Cherry Cola recipe to try at home

By / Wine + Drinks / June 9th, 2020 / 12
homemade cherry cola

The Coke recipe has remained a secret for more than 100 years. Only a handful of employees are privy to the world’s most popular cola formula. However, no matter whether you prefer the taste of Coke or Pepsi, you can easily make your own carbonated drink at home.

The next time you’re in the mood for a cool summer drink, try this cherry cola recipe to quench your thirst. We designed it to deliver a traditional cola flavour with the sweet aftertaste of cherries.

Get creative! Try your own mixture and customize it to suit your taste. Some other ingredients that may complement the taste include ginger, lavender flowers, coriander seeds and almond extract. Perhaps when you’re experimenting, you’ll find your own secret formula.

Homemade Cherry Cola

Serves 12
Prep Time: 60 minutes

2 cups water
500 g cherries
1 orange, zested
2 limes, zested
1/2 orange, juiced
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 star anise pod
1 vanilla bean pod*
1 tbsp molasses
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup coconut sugar
Seltzer water, Pepsi, or Coke (for serving)

*If you don’t have vanilla bean at home, you can substitute it for 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract.

Stem and pit the cherries then set them aside.

Add to a medium-sized saucepan the water, orange zest, lime zest, orange juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, and the seeds of a vanilla bean pod. For a stronger vanilla flavour, you can scrape out the seeds and add both the seeds and pod to the pot.

Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. Use a fine strainer to strain the spices and zest out of the liquid. Add the liquid back to the pot with the cherries, molasses, white sugar, and coconut sugar. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for an additional 15 minutes.

Strain out the cherries from the mixture and add the syrup to a heat-safe container. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.

To serve, mix one part of the syrup with three parts seltzer water. For a stronger cola taste, you can use Coke or Pepsi instead of seltzer.

You can store the syrup in your fridge for up to two weeks and save it for when you’re in the mood for a refreshing drink.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniel Yetman is a freelance writer who left the shores of Nova Scotia to pursue his MFA in Writing at the University of Saskatchewan. When he’s not binging on dark chocolate and kimchi, he’s jetting around the world to try the local cuisine.

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