your preferred glass with ice.
2: Pour your blackberry syrup into the glass.
3: Add in the whole milk or heavy cream and give your drink a stir.
4: Add soda water to the glass, filling nearly to the top but leaving a little bit of room.
5: Top your soda with whipped cream.
6: Garnish with a fresh blackberry and serve immediately with a straw.
Hint: To create a layered beverage, add the syrup first, then the soda water, then carefully top with milk or cream.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
Garnish
- whipped cream & blackberries – I love popping a fresh blackberry into a cloud of whipped cream for this garnish.
- sugar rim – You can also use a sugar rim on half the glass.
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- not flavorful enough – you can add as much syrup as you like to intensify the flavor of your drinks! I recommend sticking with 1-2 ounces to avoid a soda that is too sweet.
- too light in color – if you want a bolder purple colored soda, you can add a drop or two of purple food coloring.
⚖️ scaling tips
Planning a party? This soda is perfect for a spring or summer soiree! You can even make a pitcher of sodas to serve to a crowd.
- 2-liter bottle – pour 8 ounces of seltzer out of a 2-liter bottle and replace it with blackberry syrup. Once your party is starting, you can allow each guest to top with as much or as little milk or cream as they like! You can even add more syrup to glasses if you want.
♻️ substitutions & variations
♻️ substitutions
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- milk of choice – you can use any milk of your choice, including non-dairy alternatives like oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. Keep in mind that this could affect the color of your final drink.
- use another berry – try this strawberry Italian soda for another berry-flavored cream soda!
- spiked – add 1-2 ounces of unflavored vodka or silver rum to your soda for a grown-up cocktail!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
- beverage glass – you’ll need a glass that can hold up to 12 ounces for this recipe.
- cocktail mixing spoon – this is an optional piece of equipment. If you want to mix the blackberry syrup with the soda water before adding in the cream, you can do so easily with a cocktail mixing spoon!
- straw – sip this beverage through a straw for maximum nostalgia. If you want to amp up the fun, you can use a silly straw! I love using these silicone straws from GIR, because they are easy to clean in the dishwasher, and they don’t stain or retain odors.
- measuring beakers or jigger – I love using these OXO nesting measuring beakers (affiliate link) for drink making! You can also use a classic cocktail jigger.
🫙 storage tips
Because this soda is effervescent and contains milk or cream, it is best to enjoy it shortly after making it.
💬 q+a
What is an Italian soda?
Italian soda is made from combining soda water, or seltzer water, with a flavored syrup, like simple syrup. Sometimes cream or milk is added to give it a luxurious, velvety flavor. You may see Italian sodas with cream be called a “cremosa.”
How is Italian soda different than dirty soda?
Dirty soda is made with cola or other soda pop that is already flavored, meaning it’s usually double-sweetened. Italian sodas are made with sparkling water, seltzer water, or club soda, which is unsweetened.
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Blackberry Italian Soda (Blackberry Cream Soda)
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Equipment
- 1 drinking glass
- 1 cocktail mixing spoon
- 1 measuring beaker or jigger
- 1 straw
Ingredients
- 1 ounce blackberry simple syrup
- 6 ounces seltzer water plain sparkling water or soda water
- 2 ounces milk or cream of choice
- ice to fill glass
- fresh blackberries for garnish
Instructions
- Fill the glass of your choice with ice.
- Add 1 ounce of blackberry simple syrup to the glass.
- Pour in 2 ounces of the milk of your choice into the glass.
- Top with plain sparkling water, leaving a little room at the top.
- Add a generous dollop of whipped cream to the top of the beverage.
- Place a fresh blackberry into the whipped cream.
- Serve immediately with a straw.
Notes
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
🧯food safety & other information
Food safety is an important ingredient in any recipe for success! Here are some tips to keep you safe in the kitchen!
- If you are spiking your sodas, be sure to drink responsibly and never serve alcohol to anyone underage. In the United States, the legal age for alcohol consumption is 21-years old.
