Want to whip up homemade soft drinks? By learning how to make sodas yourself, you can control the flavors, sweetness and calorie content. You may even be able to save some money, too.

When you make your own sodas at home, you can use just about any flavors you can think of and make them light, diet, or full sweetness. If you drink a lot of sodas, you can also save money by buying ingredients in bulk. Friends and family members will be impressed when you offer them soft drinks that you make right in the kitchen!

Seltzer bottles carbonate beverages using CO2 cartridges, the same way soda fountains do. You can find one at a specialty cooking supply store, or you can order online.

• Ingredients
• 2-3 Ounces flavored syrup (try vanilla, lemon-lime or grenadine for cherry)
• 10 oz. water
• How to Make
• Use the seltzer bottle to carbonate the water. Then pour syrup into the bottom of your glass. Fill with seltzer water. Stir, and enjoy.

You can also make soda using yeast. For a 2-liter bottle, you will need:

• 1 Empty 2-liter container with lid
• 1 teaspoon flavor extract, such as vanilla (you can find other unsweetened extracts online)
• 1 Cup sugar
• A small pinch of yeast
• Enough water to fill bottle

Making the Soda

• Dissolve the yeast in a cup of warm water, and let sit for 15 minutes
• Pour all ingredients into bottle (it helps to use a funnel)
• Shake to mix well
• Let sit until the bottle feels firm when squeezed -- this will take a day or so
• Refrigerate

You can also make sodas by pouring 2-3 ounces of syrup or juice into a glass, and topping with bottled soda or seltzer water. This is the easiest method, as it requires little preparation. Try mixing different flavors, such as grenadine and fresh lemon juice for a cherry-lemon treat.