Vanilla Cream Soda

This creamy, sweet, delicious Vanilla Cream Soda is the perfect sugar-free drink to brighten up someone’s day! Perfect for birthday parties and showers, this simple drink will give you the classic old-fashioned soda shop flavor without packing on the sugar.

Did you know that cream soda is actually incredibly easy to make at home?! I had no idea… I imagined that me going sugar-free was the end of me enjoying the melted-milkshake flavor of cream soda. Thankfully, sugar-free syrup, soda water, and a little cream makes it possible to enjoy without an ounce of guilt! This is cheaper and more delicious than the store bought, too.

This beverage also has a lot of beautiful possibilities if you’re trying to work with a party theme! A tiny amount of food coloring added to your syrup will help make gorgeous hues without changing the flavor. Or you can offer a rainbow of possibilities by adding a menu of flavors like raspberry, blackberry, apple, and more! As long as you can find a sugar-free syrup in your preferred flavor (or an extract you can add to a homemade sugar-free syrup), you can easily create the drink of your dreams!

If you’d like, you can easily make this an alcoholic beverage as well. A shot of vodka works perfectly, and a shot of whiskey with a bit of caramel syrup instead of vanilla is absolutely amazing! The opportunities are endless here.

Sugar Free Cream Soda Ingredients

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need. For specific measurements, keep scrolling to the printable recipe card.

• Sparkling Water
• Sugar Free Syrup (I chose vanilla for the classic cream soda flavor, but you could choose your favorite!)
• Heavy cream or half and half
• Ice

How to make Vanilla Cream Soda without sugar

Cream soda is incredibly easy! You need some sparkling water (I use my Soda Stream), a sweet sugar-free syrup, and heavy cream or half and half. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour all the ingredients in, and mix until the glass is frosty and the cream is well-mixed.

You can try this with homemade or store bought sugar-free syrups, too! This makes cream soda a convenient, easy, and fun drink for a delicious treat!

Sugar Free Syrup

Sugar-Free syrups are extremely popular! They can be used to add to cocktails, coffees, and now soda to create flavorful drinks. My two favorite brands are Torani and Jordan’s Skinny Syrups. However, these store-bought syrups do have sucralose, and some people have reported that this has kicked them out of ketosis.

Luckily, you can get around this by making your own! You can make your own flavored simple syrup (using liquid monk fruit sweetener or allulose), then include that in your cream soda. It might take a little trial and error, but this is the perfect way to add some fun variety to your keto or sugar free lifestyle!

Tips for the BEST Sugar Free Cream Soda

• Don’t be afraid to test the measurements for yourself! You may prefer more or less syrup, more or less cream.
• Try different flavors! Torani and Jordan’s Skinny Syrups are two popular brands that carry sugar-free syrups. They come with fruity flavors, unique colorful flavors, fun fancy combinations, and delicious coffee-flavored syrups that are great for kids who want to copy adult coffee drinks without the caffeine!
• Make fresh — Do not make ahead of time. The fizz of the sparkling water, the thick heavy cream, and the sweet syrup are all at their best right when you pour and mix them with ice!
• Try with half and half instead of heavy cream. If you need a lighter beverage but still want the creamy texture, swap out the heavy cream with half and half! If you just want an Italian soda, skip the dairy completely.

What to serve with a Keto Vanilla Cream Soda

To me, cream sodas are perfect for kids’ parties and diner foods! Cream soda is so easy to customize for everyone’s preferences… You can mix and match flavors, then enjoy with or without the cream. Here are some of my favorite dishes for this drink:

• Serve kid-friendly favorites like Keto Chicken Nuggets, Pepperoni Pizza Bites, or Pizza Chaffles. Add fun side dishes like Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Tots or Crispy Zucchini Chips to round out the meal without a ton of carbs.
• Serve with diner favorites like Keto Bacon Cheeseburgers, a Chicken Bacon Ranch Chaffle Sandwich, or even Steak and Eggs. Juicy diner food with a sweet homemade soda feels indulgent even without gluten or sugar! Adding some Crispy Keto Fries can’t hurt, either!
• Enjoy with a sweet snack… Think about these Air Fryer Brownies, Keto Whoopie Pies, or this No Bake Peanut Butter Pie.

