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This candy cane soda recipe is a great way to use candy canes in an unexpected and inventive way! It’s made using a homemade candy cane simple syrup and soda water, and it’s perfect for both kids and adults!

Two glasses of candy cane soda sit on coasters on a red countertop. There are mini ornaments thrown around the countertop and a green tea towel in the background.

When you’ve been making your own homemade beverages for over 10 years, you get pretty creative with using ingredients. Homemade sodas are easier to make than you think. They’re also great for making together with kids in the kitchen, especially during the winter holidays!

The soda company Jones Soda used to make a candy cane soda (they also made one that inspired this candy corn soda) but I haven’t seen it in years. Thankfully, it’s easy to replicate at home! This recipe uses my candy cane simple syrup recipe. You can adjust the sweetness to your preferences and even add heavy cream to make candy cane Italian sodas! This soda is basically like Christmas in a cup, so it’s perfect for celebrating all season long!

why this candy cane soda recipe works:

🎄 fun & festive. This cheerful and bright peppermint soda is perfect for the winter holiday season! While peppermint is mostly found in desserts this time of year, this soda is a fun way to infuse the flavor of candy canes into a treat you can drink!

🍬 sweet & nostalgic. This minty and refreshing soda is like taking a trip down a candy cane lined memory lane. If you loved chomping on candy canes in your childhood, you’ll love this soda!

🥳 party perfect. This soda is a great beverage to serve up at a festive party or seasonal gathering! Imagine the look on your guests’ faces when you tell them you’re serving a homemade candy cane sodas!

🛒 everything you need to make your festive sodas

A labeled ingredient shot of the ingredients used to make candy cane soda sit on a red countertop.
  • candy cane simple syrup – you’ll need to whip up a batch of this candy cane simple syrup to make this soda. This syrup is made with real candy canes so it has a pure peppermint taste that is unreal! Don’t worry! It comes together quickly, you can make both recipes in one afternoon easily!
  • soda water – this recipe calls for plain unflavored soda water, which is carbonated water. Sparkling mineral water has the addition of minerals, as the name suggests, which impact the taste of the water as well. In order to keep the flavor focus on the candy canes in the recipe, I recommend sticking with unflavored soda water, or regular unflavored sparkling water.
  • ice – yes, folks, we are calling ice an ingredient! 🤣 If you’ve ever landed on #icetok then you know that ice can be taken very seriously. Opt to use whatever ice you like, keeping in mind that larger cubes will melt more slowly than smaller ones.
  • whipped cream – while you don’t have to top your sodas with whipped cream, it is scientifically proven to be more fun. I love using Cabot brand whipped cream, but you can use whatever your favorite is! You can even go the extra mile and make your own whipped cream!
  • mini candy canes or crushed candy canes – top this soda with a mini candy cane or crushed candy cane pieces. Nowadays, you can find crushed candy cane pieces at the grocery store! They are especially handy for recipes like this, or for rimming cocktail glasses!

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 how to mix up your homemade soda pop

A glass filled with ice has candy cane simple syrup being poured into it.

Step 1: Fill your chosen glass with ice and add candy cane simple syrup to the glass.

Pouring sparkling water into a glass filled with candy cane syrup.

Step 2: Top with sparkling water or club soda, leaving a bit of room at the top.

A hand from out of frame is topping a glass of candy cane soda with whipped cream.

Step 3: Top your sodas with whipped cream. Pile it high for extra fun!

A hand from out of frame puts a red and white striped straw into a candy cane soda.

Step 4: Place a straw in each soda.

A candy cane soda is garnished with a miniature candy cane.

Step 5: Sprinkle crushed candy cane pieces onto the whipped cream or top with a mini candy cane.

Two glasses of candy cane soda sit on coasters on a red countertop. There are mini ornaments thrown around the countertop and a green tea towel in the background.

Step 6: Serve your sodas immediately!

💡tips & tricks for getting it right

🍽️ serving tips

  • This soda is perfect for serving at all your holiday parties or gatherings.
  • It’s great for both kids and adults, and is perfect for a stay-at-home holiday movie marathon!

choose your glass

  • Glassware can make a big impact when you’re serving beverages! I love to use any cup that has at least a 12 ounce capacity.
  • Classic milkshake glasses, known as soda fountain glasses or soda shoppe glasses, are super fun for parties!
  • You can also serve this soda in a copper Moscow mule mug!

garnish

  • You can garnish this drink with a whole candy cane for a super festive take!
  • You can also stick a mini candy cane into the whipped cream.

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

  • use the right sparkling water – make sure to use plain soda water, sparkling water, or seltzer water. You can also use club soda in a pinch, but it tends to have a bit of saltiness to it because of added minerals. Avoid using sparkling mineral water.
  • start small with the syrup – I like to add just a bit less syrup than I think I’ll need, starting with a half ounce, or 1 TBSP. You can always add more syrup later, but it’s hard to dilute the flavor once it’s added.

