On Friday I posted my first ever Friday Faves, and one of the links was to these Raspberry Vanilla Sodas. I absolutely love the way they look, especially that vibrant color! It also reminded me of these homemade Italian cream sodas that I saw on Pinterest forever ago. Look at that cream!
Did you know you can freeze cherries? You probably did. I had never tried that before, but it totally works!
After the syrup has chilled in the fridge, you just add some to a glass, add some bourbon (because they needed something extra), club soda, a tablespoons or two of cream, and top them with whipped cream and a cherry.
Drinks are pretty much naked without striped paper straws, so definitely don’t leave those out. I have to admit, they’re pretty cute with these drinks. Totally completes the look!
You can even make the syrup in advance and store it covered in the fridge, which is what I did, and make the sodas the next day.
Easy as pie!
ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups stemless, pitted cherries, chopped in half
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Bourbon (of your preference)
- 2 bottles of Club Soda
- 3-4 tbsp heavy cream
- Whipped cream (optional)
- Cherries, with stems (optional)
instructions
- In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, bring cherries (and any juices), water, and sugar to a simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes, until the syrup mixture has thickened slightly and the cherries are wrinkly. Remove from heat, strain mixture through a sieve and discard the solids. Cover and transfer syrup to the fridge until chilled.
- This really depends on the size of the glasses you're going to use, but here's what I did in mine: add 1/4 cup of the syrup to each glass. Then add two tablespoons of bourbon, 3/4 cup Club Soda, and 1-2 tablespoons of cream. (As long as you keep a 1:3 ratio of syrup and club soda, you should be good to go.) Top each glass with whipped cream and a cherry. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Celebrating Sweetness.
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Gorgeous photo’s, I love the step by step process you’ve captured. They look so summery and yummy.
Thanks so much, Laura!
I LOVE, love these pictures Beth! All the bright cherry red is my favorite 🙂 What a fun idea to do with the leftover cherries from your gorgeous black forest cupcakes! Pinned 🙂
Thanks Chelsea, you’re so sweet! These were so fun to shoot because of that bright color. I loved it! Thanks for pinning! 🙂
Uhm, yum! This looks like a perfect summer drink! Loving the color!
Thanks, Chris! The color is my favorite part. 🙂
You’re on a roll with all these delicious drinks! These are so cute. I haven’t had an italian soda in years! I’m definitely due for one or two.
Thanks! I have really been enjoying making cocktails recently. 🙂
I’m such a sucker for everything cherry lately. I just want to lay everything aside right now and sip away at one of these.
Delish! Pinning.
Have a great week!
Thanks, Melanie! I want to make so many things with cherries right now. They’re too pretty! Hope you have a great week too!
These are so pretty!! I would make them just to see that gorgeous marbling of cream too 🙂 Perfect for summer!!
Thanks, Zainab! I had so much fun with the cream part of these, haha.
These were the perfect summertime drink! They tasted every bit as good as the photos look!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
I need one of these tonight, love the flavors Beth. Your pics are really great, nice job!
Thanks so much, Matt!
These look delicious! I love the addition of bourbon, what a fun cocktail. Pinned! 🙂
Thanks for pinning, Allison! I just had to make some after I saw yours. 🙂
I never mix my own drinks!! This looks so refreshing Beth! Need this. Sounds like a perfect thing to have at a BBQ. Reminds me I need to do something with Cherries. Love to eat them but never seem to cook with them?! Thanks girl 🙂
These would be fun at a bbq! I don’t think I’ve ever made anything with cherries before this either, haha. Thanks, Kelly!
I saw these gorgeous drinks on Instagram this morning and have been thinking about them ever since! I don’t think I’ve ever had a cream drink before, but I’m definitely going to start with this one.
Thanks so much, Nora! The cream makes them a little more dessert-like to me, but definitely fun every once in awhile! 🙂
Ooh yum! These look awesome and so fun 🙂 Love the colors and your presentation!
Thanks, Medha! 🙂
These are sooo pretty! That color! I mean how could you not love it??? I’ve never made anything like this before …. need to give it a whirl 🙂
Thanks, Ashley! You do need to give it a whirl. 🙂
The second photo is killer with a hint of light peeking through the jar. The one I drank was delicious. The only problem is it tasted so good, it was gone too fast. Which makes me want another and another…
Thanks! I really liked taking the pictures and how the light looked through the glasses. Glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
I remember making cherry sodas as a child! The addition of the Bourbon makes these the perfect adult summer beverage!
That’s so fun, Ashley! I had never made one before this. 🙂
These look awesome!! Such great photos. I have to give this a try!
How cute are these! Absolutely love them, and they sound so so delicious. Pinned!
Yowza, that looks amazing!!
Aaaaah, Beth, these are the best! So fun and colorful and cheery. Pretty sure my day requires a bright pink drink with a stripey straw now. 🙂
NOW this is a summer bourbon drink. It is too cute. A guy wouldn’t want to be caught drinking it, BUT I bet they would enjoy one these hummers if they were
‘forced to’. Ha!
These are the prettiest cherry sodas! Adding the bourbon is such a fun idea! Love the pics – they sound so refreshing and perfect for summer 🙂