More Keto Drinks

• Keto Pumpkin Spice Latte – 2.7 net carbs
• Keto Margarita – 1.4 net carbs
• Sugar Free Lemonade – 2.0 net carbs
• Keto Caramel Frappuccino – 1.8 net carbs
• Keto Hot Cocoa with Espresso Whipped Cream – 3.8 net carbs

Yield: 1 drink

Vanilla Cream Soda (sugar free)

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This Vanilla Cream Soda is sugar-free, low calorie, and the perfect sweet treat or party drink! Just 3 ingredients necessary for this delicious keto drink!

Prep Time 3 minutes

Total Time 3 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 ounces sparkling water
• 1 ounce vanilla sugar-free syrup
• 1-2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• ice

Instructions

1. Fill a glass with ice. Pour in the syrup, soda, and finally the heavy cream. Stir and serve immediately.

Notes

Vanilla Syrup I used: https://amzn.to/3zRjQVk

How to make your own vanilla syrup: bring 1 cup of water, 1.25 cups of allulose (or 1 tablespoon of liquid monk fruit), and 1 vanilla bean to a boil. Lower heat and allow to simmer 15 minutes. Store in a jar (with or without the vanilla bean) up to 1 month in the fridge.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1 drink
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 25Total Fat: 2.7gCholesterol: 8.4mgSodium: 28.8mgCarbohydrates: 0.2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0.2gProtein: 0.2g

The post Vanilla Cream Soda (sugar free + keto) appeared first on The Best Keto Recipes.

Kiwi Cucumber Gin Cocktail

This Kiwi Cucumber Gin Cocktail tastes incredibly refreshing! Kiwi, cucumber, and lime come together for a lightly sweet, bright-tasting drink. It’s perfect for sipping on a hot summer day or pairing with a fresh grilled dinner. 

It has no added sugar or sugar alcohols (thanks to the homemade sugar-free simple syrup), but kiwis aren’t super low in natural sugars. For this reason, this tall drink comes in at 6.1 net carbs each. This is higher than most of my other keto cocktails, but it’s too delicious to not share with you!

This drink is beautiful and offers up so many fun garnish possibilities–Perfect for a party! Slice the cucumbers long and have them wrapped around the inside of the glass… Cut the kiwis into stars and thread onto a long cocktail stir stick… Finish off with a perfect lime twist… The eye-catching presentation choices are limitless!

Kiwi Cucumber Gin Cocktail Ingredients

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need. Keep scrolling to see exact measurements!

• Gin : If possible, pick something with floral notes. Any gin will be great, but a floral one is amazing with the cucumber.
• Cucumber : Cut into chunks or slices
• Mint : Fresh mint leaves are best. If you only have mint extract, add just a few drops at a time… Feel free to add more to your preference once you’ve poured the drink.
• Keto Kiwi Simple Syrup : This is a homemade easy sugar-free simple syrup, made with kiwis, water, lemon juice, and liquid monk fruit sweetener. You can use a store-bought sugar free simple syrup, too.
• Lime Juice : I used freshly squeezed lime juice, but bottled will work just fine as well.
• Sparkling Water : You can use unflavored or flavored sparkling water.
• Ice : I would avoid crushed ice if possible simply because it will melt faster and water down the drink.

How do you make a gin cocktail with cucumber?

Start by putting about 1/4 cup of cucumber chunks and the mint leaves into a cocktail shaker with 1 ounce of your kiwi simple syrup and 1 ounce of lime juice. Muddle the cucumber (mashing it with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon) for at least 30 seconds–Make sure it’s quite macerated.

