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This Easy Homemade Ginger Ale is so flavorful and refreshing. The fresh ginger and lemons give it that extra ZING!
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Better Than Store Bought
If you’ve never made homemade ginger ale before, let me tell you—you’re in for a treat! This easy, refreshing drink is one of my favorite go-to recipes when I want something crisp, slightly spicy, and naturally flavored. No artificial ingredients here! Just fresh ginger, lemon, and a little bit of fizz. Plus, it’s alcohol-free, so the whole family can enjoy it. We especially love making this during the holidays with a splash of cranberry juice for a festive twist.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Ginger Ale
- Made with real fresh ginger—no artificial flavors!
- Perfectly customizable—adjust the sweetness and spice level to your taste.
- A healthier alternative to store-bought ginger ale.
- Super easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
Ingredients in Homemade Ginger Ale
- Fresh Ginger Root – The key to authentic, flavorful ginger ale.
- Sugar – Or substitute with honey, monkfruit, or another sweetener.
- Soda Water – Helps extract all that spicy ginger goodness. You can use seltzer, club soda, tonic water, or sparkling water as your carbonated water
- Lemons – Both juice and zest for a bright, citrusy flavor.
- Soda Water – You can use seltzer, club soda, or sparkling water for carbonation.
- Limes – Optional, use as a garnish or squeeze some lime juice in for extra zing.
How to Make Ginger Ale
- Make the Ginger Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine peeled and grated ginger, sugar, water, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes. This infuses the syrup with all the bold ginger and citrus flavors.
- Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a heat-proof bowl. Let it cool completely to room temperature. Pour the cooled syrup into a glass bottle or mason jar for storage. It will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Assemble your ginger ale: Fill a glass with ice, add ⅓ cup of ginger syrup, and top with 1 cup of soda water. Stir and adjust to taste.
- Garnish with a lime wedge (and give it a little squeeze for extra flavor!). Enjoy!
Ginger Ale Tips
- Let your ginger syrup cool completely before storing it.
- Adjust the ginger strength by adding more or less syrup to your drink.
- Want a spicy kick? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the syrup while it simmers.
- For a holiday twist, add a splash of cranberry juice for a gorgeous, ruby-red ginger ale!
Homemade Ginger Ale
Ingredients
For Ginger Syrup
- 1/2 cup ginger peeled and grated
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups water
- zest of 1 lemon
- juice of 2 lemons
For Ginger Ale
- 6 cups soda water
- limes for garnish
Instructions
- Add the ginger, sugar, water, lemon juice, and lemon zest to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and strain the liquid through a sieve into a heat-proof bowl. Let cool for 30 minutes, or until room temperature. Pour into a glass bottle or mason jar with a lid for storage. Store syrup in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- To make 1 serving add ice, ⅓ cup of ginger syrup, and 1 cup of soda water. Adjust amounts to taste. Garnish with lime wedge, squeezing some of the lime juice into the ginger ale.
Notes
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- If you don’t want to add sugar, skip it and then sweeten each serving with honey or artificial sweetener as desired
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- You can use seltzer, club soda, tonic water, or sparkling water as your carbonated water
- Give the ginger syrup a good stir before adding to the glass.
- Keep the soda water in the fridge and keep the cap screwed on tight to maintain the carbonation.
Nutrition Information
Questions About Ginger Ale
Contrary to the viral TikTok, no ginger ale is not Coke and Sprite mixed. It is made from club soda and ginger simple syrup. However, some people say that mixing Coke and Sprite tastes similar to the flavor of ginger ale.
Yes! Ginger is a natural anti-emetic and can help with nausea or an upset stomach. Since this homemade ginger ale recipe uses fresh ginger it is even better for it than the canned stuff.
You can use monkfruit as a sugar replacement in this drink recipe!
This is refreshingly good and satisfying! I am not a fan of ginger but this one’s different! It is delicious, flavorful and fun!
My house is full of ginger ale fans and WOW…this homemade recipe took our obsession to the next level! So refreshing and such a treat. Can’t wait to enjoy it all summer!
This homemade ginger ale is so refreshing and delicious! I’ve never made it before but this recipe was easy to follow and it turned out great, thank you!!