This strawberry Italian soda is a sweet and refreshing strawberry cream soda that’s perfect for spring and summer. It uses a homemade strawberry syrup to add bold berry flavor to a bubbly and creamy soda pop. If you were a fan of strawberry Nesquik growing up, you’re definitely going to want to add this to your “to-make” list!
Growing up with an Italian grandmother who lived with us meant we got to enjoy so many homemade treats. One of my favorite memories of my grandma was talking with her about the food she loved from our culture. A lot of my homemade soda recipes are based on classic Italian flavors my grandma loved, like limonata and grapefruit soda.
💕 why you’ll love this strawberry Italian soda recipe
🍓 bursting with berry flavor. While traditional Italian sodas are made with store-bought syrup, this recipe features fresh homemade strawberry simple syrup.
🥳 fun & nostalgic. The days of soda fountains may be long gone, but you can tap into the simple joys of childhood with this easy-to-make drink.
✨ layered magic. This soda is great for sipping on literally any afternoon, but it’s also a true showstopper to serve at parties and gatherings! It has distinct layers that look complex to make, but it’s actually super simple!
🛒 ingredients
- strawberry simple syrup – This syrup serves as the base of the recipe, so definitely take the time to make a batch!
- 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. Avoid using sparkling mineral water or tonic water as they both have distinct flavors that can impact the final outcome of this beverage. In a pinch, club soda will work as an alternative.
- heavy cream – this Italian soda has a splash of heavy cream but I have also tested it with whole milk and half and half.
- strawberries – another optional ingredient, but it’s great to top each beverage with a strawberry as a garnish! If you don’t have fresh berries, you can place a dehydrated or freeze-dried strawberry on top of the whipped cream.
- 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!
- whipped cream – whipped cream is an optional topping for this fizzy beverage, but I highly recommend it!
🍳 instructions
1: Fill your preferred glass with ice.
2: Pour 1 ounce of strawberry syrup into the glass.
3: Add soda water to the glass, filling 3/4 full.
4: Carefully layer 1 ounce of cream or milk on top of the soda water.
5: Top your soda with whipped cream.
6: Garnish with a strawberry and serve immediately.
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💡 tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ How to serve your strawberry Italian sodas
- pool parties or barbecues – this soda is perfect for spring or summer outdoor gatherings! It is quick to make, and impressive to serve. You can mix the base of simple syrup and soda water in a pitcher, and then top it with cream or milk as you serve it to your guests.
- brunch – this drink is great for brunches! You can add vodka if you want to serve it spiked, or you can serve it as a mocktail in a champagne glass or coupe for a fun twist.
- movie night – this is the perfect after-dinner drink for a movie night in! Might I recommend the Pixar movie Luca while sipping on this strawberry soda?! 😌 🇮🇹
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- color is too light – Using a non-dairy milk may affect the coloring of this beverage, but since such a small amount of milk or cream is added, it shouldn’t affect the texture much. If you want a bolder colored soda, you can add a drop of pink or red food coloring!
- not flavorful enough – more syrup = more flavor, so you can add up to 2 ounces of syrup per drink.
⚖️ scaling tips
- If you want to make a pitcher of these sodas, I recommend mixing the syrup and soda water first, shortly before serving, to maintain maximum fizziness. Simply top each beverage with milk or cream before serving.
♻️ substitutions & variations
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 – instead of cream, you can use whole milk, half and half, or your favorite non-dairy milk. Oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk would work great!
- store-bought syrup – use a store-bought syrup if you can’t make your own, of if you don’t want to! I recommend using Torani syrup or Monin syrup if you are opting for a store-bought syrup. There are also sugar-free options available if you are limiting your sugar consumption.
- minty – add in a few leaves of fresh mint and muddle it with the strawberry syrup to put a minty twist on this soda.
- different fruit– You can customize this soda with any simple syrup you like! Try it with blueberry simple syrup, pineapple simple syrup, or even passion fruit simple syrup!
- spiked – add in 1 – 2 ounces of vodka or rum to spike this soda!
🧰 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 strawberry 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 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 OXO nesting measuring beakers 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
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.”
Italian sodas are not much different than American sodas. Sometimes, they have actual juices in them instead of being artificially flavored. However, they still may contain syrups or flavorings that are shelf-stable, and not freshly made.
Italian sodas were claimed to be invented by Ezilda and Rinaldo Torre in San Francisco in the 1920’s. They rode the wave of popularity of soda fountains, and introduced the Italian soda as their variation on popular soda-fountain favorites.
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Strawberry Italian Soda
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Equipment
- 1 highball glass
- 1 straw
Ingredients
- 1 ounce strawberry simple syrup
- 6 ounces soda water unflavored
- 1 ounce heavy cream substitute whole milk or half and half
- ice to fill glass
Instructions
- Fill your preferred glass with ice.
- Pour 1 ounce of strawberry syrup into the glass.
- Add soda water to the glass, filling 3/4 full.
- Carefully layer 1 ounce of cream or milk on top of the soda water.
- Garnish with whipped cream and a strawberry.
- Drizzle on additional strawberry syrup if desired, and serve immediately with a straw.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