Next, add your ice and gin to the shaker and shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds–If you shake it long enough, you’ll get small icy flecks in your drink that are SUPER refreshing! Strain and pour into a highball or Collins glass, then fill to the top with sparkling water. Garnish with a long cucumber slice, a kiwi slice, or a lime wedge.

Sugar Free Simple Syrup with Kiwi

I make my keto and sugar-free simple syrup by combining this Now Foods Liquid Monk Fruit Sweetener with water. Because erythritol doesn’t dissolve, using a pure monk fruit is the key to a 0-carb, 0-calorie simple syrup.

You could try other brands of liquid monk fruit, but because each brand has their own level of sweetness, I recommend experimenting with half the amount of sweetener first. You can easily adjust the syrup to be sweeter at any point of the process.

To make this simple syrup with kiwi, I brought one cup of water, 2 cups of chopped kiwi (was 5 medium kiwis for me), 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of liquid monk fruit sweetener to a boil. I lowered the heat and allowed it to simmer for 20 minutes, occasionally mashing the kiwi with a potato masher. After 20 minutes, I removed it from the heat and let it cool. Once cooled, I poured the syrup through a fine mesh strainer and stored it in an airtight jar in the fridge.

If you have a plain store-bought sugar free simple syrup, you can use that instead of the water and monk fruit. Gently warm it (don’t bring to a boil–depending on the sweeteners used in it, this could cause it to thicken too much) with the kiwi and lemon juice. Occasionally stir and mash, strain, and store.

What to serve with gin cocktails?

We’re bringing out and complementing the light floral notes of the gin in this recipe, so choosing food that will fit the pallet is quite simple! Certain seafood, berries, and spices would work quite well.

• Seafood:

  • These keto crab cakes get perfectly crispy while keeping that light flavor and feel! The added lime zest in the recipe makes this a perfect complementary recipe with this Kiwi Cucumber Gin Cocktail! Just 0.3 carbs per crab cake.
  • A 1/4 pound of this Popcorn Shrimp has 3.3 net carbs, and the smokehouse almonds used in the breading adds a beautiful contrast with the floral and citrus notes in this cocktail recipe! For even fewer carbs, try these Grilled Shrimp Skewers — Only 0.7 net carbs for 1/4 pound, and the lemon garlic combo will create a delicious, more complex flavor with this drink.
  • Blackened Salmon Skewers provide a bigger punch of flavor! The light sweetness of salmon with the bold spices would contrast perfectly with the refreshing kiwi and cucumber flavors. 2.1 net carbs per serving.

• Fruit:

  • I know strawberries are to be limited when keto, but these Keto Strawberry Cheesecake Bars are under 5 net carbs and would be delicious with this drink! Strawberry Thumbprint Cookies (about 2 net carbs each), Keto Cheesecake Strawberries (about 5 net carbs for 4), and this Strawberry Limeade Fruit Pizza (2.7 net carbs per slice) all give a delicious burst of berry flavor without a ton of sugar!
  • Citrus will complement the lime, cucumber, and kiwi flavors as well as the gin! Try these Key Lime Pie Bars — So decadent but only 3.1 net carbs each. These Lemon Cookies would be a beautiful addition to a brunch spread, and they have just 1.4 net carbs each. Pair it with another summer favorite — These Orange Creamsicle Cookies have just 2.5 net carbs each.

• Spices & Herbs:  

  • Heavy spice blends are great with the palate-cleansing flavors of this cocktail! Consider Blackened Pork Chops or Chicken (both super low carb) for an easy meal prep grilled dinner. A Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad has about 7 net carbs but would have the perfect blend of spice and light, crunchy textures. These Cream Cheese Sausage Balls with chorizo would provide a nice contrast to the fresh flavors of the cocktail.
  • This drink is the definition of “fresh,” so herbs are a perfect pairing! Anything topped with this Homemade Basil Pesto or Keto Tzatziki Sauce would complement this drink. Salads with fresh basil (like this Cold Asparagus Salad or Chicken Caprese Salad) would provide a fantastic bright flavor without overpowering the drink!

