Leena Watts
Sonic's Diet Cherry Limeade is a refreshing drink that can be easily made at home. The recipe includes a combination of Sprite Zero or any other diet lemon-lime soda, cherry syrup, lime juice, and maraschino cherries. The drink is not only tasty but also offers a low-carb and low-calorie option for health-conscious individuals. The best part is that it can be customized to your liking, making it a perfect summer treat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Diet soda (Sprite, Diet Sprite, Diet 7UP, or any other generic diet lemon-lime soda), lime juice, maraschino cherry syrup, maraschino cherries |
| Recipe | Combine soda, 3-4 tablespoons of cherry syrup, and lime juice from one lime. Stir to combine. Fill glasses with ice and pour the mixture. Top with a maraschino cherry. |
| Taste | Bubbly, fresh, fruity, sweet, tart |
| Calories | A large drink contains 2g of added sugar and 18 calories. A non-diet version has 255kcal. |
| Carbohydrates | 6g |
| Sugar | 61g |
| Cost | Inexpensive |
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$18.98
What You'll Learn
Choose your soda
The soda you choose will form the base of your cherry limeade. You can use any diet lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite Zero, Diet Sprite, or Diet 7UP. If you're not a fan of Sprite Zero, you can also use lime sparkling water or any other generic diet lemon-lime soda. Just make sure that your soda is free of added sugars and low in carbohydrates. Chill your chosen soda before using it for the best results.
For a boozy twist, you can add half a cup of vodka or get creative with cherry and lime-flavored liquors.
You will need about 2 cups (473 ml) of your chosen soda for this recipe. Combine it with sugar-free cherry syrup, fresh lime juice, and maraschino cherries. Adjust the amount of cherry syrup to your taste preferences, adding more or less to make the drink sweeter or more cherry-forward.
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Cherry syrup
To make cherry syrup, you will need four ingredients: water, sugar, cherries, and almond extract. Start by pitting the cherries and adding them to a medium saucepan with the sugar and water. Heat this mixture over medium heat until it simmers. Continue to simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and squishing the cherries with a spatula. After simmering, remove from the heat and stir in the almond extract. Next, strain the cherries from the syrup using a fine-mesh strainer, reserving the liquid and discarding the cherry pulp. Allow the cherry syrup to cool at room temperature for about 15 minutes before using it.
The amount of syrup you add to your drink will depend on how sweet and cherry-forward you want it to be. A good baseline is using 3 tablespoons of syrup for every 2 cups of diet lemon-lime soda. You can also adjust the sweetness of the syrup itself by changing the ratio of sugar and water. Equal parts sugar and water will result in a simple syrup with a balanced sweetness.
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Lime juice
To obtain the juice from a lime, various tools can be utilised, such as a citrus squeezer or juicer. Fresh lime juice offers a superior taste compared to bottled alternatives, which may taste overly acidic or bitter. The process of juicing limes can be time-consuming, but it is well worth the effort for the resulting flavour and quality of the drink.
The lime juice adds a boost of flavour that complements the sweetness of the cherry syrup and the fizziness of the soda. It provides a tartness that balances the overall taste profile of the drink. The combination of sweet and tart flavours is what makes cherry limeade so appealing and refreshing.
When preparing the cherry limeade, the lime juice is typically added after combining the soda and cherry syrup. Stirring or mixing the lime juice into the mixture ensures even distribution and creates a harmonious blend of flavours. The amount of lime juice added can be adjusted to personal preference, allowing for a customisation of the drink's taste.
In conclusion, lime juice is an essential component of Sonic cherry limeade, contributing to its distinctive flavour and character. While bottled lime juice is convenient, fresh lime juice is the preferred choice for optimal taste and authenticity. The process of juicing limes may be time-intensive, but it results in a superior drink that captures the essence of summer in a glass.
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Maraschino cherries
The name "maraschino cherries" originally referred to a specific variety of cherries preserved in maraschino liqueur, which originated in Dalmatia in the 19th century. They became popular across Europe, but due to their limited supply, they were considered a delicacy for the wealthy and royalty. Over time, other varieties of cherries began to be preserved and sold as "maraschino cherries". During Prohibition in the United States, the alcoholic variety was banned, and the non-alcoholic version, preserved in sugar water or brine, became the standard.
Today, the term "maraschino cherries" refers to cherries that have been dyed red, infused with sugar, and packed in a sugar syrup flavoured with oil of bitter almonds or a similar flavour. The modern method of manufacturing maraschino cherries was developed by Ernest H. Wiegand, a professor of horticulture at Oregon State University, using a brine solution rather than alcohol. Most modern maraschino cherries have only a historical connection with maraschino liqueur.
To make homemade maraschino cherries, you can lightly poach fresh cherries in a liquid of Luxardo maraschino liqueur, sugar, lemon juice, and water. The cherry stems can be left on or removed, but it is recommended to remove the pits for a more enjoyable eating experience. Traditional recipes call for tart Morello cherries, but any variety of sweet red cherries can be used. It is not recommended to use yellow Rainier cherries due to their drab appearance.
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Ice
The ice used in Sonic's cherry limeade is known as pebble ice, nugget ice, or pellet ice. This style of ice is formed by scraping ice build-up into flakes and then packing those flakes into a mold. Each piece of ice is about 50% air, which makes it easy to chew.
When making a copycat version of Sonic's cherry limeade, it is recommended to use pebble ice to get the true Sonic experience. The drink is typically served with ice in the glass, with the cherry limeade mixture poured over the top.
If you want to make a slushy version of the drink, you can use an ice cream maker with salt and ice to create a similar texture.
Some recipes suggest that you can buy bagged crunchy ice from Sonic to use in your drinks at home. This ice can be used to make a boozy version of the cherry limeade, with the addition of vodka or other cherry and lime-flavored liquors.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a diet lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite Zero or Diet 7UP), maraschino cherry syrup, lime juice, and maraschino cherries.
Combine your soda with the cherry syrup (3-4 tablespoons, or adjust to taste). Next, juice a whole lime and add it to the mixture. Finally, fill two glasses with ice and pour the mixture over the top. You can also add a maraschino cherry on top for garnish.
This drink is best consumed quickly after mixing, but it can be made up to a day ahead of time and kept in the fridge. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months, but the carbonation will diminish with storage.
Yes, you can use fresh lime juice or bottled lime juice, and you can adjust the amount of cherry syrup to make it more or less sweet and cherry-forward. You can also add alcohol to make it boozy, such as vodka or cherry and lime-flavored liquors.