⚖️ scaling tips

This recipe is perfect for scaling up for a party! You can even use a 2-liter of seltzer water to make your own soda for parties! Want to scale up the fun? Try printing your own custom soda pop labels for the bottles! Kids would love to pour themselves a glass of Rudolph’s Reindeer Pop!

🔆 top tip

Start with less syrup than you think you need when making your sodas. You can always add more syrup if you want to increase the flavor of your drinks, but you can’t take it away after you add it!

Hint: Want to make these sodas extra special? Rim the glasses with crushed candy cane pieces!

A hand from out of frame is dipping a soda can drinking glass into a small dish of candy cane syrup.
A hand from out of frame is dipping a soda can drinking glass into a dish of crushed candy cane pieces.

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♻️ customize your soda pop!

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!

  • club soda – you can swap club soda for seltzer water or sparkling water with little to no effect on flavor. Club soda does have added minerals, which vary based on the brand available in grocery stores. If in doubt, check the nutrition facts label to see what added minerals are in your club soda!
  • add cream or milk – Italian sodas are made using whole milk or heavy cream. While they didn’t really originate in Italy, they were first made by the Italian-American family who invented the Torani syrup company!
  • ice cream float – add a scoop of ice cream to this homemade soda for a delicious and seasonal ice cream float! Some flavors that would work well are vanilla, chocolate, or even coffee ice cream! 🍦
  • cocktail – want to spike your sodas? Add in an ounce or two of vodka, tequila, or silver rum for an adult beverage. Be sure to keep the booze away from the kids table, please!

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

  • drinking glass – I like to use a glass that have a 12 – 16 ounce capacity, so I can fit a whole can of sparkling water without having leftover. You can use a smaller more festive glass if you like! These soda can glasses are the ones featured in the photos. A special old fashioned milkshake glass would also make for a great presentation!
  • straw – you can get really festive with your straws, adding a layer of fun for your friends and family. I love using these silicone straws from GIR Co. (affiliate link). They clean up easy, are dishwasher safe, and come in so many fun colors. Some even glow in the dark! 🎄 You can also use these fun paper straws that come in a variety of colors (affiliate link)!
  • cocktail mixing spoon – a cocktail spoon is a mixing spoon with a longer than normal handle. This is super useful when mixing beverages because it allows you to mix easily without getting your hand into the soda!

🫙 tips for storing leftover candy cane soda

It is best to consume this soda shortly after drinking it because of the bubbles. If you are not serving it right away after making it, be sure to store it in an airtight container like these bottles from Bormioli Rocco that have stoppers.

Use caution when opening the bottles after storage— carbonation can build up in the bottle which can cause the top to burst off.

💬 q+a

Do I need to make the candy cane simple syrup for this recipe?

Yes, while it will take you a little extra time, trust me, it’s worth it! Using peppermint extract in soda water isn’t the same because it can taste bitter and artificial. The candy cane simple syrup sweetens the soda as well as giving it the peppermint flavor.

What if I can’t find candy canes?

You can also use starlight mint candies if you can’t find candy canes. I made this soda in August before candy canes were available, and starlight mints work well too! 😅

If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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Two glasses of candy cane soda sit on coasters on a red countertop. There are mini ornaments thrown around the countertop and a green tea towel in the background.

Candy Cane Soda (Peppermint Soda with Candy Cane Syrup)

This candy cane soda recipe is a great way to use classic candy canes in a unexpected and inventive way! It's got the bright and fresh flavor of peppermint and the sparkling bubbles of soda pop!
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Beverages
Cuisine: American
Keyword: candy cane, peppermint, soda
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 141kcal
Author: Lindsey Neumayer

Equipment

  • 1 drinking glass
  • 1 straw

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce candy cane simple syrup
  • 10 ounces soda water can use club soda or seltzer water, do not use mineral water.
  • crushed candy canes optional
  • whipped cream optional
  • mini candy cane optional

Instructions

  • If garnishing your glass, dip the rim in candy cane syrup and give it a gentle shake.
  • Dip the portion of the glass with syrup on it into crushed candy cane pieces.
  • Fill your preferred glass with ice.
  • Add candy cane simple syrup to the glass.
  • Fill the rest of the glass with unflavored soda water.
  • Top with whipped cream, which is optional, but delicious.
  • Garnish with a mini candy cane.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

substitutions & variations

  • club soda – swap club soda for seltzer water or sparkling water with little to no effect on flavor.
  • add cream or milk – add milk or cream for an Italian-style soda!
  • ice cream float – add a scoop of ice cream for seasonal ice cream float! Flavors that would work well are vanilla, chocolate, or even coffee ice cream!
  • cocktail – add in an ounce or two of vodka, tequila, or silver rum for an adult beverage. 

Nutrition Information

Servings: 1
Calories: 63mg
Total Fat: 63mg
Saturated Fat: 63mg
Trans Fat: 63mg
Cholesterol: 63mg
Sodium: 63mg
Carbohydrates: 63mg
Fiber: 63mg
Sugar: 63mg
Protein: 63mg

The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.

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