More Keto Cocktails

Happy Hour isn’t cancelled just because you’re keto–There’s a delicious keto cocktail for everyone!

• Gin Lovers: Rosemary Gin Fizz – 1 net carb
• Tequila Crowd: Keto Margarita – 1.4 net carbs
• Whiskey Friends: Blackberry Bourbon Smash – 2.5 net carbs
• Rum Drinkers: Keto Mojito – 1.3 net carbs

Yield: 1 13 ounce drink

Kiwi Cucumber Gin Cocktail

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This Kiwi Cucumber Gin Cocktail is the perfect sugar-free, low carb drink! A homemade kiwi sugar-free simple syrup will make this keto cocktail recipe a favorite at your next party!

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 1 ounce kiwi simple syrup *Recipe in notes
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1/4 cup cucumber
• 6-8 mint leaves
• 3-5 ounces sparkling water
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber pieces and mint leaves with the kiwi simple syrup and lime juice for about 30 seconds.
2. Once the cucumber is macerated, add ice and gin. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
3. Strain and pour over ice in a highball or Collins glass. Garnish with mint leaves, kiwis, cucumber slices, or lime wedges.

Notes

* Kiwi simple syrup: Bring 1 cup of water, 2 cups of chopped kiwis (4-6 kiwis depending on the size), 1 tablespoon of liquid monk fruit sweetener, and about 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice to a boil. Allow it to simmer for 20 minutes, occasionally mashing with a fork or potato masher. Remove from heat, allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes, then strain and pour into an airtight container. This will keep in the fridge up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1 13-ounce drink
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 159Total Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6.8mgCarbohydrates: 7.3gNet Carbohydrates: 6.1gFiber: 1.2gSugar: 3.5gProtein: 0.6g

The post Kiwi Cucumber Gin Cocktail appeared first on The Best Keto Recipes.

Rosemary Gin Fizz

Get ready for your new favorite keto cocktail! This drink has everything–Sweetness from the monk fruit, “earthiness” from the rosemary, tartness from the lemon juice, and a light boozy flavor from the gin! Even people who aren’t big gin fans should try it; the flavors all shaken together become a VERY delicious sip!

This drink starts with a special homemade sugar-free rosemary syrup. You only need three ingredients–Liquid monk fruit sweetener, rosemary, and water! After you try this syrup, you’ll definitely want to start growing your own rosemary! I can’t wait to try this syrup in more cocktails and maybe even as a glaze for muffins.

Another thing you’ll love about this keto drink: It goes with SO many different foods! From a summer poolside party spread to a traditional holiday buffet, this delicious cocktail will complement savory and sweet recipes!

Ingredients for a Sugar-Free Gin Fizz

As always, this is a quick overview of what you’ll need. Keep scrolling down to the printable recipe card for exact measurements!

• Gin
• Lemon juice : I used freshly squeezed lemon juice, but bottled is fine, too.
• Keto rosemary simple syrup : The recipe is below. You’ll need water, fresh rosemary, and liquid monk fruit sweetener.
• Lemon soda water : I used lemon Bubly drops with my soda stream, but store-bought or plain soda water is fine, too
• Ice
• Garnish ideas: Rosemary springs, lemon wedges or twists

Rosemary Sugar-Free Simple Syrup

This simple syrup is so easy! In a small pot, bring 1/4 cup rosemary leaves (stripped from the stem), 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of monk fruit liquid sweetener to a simmer. Allow to simmer 10-15 minutes, then take off of heat to cool for 10 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer, and store strained syrup in the fridge up to one month.

Can I use granulated monk fruit with erythritol?

I have not had success using blends with erythritol to make a simple syrup. Unfortunately, it does not fully dissolve; Once your syrup returns to room temperature, the erythritol begins to crystallize. I have read that adding a pinch of xanthan gum can prevent this, but I haven’t tried this method.

