Homemade Root Beer Soda

Unleash the nostalgia of old-fashioned soda fountains with this delightful Homemade Root Beer Soda recipe, crafted from an aromatic blend of sassafras root bark, sarsaparilla root, and wintergreen leaves. Enhanced with warming spices like star anise, cloves, and cinnamon, and sweetened with molasses and brown sugar, this rich and earthy soda is naturally carbonated using active dry yeast for an authentic effervescent finish. Perfect for a refreshing summer treat or a unique addition to gatherings, this DIY root beer recipe delivers a rewarding hands-on experience and a pure, handcrafted flavor you won’t find in store-bought versions. With just 20 minutes of preparation and a touch of patience, you’ll have a batch of ice-cold, bubbly root beer soda to share and savor. Serve it over ice or paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate root beer float!

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 4 cups Water
• 2 tablespoons Sassafras root bark (dried)
• 1 tablespoon Sarsaparilla root (dried)
• 1 teaspoon Wintergreen leaves (dried)
• 2 whole pieces Star anise
• 4 whole pieces Cloves
• 1 whole piece Cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons Molasses
• 2 cups Brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Yeast (active dry)
• 8 cups Cold water

Directions

Step 1

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine 4 cups of water, sassafras root bark, sarsaparilla root, wintergreen leaves, star anise, cloves, and the whole cinnamon stick.

Step 2

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 25-30 minutes to extract the flavors.

Step 3

Remove the saucepan from heat and let the mixture cool for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large bowl to remove the solids.

Step 4

Stir in the vanilla extract, molasses, and brown sugar until fully dissolved. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.

Step 5

In a separate small bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon of yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water (about 110°F or 43°C). Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.

Step 6

Combine the strained root beer syrup, the yeast mixture, and 8 cups of cold water in a large, sanitized container. Stir gently to mix everything together.

Step 7

Pour the liquid into sanitized bottles using a funnel, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top of each bottle.

Step 8

Seal the bottles tightly and let them sit at room temperature for 48-72 hours to carbonate. Check the bottles periodically by gently squeezing them; they should become firm when carbonated.

Step 9

Once carbonated, refrigerate the bottles to stop fermentation. Serve chilled and enjoy your homemade root beer soda.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	3218.8 grams (3218.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1313

Total Fat 2.90g	4%
Saturated Fat 0.40g	2%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 224mg	10%
Total Carbohydrate 330.50g	120%
Dietary Fiber 6.80g	24%
Total Sugars 311.80g
Protein 3.40g	7%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 613mg	47%
Iron 9mg	51%
Potassium 1265mg	27%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 1.9%

Protein: 1.0%

Carbs: 97.1%