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Transforming basic ingredients into a refreshing homemade ginger ale is easy!
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14 Ratings
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Several years ago, I got together with a few other food bloggers for lunch at a terrific diner in San Francisco. Lunch was fabulous, truly. One menu item that struck my fancy was homemade ginger ale, which they made fresh to order.
After lunch, on my way out the door, I stopped the waitress to ask how they made it. She gave me a general idea, which I have attempted to recreate in the steps shown here.
The diner version included a little touch of ground clove and cardamom if I recall correctly. I didn't add those spices, but even without them the ginger ale still turned out just great!
It's quite easy to make. You may need to adjust the proportions depending on how intense or sweet you want your drink.
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What Is Ginger Ale?
Ginger ale is a carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage that can be traced back to 1850s Ireland. It's said that Irish apothecary owner Thomas Joseph Cantrell created the sweet, ginger-based drink in Belfast. A dryer, less sweet style of ginger ale was created in the early 1900s by Canadian pharmacist John J. McLaughlin. He patented the drink as Canada Dry Ginger Ale.
The basis of ginger ale is carbonated water, ginger, and sugar. The drink can be enjoyed on its own or as a mixer for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
How Long Can You Store Homemade Ginger Ale?
Store the ginger water and the simple syrup in the refrigerator separately. The ginger water lasts 1 to 2 weeks. If the color or the odor of the water changes, discard it. The simple syrup should last up to 1 month.
The assembled ginger ale, a combination of the ginger water, simple syrup, and club soda, will last until the carbonation goes flat. It's best to combine the three immediately before serving.
More DIY Drinks That Taste Better Homemade
- Homemade Sassafras Root Beer
- Kombucha
- The Best Detox Smoothie
- Iced Chai Latte
- Cold Brew Coffee
From the Editors Of Simply Recipes
Homemade Ginger Ale
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time35 mins
Servings4 servings
Ingredients
Ginger Water
1 cup peeled, finely chopped ginger
2 cups water
Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
To Serve
Club soda
Ice, optional
Lime juice
Lime wedges
Method
Infuse the water with ginger:
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add ginger. Reduce heat to medium low and let ginger sit in the simmering water for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes. Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Discard ginger pieces.
Make the simple syrup:
In a separate saucepan, make the simple syrup by dissolving 1 cup granulated sugar into 1 cup of boiling water. Set aside.
Assemble the ginger ale:
Make individual (tall) glasses of ginger ale by mixing 1/2 cup of ginger water with 1/3 cup of Simple Syrup and 1/2 cup of club soda. Serve over ice, if you like. Add a few drops of fresh lime juice and a lime wedge to each glass.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!
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:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Ginger-Ale-METHOD-2-82503fb4680843169f83640e6f8c016f.jpg "Don't Sleep on This 3-Ingredient Homemade Soda! (6)")
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- Mocktails and Non-Alcoholic Drinks
- Summer
- Ginger
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 231 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 60g | Carbs |
| 1g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
×
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 231 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 13mg | 1% |
| Total Carbohydrate 60g | 22% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 7% |
| Total Sugars 51g | |
| Protein 1g | |
| Vitamin C 19mg | 96% |
| Calcium 36mg | 3% |
| Iron 0mg | 3% |
| Potassium 165mg | 4% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
