Blood Orange Italian Soda

This delicious Blood Orange Italian Soda is sweet and fizzy, and it’s a great choice when you’re looking for something refreshing to drink. It’s made with blood orange simple syrup, soda water and a splash of cream, over lots of ice.

» You might also like this Blood Orange Old Fashioned.

We love using blood oranges to make drinks. They are in abundance in winter and early spring and just beckoning to be used. Our cocktails and soda are so much better with fresh squeeze blood orange juice.

If you’ve never used blood oranges before, rest assured the are just the same as regular oranges only more vibrant and sweet, and with a brilliant red color that brightens up your drink both flavor-wise and visually. They are the perfect juice to use in an Italian soda.

What is an Italian Soda?

Italian sodas are a type of carbonated soft drink that originated in Italy. They are typically made with carbonated water, sugar, fruit flavoring and a splash of cream.

We used to buy Italian sodas at sweets shops and coffee shops all the time in the 90s. They stopped being so easy to find after that, but we never stopped making them at home.

Italian sodas can be made with any flavor, but the most popular variations are all made with fruit, like raspberry, strawberry, or lemon-lime. Ours is made with a sweet homemade blood orange syrup, soda water, and a splash of cream.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The best part about an Italian soda is just how easy it is to make. We often will make a batch of simple syrup from whatever fruit it in season and then use it to make Italian sodas all week.

Making your own simple syrup is incredibly easy as well. You can learn how to make blood orange simple syrup here. We also have a recipe for blueberry simple syrup and cranberry simple syrup. You can use these in cocktails as well, so they can pull double duty.

• Blood orange simple syrup – It’s very easy to make simple syrup. It’s just a 50/50 ratio of water to sugar, plus the juice of 2 medium blood oranges. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Cool completely.
• Soda water – Simple soda water like Schweppes will do. You can also make your own if you have a soda stream.
• Heavy cream – You can also use half/half, a plant-based cream, or coconut cream

How to Make a Blood Orange Italian Soda

Get ready because this ones going to blow right by you if you won’t. Once you’ve made the simple syrup, all you need to do is fill the glass and start drinking!

Step 1: Add blood orange syrup.

Step 2: Fill a tall glass with ice.

Step 2: Add soda water, and cream to the glass.

Step 3: Stir to combine.

Variations of Italian Soda to Try

Italian sodas are a popular choice of beverage, especially in the summer when you’re looking for something cool and refreshing to drink. They are similar to a soda, like Sprite or Coke, but not nearly as carbonated and with a touch of cream.

Some popular options include using a sugar-substitute sweetener, adding fresh fruit, or using sparkling water instead of regular soda water.

Some flavor variations we love are:

• Salted caramel
• Raspberry
• Strawberry
• Chocolate mint

Whatever variation you choose, be sure to enjoy the unique taste and refreshing feel of an Italian soda!

Frequently Asked Questions

When are blood oranges in season?

You’ll find blood oranges year round these days because they’re quite popular, but they are in season and at their best from October to April. The color intensity will vary by orange – some are light inside while others are quite dark. The color won’t affect the outcome of the Italian soda.

Can I make these with different flavors?

You can add all kinds of different flavors to your Italian soda. Some popular flavors are blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry. You can also make them in lemon, lime, or grapefruit, or even caramel or chocolate.

Which sugar substitutes work best for Italian sodas?

If you would prefer to have your Italian soda be sugar free, you can easily substitute the sugar in the simple syrup with any alternative you like. I prefer to use erythritol or allulose as a sugar substitute. They are about 70% as sweet as sugar, so you’ll have to add a bit more than the recipe calls for for the same amount of sweetness.

You can also use honey or agave syrup, if you’re not worried about the carb count in the sugar.

Can I make them dairy free?

This Italian soda recipe can be dairy free, just by adding an alternative dairy product, like coconut cream, or a plant based cream.

Can I use storebought syrup?

While simple syrup is easy to make, it’s obviously even easier to buy syrup at the store. You can buy a brand like Torani or Monin. These come in sugar and sugar-free versions, and just about any flavor you could want.

Conclusion

A Blood Orange Italian Soda is the perfect refreshing drink for any occasion. It is easy to make and you won’t believe how delicious the blood orange flavor is in this drink.

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