When anyone thinks of sweet Grandma June, they also think of two things: her forever-flourishing strawberry patch and her very beloved Grandma June’s Strawberry Soda. This sweet lady always had so many perfect, juicy, rosy red strawberries around that sometimes she hardly knew what to do with them. So, she got creative! And we got to benefit from said creativity, because of the genius recipes she came up with like this fizzy, refreshing, berry treat! Nothing was better on a long, summer day than strolling up to her house and finding her waiting on the porch for us with a cold glass of this in hand. It was the best, just like our grandma. We’d love for you to have the same porch sippin’ experience that we did, so make our Grandma June’s Strawberry Soda and enjoy one of life’s sweetest pleasures!
Ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries, rinsed and hulled, diced
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice, optional
- 3 1/3 (12-ounce) cans club soda or lemon-lime-flavored soda, cold
Directions
Step 1 –In a large saucepan, add the strawberries, the water, and the sugar and stir to combine.
Step 2 –Bring the strawberry mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the berries are soft.
Step 3 –Use a potato masher to mash the strawberries, then gently simmer, reducing the heat if needed, until the juices begin to reduce, thicken, and become syrupy.
Step 4 –Strain the strawberry mixture through a mesh strainer over a glass measuring cup and use a rubber spatula to press out the excess syrup. Discard the pulp.
Step 5 –Stir the lemon juice into the strawberry mixture.
Step 6 –Let the strawberry mixture cool at room temperature, then place it in the refrigerator until chilled.
Step 7 –Pour 8 ounces of the club soda into each of the five glasses.
Step 8 –Stir the chilled strawberry syrup into the club soda by the tablespoon, until the desired sweetness is achieved, about 4-5 tablespoons per glass.
Step 9 –Serve.
