As a dedicated candy corn lover who has been creating homemade beverages for over a decade now, it is my true pleasure to present you with this homemade candy corn soda. Candy corn is perhaps the most iconic Halloween candy of all time. Whether you love it, hate it, hate to love it, or love to hate it, candy corn is decidedly here to stay. This soda celebrates the iconic flavor of the candy that’s become synonymous with Halloween. 👻
This soda was inspired by my candy corn simple syrup and candy corn infused vodka recipes. Jones soda company used to offer teeny tiny cans of candy corn soda around Halloween time in the early 2000's. While they've since retired the flavor, now you can make it at home!
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💕 why you'll love this recipe
🎃 fun & festive. Candy corn is the quintessential candy of Halloween, and this soda celebrates that flavor profile.
🍬 sweet & nostalgic. This soda is sure to bring you back to simpler times when Halloween was all about getting the most candy and trick-or-treating at the most houses.
🥳 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 corn soda pop!
🛒 ingredients
- candy corn simple syrup - you’ll need to whip up a batch of this candy corn simple syrup to make this soda beverage. Luckily, it’s super fast to make, and you can enjoy it in so many more beverages!
- soda water - plain, unflavored soda water, or seltzer water, is the best base for this recipe. You can also substitute club soda. Do not use mineral water or tonic water as they have additional minerals or ingredients like quinine that alter the flavor of the final soda.
- 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!
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
🫧 All about bubbly water
All bubbles are not created equal, in fact, some are put in after manufacturing and some occur naturally! Here is a quick breakdown of the kinds of carbonated beverages available.
- seltzer water aka soda water aka sparkling water - unflavored water with carbonation added. No minerals are added, so the flavor profile is clean and pure. Sometimes called sparkling water, or soda water, and can be used interchangeably in any recipe noting either name.
- sparkling mineral water - usually naturally carbonated from the source of the water, like springs or wells. They also naturally contain minerals, which affect the flavor based on the mineral content. Sparkling mineral water is not interchangeable in recipes calling for seltzer water or sparkling water, because of the additional flavors added from the minerals.
- club soda - water that has carbon dioxide added, then had minerals added. The minerals that are added depend on the manufacturer, and they can sometimes give the club soda a slightly salty flavor. This can be handy in sweeter drinks, or cocktails. Because the taste difference is slight, club soda can usually be used interchangeably in recipes calling for soda water, sparkling water, or seltzer.
- tonic water - water that is carbonated and then has minerals added, with the most notable being quinine (pronounced kwai-nine). Quinine has a bitter flavor, so some brands of tonic water also add sugar or syrups to their beverages. Tonic is not interchangeable for soda water, seltzer, or club soda.
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Fill your preferred glass with ice.
Step 2: Add candy corn simple syrup to the glass.
Step 3: Fill the rest of the glass with unflavored soda water.
Step 4: Top with whipped cream, which is optional but delicious.
Step 5: Garnish with candy corn.
Step 6: Serve immediately.
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
This beverage is best served immediately after making because of the bubbly seltzer water.
You can serve it at a party or Halloween movie night for a sweet and refreshing treat!
It's also a great soda to serve at birthday parties during the month of October or as a mocktail for Halloween parties.
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
There’s no denying that candy corn is sweet, so you can adjust the amount of syrup you use based on your sweet-tooth level. Always start with less syrup, then increase it as you want more flavor!
Do not use sparkling mineral water or tonic water, as it changes the flavor profile of this homemade soda.
⚖️ Scaling Tips
This recipe is perfect for a party! Grab a 2-liter bottle of sparkling water or club soda and pour it into a large pitcher. Next, add in ½ cup of candy corn syrup. Serve immediately to a crowd at a Halloween party!
Prepping for a party? You can pour out a little bit of soda water from the 2-liter bottle, then fill it back up with candy corn simple syrup. Then, you can stash it in the fridge until your party!
You can even create custom labels on your computer for your sodas for a really fun presentation!
🔆 top tip
Always start with less syrup than you think you’ll like in your soda, then increase the amount from there. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
♻️ 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!
- ginger ale - you can substitute ginger ale for soda water, but your final soda will be quite sweet.
- club soda - you can swap club soda for seltzer water or sparkling water with little to no effect on flavor.
🎛️ variations
Feeling like a rebel?! 😈 Feel free to stray from the recipe card using these variations, or leave me a comment with your own!
- cream or milk - Add a splash of heavy cream or milk for a creamy soda like this strawberry Italian soda.
- alcoholic - Turn this into an adult beverage by adding a shot of vanilla vodka or spiced rum to the mixture.
- ice cream float - Add a scoop of vanilla or caramel ice cream for a real sweet ice cream treat!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
- drinking glass - I like to use a glass that has a 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!
- 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. They clean up easy, are dishwasher safe, and come in so many fun colors. Some even glow in the dark! 👻
🫙 storage tips
Since this beverage is bubbly, it doesn’t store well for an extended amount of time.
If you do need to store it, you can do so in a bottle with a stopper that can accommodate carbonation. Just be careful when you open the bottle because the pressure may have built in the bottle.
Do not plan to store it for more than 24 hours.
💬 q+a
Use plain, unflavored sparkling water, seltzer water, or club soda for making homemade soda pops. Do not use sparkling mineral water or tonic water as they have additional minerals and ingredients that can change the flavor profile of the finished beverage.
Yes! Always be sure to follow your manufacturer's instructions when using a homemade soda water machine.
Since the soda is carbonated, it doesn’t last long after serving. It’s best to serve this soda immediately after making it or store it in a bottle that can accommodate the carbonation. Do not store it for longer than 24 hours to maintain maximum bubbles.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!
🥣 recipe
Candy Corn Soda
Equipment
- 1 straw
Ingredients
- 1 oz Candy Corn Simple Syrup
- 12 oz Soda Water unflavored
- whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Fill your preferred glass with ice.
- Add candy corn 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 candy corn.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
🧯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!
- Always wash your hands before handling food or beverages.
- Use caution if you are storing this soda in a bottle. Carbonation can build up and cause pressure within the bottle. Open carefully.
Tasia says
This is such a FUN soda! My girls went crazy for it when I made it for movie night and can't wait to share it with friends the next time they have a sleepover.
Lindsey says
I'm so happy to hear that, Tasia!🥹 It's seriously a great way to celebrate the fall season--now I'm craving a not-so-scary movie marathon! 👻🎃