A Charming, warm weather beverage
I’m not sure why old fashioned soda shoppes haven’t made a fancy, gourmet comeback yet, but when they do, I’ll be the first to say I told you so. Cream sodas are adorable, Instagram-worthy, and essentially carbonated ice cream. (How did this ever come out of fashion?) This particular fancy, gourmet strawberry shortcake cream soda recipe is a charming delight; it’s what spring and summer dreams are made of. Plus it has edible garnishes.
You can have it classic, sans alcohol, which is absolutely delicious. Or, you can have a very grown up, fancy, gourmet strawberry shortcake cream soda that will have you saying I told you so in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
How to make a strawberry shortcake cream soda
Regardless of alcohol, this strawberry shortcake cream soda starts the same way. You slice up some strawberries and tear mint leaves to put in a cocktail strainer. Add sugar, muddle it up, and then pour hot water over them to steep. I like using hot water in cocktails when I want to extract a little more flavor rather than just muddling.
Depending on which road you take now, the ingredients change a little. But what still stays the same is A) how freaking delightful this cream soda is and B) the fact that it has a large edible garnish.
Look, we live near and visit Wisconsin often, and good ol’ Wisco is famous for very elaborate Bloody Mary garnishes. I find this inspiring. I don’t see why more drinks can’t have excessive garnishes. I’ll have my drink and eat snacks on it, too, thanks.
So here we have some cranberry orange scones I made chopped into cubes and a juicy, plump strawberry, all stuck through with a drink skewer.
The Classic Strawberry Shortcake Cream Soda (Non alcoholic)
Without alcohol, this is a lovely, simple, and refreshing drink. Equal parts strawberries and simple syrup plus soda water and whipped cream, it is bubbly yet not cloyingly sweet.
Perfect in a vintage milkshake glass, serve them up for kids, baby showers, bridal showers, or naturally, brunches.
Strawberry Shortcake Cream Soda (Alcohol free)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Fresh strawberries sliced
- 10 Mint leaves, torn
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 oz Boiling hot water
- 2 oz Simple syrup
- Ice
- 4 oz Soda water plain or flavored
- 1/4 cup Heavy cream
- 1 tsp Sugar for whipped cream
- 1/4 tsp Strawberry extract optional
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 Strawberry for garnish
- 2 pieces/cubes Scone or pound cake
Instructions
- Place sliced strawberries and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Cover with 1 tsp sugar and muddle.
- Pour 1 oz hot water over the muddled mixture and cover for 5 minutes.
- While strawberries are steeping, make the whipped cream by combining heavy cream with 1 tsp sugar and 1/4 tsp strawberry extract and 1/4 tsp vanilla extract. Whip with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- Once the strawberries and mint have steeped, add to them the simple syrup and ice. Re-cover and shake for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a milkshake glass until all the juice has come out. It might be easier to use an actual strainer rather than the cocktail strainer, as the strawberries can block the cocktail strainer holes.
- Pour 4 oz of soda water over the juice. For a lightly sweet cream soda, use plain soda water. For a sweeter cream soda, use a flavored soda water such as lemon, orange, or strawberry.
- Spoon the whipped cream on top of the soda. It should be close to the top of the glass. Garnish with a mint leaf and a skewer of scone pieces and strawberry.
The Grownup Strawberry Shortcake Cream Soda (with Alcohol)
This drink, she has a dark side, and it’s wonderful to behold. If the classic strawberry shortcake cream soda is Sandra Dee, the grownup strawberry shortcake cream soda is Beauty School Dropout. For myself, I prefer my strawberry shortcake cream soda on the saucy side, and I hope you can try it so we can bond over our love for this sassy libation.
The spirits used in this recipe are Gran Marnier, which is an orange liqueur; Chambord, which is a raspberry liqueur; and Vodka. I have not tried substituting the soda water with rosé champagne, but I imagine it would be fantastic.
If you’re throwing a party with a 50’s malt shop theme, your guests are going to love this.
Strawberry Shortcake Cream Soda (with Alcohol)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Strawberries, sliced
- 10 Mint leaves, torn save a sprig for garnish
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 oz Boiling hot water
- 1 oz Simple syrup
- 1/2 oz Gran Marnier
- 1 oz Chambord
- 1½ oz Vodka
- Ice
- 4 oz Soda water see note
- 1/4 cup Heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
- splash Chambord
- Mint for garnish
- 1 Strawberry for garnish
- 2 1" cubed pieces Scone or pound cake for garnish
Instructions
- Muddle strawberries, mint leaves, and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Pour hot water over it and cover for five minutes.
- While strawberries steep, whip heavy cream with sugar and a splash of Chambord (or vanilla, if you prefer). Whip until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- When strawberries are done steeping, pour in simple syrup, Gran Marnier, Chambord, Vodka, and add ice. Re-cover and shake for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a milkshake glass (it may be easier to strain with a small cocktail strainer as the strawberries might clog the cocktail strainer holes) until all of the juice is in the glass.
- Pour soda water* over the juice. The soda should be about an inch and a half below the milkshake glass top. Spoon the whipped cream over it. Insert a straw and garnish with a mint leaf and a scone-strawberry skewer.
Notes