Bonus perk of using liquid monk fruit sweetener: it can be added by the drop to drinks, so people who like their drinks sweeter can easily adjust the flavor! This is awesome for carrying in your purse to sweeten ice teas or coffee.

How to make a Rosemary Gin Fizz

This simple keto cocktail starts in a shaker–Combine ice, gin, lemon juice, and rosemary simple syrup. Shake for 30 seconds or until extremely cold. Pour over ice into a 12-ounce glass, then top with about 3 ounces of lemon soda water. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a lemon slice for a beautiful, aromatic, delicious low-carb drink!

What to serve with a Rosemary Gin Fizz

This drink is incredibly versatile because the flavors are very balanced and complementary to tons of different kinds of foods! The rosemary and lemon pair wonderfully with Italian and French cuisine especially. Gin can adapt so easily, it works well with sweets, spice, even floral notes!

Keto Appetizers for Gin Fizz Cocktails

If you’re making a cheese board, this citrusy gin cocktail will pair great with gouda and brie (these Cherry Brie Bites would be amazing)! This Marinated Mozzarella uses a lot of herbs that would complement the drink as well. Charcuterie meats like prosciutto and cured hams work well with the herby flavor… Consider serving it in an Antipasto Salad for a different twist! 

More appetizers that would work: Italian Stuffed Mushrooms (prosciutto & mozzarella goodness), Keto Popcorn Shrimp (smoky and light), or lamb souvlaki and vegetables dipped in Keto Tzatziki (works great with the citrus and herbs).

Keto Dinners for Gin Fizz Cocktails

This Rosemary Gin Fizz would complement white meat and fish, especially with strong herb or citrus flavors. I can highly recommend Lemon Garlic Fish with Toasted Pine Nuts with Keto Roasted Radishes or Chicken Piccata with a side of Italian Baked Mushrooms.

While this drink is perfect for summer, it also would be perfect at the holiday table! This would be fantastic with a Roast Chicken, Easy Keto Stuffing, Low Carb Cranberry Sauce, and Rosemary Garlic Keto Dinner Rolls! 

Desserts to serve with a Rosemary Gin Fizz

Berries, white chocolate, and citrus flavors will be perfect with this gin fizz! Keto Fruit Pizza, Cheesecake Strawberries, and Keto Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce would be excellent! If you prefer cheesecake bars, consider serving with this Lemon Blueberry version, Cranberry version, or Strawberry version! 

Keto cookies you could serve: Strawberry Thumbprint Cookies, Lemon Cookies (or this version with white chocolate and macadamia nuts), Orange Creamsicle Cookies, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

More Keto Cocktails

• Keto Margarita – 1.4 net carbs
• Keto Paloma – 1.6 net carbs
• Blackberry Bourbon Smash – 2.5 net carbs
• Keto Mojito – 1.3 net carbs

Yield: 1 12-ounce drink

Rosemary Gin Fizz

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This Rosemary Gin Fizz is the best keto cocktail recipe! Only 1 net carb for this refreshing summer keto drink!

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce keto rosemary simple syrup *See notes for recipe*
• 3 ounces lemon soda water (plain soda water is fine, too)
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a shaker, combine ice, gin, lemon juice, and rosemary simple syrup. Shake until extremely cold
2. Pour over ice into a 12-ounce glass. Top with about 3 ounces of lemon soda water.

Notes

Keto Rosemary Simple Syrup:

In a small pot, bring 1/4 cup rosemary leaves (off of stem), 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of monk fruit liquid sweetener to a simmer. Allow to simmer 10-15 minutes, then take off of heat to cool for 10 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer, and store strained syrup in the fridge up to one month.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1 12-ounce drink
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 135Total Fat: 0.1gSodium: 19.3mgCarbohydrates: 1.1gNet Carbohydrates: 1.0gFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.4gProtein: 0g

The post Rosemary Gin Fizz (keto + skinny) appeared first on The Best Keto Recipes.