Italian Cream Sodas

Making your own Italian Cream Sodas is so easy and fun. Perfectly sippable for summer, this is a soda that's delightful for everyone. Choose your own flavor for something uniquely awesome.

These days I try to like what I like with no shame or apology no matter what other people have to say about it. Of course, as a teenager, where fitting in and wanting to be unique are fighting a constant battle in your mind, that wasn't always the case. And even today, it's a constant intentional choice to release the need to fit in.

We're hard wired for connection, which in many ways is a good thing. It's at the root of compassion and can lead to the most rewarding relationships in our lives. But it can also be stifling and oppressive, sometimes down right dangerous, especially when the society we feel the need to fit into is driven by hate and fear. True, the pressure is not usually that extreme, but if we practice resisting when it comes to little things like pumpkin spice lattes, it will hopefully be less scary when it comes to racism, trans rights, and other life affirming issues.

Woe, I really went off the rails there, but the point is, everybody wants to feel like they belong, so let's make a world where you can do that and be your unique self at the same time. Let's make a world where it's still cool to drink Italian Cream Sodas in your 40's if it makes you happy.

What makes Italian Cream Sodas so awesome?

I grew up in a small town where going to The Olive Garden (you had to travel two hours to get to one) was the height of 15 year old cool. And as someone who still doesn't drink coffee, I will order one from a coffee shop to this day wherever I can find them. They may have fallen out of fashion, but I still think they're delicious.

All you have to do is combine your favorite coffee syrup with some soda water, then if you like, add a splash of cream. The flavor possibilities are endless. You can usually find a few flavors at your local grocery store, and a huge selection online. And of course, you could always make your own with fresh fruit and herbs. You can also adjust the level of sweetness to your liking, so everybody gets exactly what they love.

Color magic in the kitchen

You could certainly call on the magical properties of the fruit flavors you're working with here, but there's also the simple option of using color magic. Especially if you're making different flavors for different people, everyone can find meaning in the color of the drink they chose. Here are some simple color correspondences to remember.

• Red - fire, passion, motivation, energy
• Pink - love, romance, friendship, optimism, healing
• Orange - creativity, desire, courage, luck, enthusiasm
• Yellow - confidence, communication, focus, happiness
• Green - success, prosperity, abundance, growth, fertility
• Blue - work, healing, peace, emotion, calm
• Purple - spirituality, intuition, wisdom
• White - purity, cleansing, protection, new beginnings

To find the magical properties of your favorite flavors, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make these. All the details are in the recipe card below.

• Flavored coffee syrup - or simple syrup for cocktails, anything sweet and fruity
• Soda water - or club soda or sparkling water
• Cream - single cream or half and half
• Ice - plenty of it

Tips for making Italian Cream Sodas

Look, there's nothing complicated here. Go with your gut and adjust to suit your taste. Fill your glass with lots of ice. I like to use a tall glass for this. Pour the syrup in the bottom, 1 or 2 tablespoons to start with. Then top it up most of the way with soda water. You could stop there if you don't fancy the cream, but try it just once. And yes, a plant based cream would work just fine here. Stir it all together before drinking.

Experiment with lots of different flavors. Adjust the amount of syrup to suit your taste. Just go wild and have fun and don't let anyone judge you.

Drink what makes you happy and don't ever let anyone tell you you're not cool for drinking an Italian Cream Soda instead of an espresso. It's your life. Make it awesome.

Looking for more awesome drink ideas? Try this Blackcurrant & Lemon Cocktail or some refreshing Raspberry Lemonade.

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