This Homemade Apple Soda Recipe (Apple Dirty Soda) yields a homemade apple juice made in a blender cooked down to a homemade apple syrup that mixes with club soda and cream. If you want to make your own homemade apple soda, this is the recipe for you. It's perfect for early fall when the weather is still warm, but you want fall apple flavor.
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This "dessert" is technically a spiced apple dirty soda. Dirty soda combines soda, or sparkling water, with flavored syrups and cream in a glass with plenty of ice cubes. I made my own fresh apple juice using red and green apples, then cooked it down into a syrup. I adapted the apple syrup recipe from Bakerita. You can use store-bought apple juice or apple cider instead of making your own to make the process quicker. You just want to make sure you get a juice or cider that does not have added sugar and is made with real apples.
I love apple for an early fall recipe, especially if you're not ready to commit to pumpkin. If you need an apple dessert to go with your soda, I recommend my apple crumble tart or apple cranberry oat crumble.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- This is a completely homemade apple soda. But you can make it even easier and quicker by using store-bought juice.
- The cream adds richness, making this a decadent sweet treat.
- The sweetness level is completely customizable. You can use less sweetener in the syrup and use as much or as little apple syrup in your cup as you want.
Ingredients
- I used a blend of red and green ripe apples to make the juice. I like granny smith apples for the tartness, and gala and fuji for the sweetness. I used a blend of all three. If you like more tartness you could use all green for a green apple soda.
- Maple syrup sweetens the syrup. It adds more unmistakable fall flavor.
- Lemon juice adds tartness to the juice. You can replace it with citric acid or add citric acid in addition to the lemon juice.
- Cinnamon sticks and ground cinnamon add lots of spice to the syrup.
- Allspice, nutmeg and ginger add more classic apple pie flavor to the syrup.
- Water is required to blend the apples if you are making your own apple juice. Omit this if you are using store-bought juice.
- Heavy cream tops the soda and adds richness. You can pour it on straight from the fridge or whip it gently with a frother.
- Vanilla extract and a pinch of kosher salt (not pictured) balance the overall flavor profile.
- Sparkling water (not pictured) is the "soda" I added to make this a dirty soda. Also known as club soda, seltzer, carbonated water or soda water.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and variations
Here's how to customize this homemade apple soda to your liking:
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- Store-bought sodas — replace sparkling water with a store-bought soda like Sprite or Dr. Pepper. You could also use a seltzer maker to make your own homemade soda.
- No spices — omit any of the spices without issue.
- No maple syrup — replace the maple syrup with agave, granulated sugar or brown sugar. Adjust the sweetness to your liking.
- Citric acid — replace the lemon juice with citric acid or add citric at the end for even more tartness.
- Another cream — swap heavy cream for half and half, or coffee creamer.
- Another syrup — swap the homemade syrup for store-bought or add another syrup like caramel syrup or hazelnut.
This recipe has not been tested with any substitutions or variations. If you try any, please let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
How to make Homemade Apple Soda
Step 1: Core and slice the apples and add them to a blender. Add the lemon juice and water. Blend until smooth. Pour into a medium sauce pot through a fine mesh sieve.
Step 2: To the apple juice in the sauce pot, add the remaining ingredients except vanilla extract: maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. Simmer over medium-low heat for 20-30 minutes or until reduced to ½-⅓ of the original volume. Remove from the heat, remove the cinnamon sticks and stir in the vanilla extract. Let the syrup cool to room temperature before transferring to a storage bottle. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Step 3: In a glass, add 2 tablespoons of the cooled spiced apple syrup. Add 1 cup of ice. Add the sparkling water and stir gently.
Step 4: Top with the heavy cream. The cream pictured has been lightly whipped with an electric frother.
Top tips
- Depending on your burner strength, cooking down the homemade apple syrup may take longer than listed.
- Lightly whip the heavy cream with a frother or whisk for a whipped topping.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use store-bought apple juice. Just be sure to buy one that does not have added sugar or extra ingredients.
Yes, I would recommend using a store-bought syrup like Torani that is meant for drinks.
I like to use a blend of apples. I used a blend of granny smith, gala and fuji apples.
More recipes you'll love
Lastly, if you make this Homemade Apple Soda Recipe (Apple Dirty Soda) be sure to leave a comment or give it a rating. I love to see when people make my recipes, so please tag me @youthsweets on Instagram if you post!
📖 Recipe
Spiced Apple Dirty Soda
Ingredients
Spiced apple syrup
- 6 medium apples I used a mix of granny smith and gala
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup maple syrup (77g)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ginger freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Other
- 1 cup ice per soda
- 7.5 ounces sparkling water per soda
- 2 tablespoon heavy whipping cream per soda, more or less to taste
Instructions
Do ahead
- The spiced apple syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to two months.
Blend the apples
- Core and slice the apples and add them to a blender. Add the lemon juice and water. Blend until smooth. Pour into a medium sauce pot through a fine mesh sieve.
Cook the syrup
- To the apple juice in the sauce pot, add the remaining ingredients except vanilla extract: maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for 20-30 minutes or until reduced to ½-⅓ of the original volume. Remove from the heat, remove the cinnamon sticks and stir in the vanilla extract. Let the syrup cool to room temperature before transferring to a storage bottle. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Assemble the soda
- In a glass, add 2 tablespoons of the cooled spiced apple syrup. Add 1 cup of ice. Add the sparkling water and stir gently. Top with the heavy cream*.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published 09/21/2025.
