Homemade Cola, Coca-Cola Style

Name: Homemade Cola, Coca-Cola Style
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: United States
Ingredients: 500 ml of water; 100 g of brown sugar; 2 tbsp of caramel (liquid); 2 tbsp of lemon juice; 1 tsp of vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp of extract of cinnamon; 1/4 tsp of extract of nutmeg; 1/4 tsp of extract of cilantro; 1/4 tsp of extract of orange; 1/4 tsp of extract of lemons; sparkling water

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This homemade cola is a citrus and spice syrup topped off with sparkling water. 🥤 It tastes more herbal and less sweet than the store-bought version.

Total time: 20 min
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 5 min
Rest: 2 h
Difficulty: Easy
Per person: €1.80

By the CookinBreak team

Goes well with

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Nutrition facts

per serving · estimate

120kcal

Protein0 g0%
Carbs30 g100%
Fat0 g0%

Share of each nutrient in the calories of one serving.

Good to know

Chef's tip

🌟 For an even tastier homemade cola, try adding a little grated fresh ginger to the syrup while it cooks. It gives your drink a spicy, refreshing touch! 🍹

Freezing : Can you freeze this recipe?

Not recommended

The syrup may crystallize when thawed, and sparkling water cannot be frozen.

Storage : How long does it keep?

The cola syrup keeps 5 to 7 days max in the fridge in an airtight glass bottle. Add the sparkling water when serving.

Making ahead : Can you make it the day before?

Yes

The cola syrup can be made the day before. This lets the flavors infuse well before it is mixed with the sparkling water.

Reheating : How do you reheat it?

Not applicable, this drink is meant to be served cold.

Variations

Serve with ice and a slice of lemon.
Keep the syrup concentrated and add it to the sparkling water by the glass, to the strength you like.
Adjust the sweetness by changing the amount of brown sugar.

Mistakes to avoid

Adding the syrup to the sparkling water while still hot: let it cool first.
Not stirring until the sugar dissolves: stir over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Serving without resting: leave at least 2 hours in the refrigerator to drink the cola well chilled.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make homemade cola?

Heat the water with the brown sugar until dissolved, add the caramel, lemon juice and extracts, then let simmer for 5 minutes. Once the syrup has cooled, mix it with the sparkling water.

Which flavors give cola its taste?

The taste comes from a blend of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, orange and lemon extracts, combined with liquid caramel, lemon juice and brown sugar.

How long should the cola cool?

First let the syrup cool after the 5 minutes of simmering, then mix it with the sparkling water in a large container. Put the bottle or pitcher in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.

Which sugar should you use for homemade cola?

The recipe uses 100 g of brown sugar for 500 ml of water, which gives the syrup its caramelized notes, with 2 tablespoons of liquid caramel for the cola color.