How To Make Our Homemade Ginger Ale Recipe

Our homemade ginger ale recipe is just one of those things you think has to be bought at the store…….I mean, who knew you can make healthy ginger ale in just a few steps?  This homemade version of the vending machine stable will blow your mind with its ease and rich taste.

Ginger ale is basically flavored seltzer water.  You know, like the La Croix or Polar Bear carbonated water you probably already buy.  Add simple syrup and you have a refreshing drink in minutes. 

Made with healthy ingredients and a taste that is rich, slightly spicy from the ginger, sweet from the simple syrup and refreshing from the juice of a lime.  Ahhhh, put me on a beach with a tall glass of homemade ginger ale right now!

How To Make Our Homemade Ginger Ale Recipe

You’ll need simple syrup, carbonated water (non-flavored) and lime, that’s it!  The only hands on time is cutting the lime and popping open your can of seltzer water.  Could it get any easier?!? 

Three ingredients, one minute time and then onto homemade ginger ale.

I like to add a slice of cucumber to my ginger ale, it adds another depth of flavor.  Very refreshing.

Or add a teaspoon of homemade vanilla extract for a richer taste.

OK, so you want to make your own simple syrup instead of buying it?  No worries, here’s our recipe for How To Make Ginger Simple Syrup.

Can I Buy Ginger Simple Syrup?

Sure.  If you want to save money and preservatives use our homemade recipe for ginger simple syrup.  But there are plenty of craft simple syrups you can buy as well as some big name brands like MoninADDLINK.

You can feel good about Monin brands, the ingredient list is “pure cane sugar, water, natural flavors, citric acid”.  If citric acid alarms you, it’s just lemon or lime juice or a variant of that.  Monin is also no artificial ingredients, all natural flavors, gluten free, vegan and GMO free.

You’ll see those bottles at coffee shops who use the different flavored simple syrups to flavor coffee, tea or ice tea.

See our post for  How To Make Ginger Simple Syrup for all of its uses like for pancakes or as an ice cream topping.

How Is Our Homemade Ginger Ale Different From Store Bought Ginger Ale?

You’ll see very reputable big-name companies like Seagram’s and Canada Dry with ginger ale.  They taste great, but you should at least be aware that they don’t really have any real ginger in them.

So if you drink ginger ale for medicinal purposes like soothing a sour stomachache, as a hangover recipe or for nausea then you’re probably missing the boat.

These big names say that their “flavoring” is made with real ginger.  Maybe so, but I highly doubt its enough ginger to give you any benefit.

So homemade ginger ale is pure ingredients, less expensive and healthy for you.

No caramel color or preservatives.  Now if you don’t make homemade ginger simple syrup, then the commercial brand of ginger simple syrup may have a preservative in it.  The one I mention above, Monin, has all natural ingredients.

How To Store Homemade Ginger Ale

Well, you don’t really.  Meaning once the seltzer water is opened, the carbonation is going to start to dissipate pretty quickly.

Good thing is that it only takes a minute to make.  The commercial brand of simple syrup usually can be kept at room temperature, check the bottle to be sure. 

Homemade ginger simple syrup is usually refrigerated and our recipe can be kept for up to a month.

How To Take Homemade Ginger Ale On-The-Go

If you want to drink the ginger ale in your car or walking to school, then put in whatever travel bottle you have.

If serving the ginger ale at an outdoor party, picnic or tailgate, then I would wait to mix the drink until ready to serve.  Mainly to preserve the bubbles.

Keep the seltzer water in a cooler or refrigerator so that ice isn’t necessary which will dilute the incredible flavor that you just made.