This homemade recipe is refreshingly sweet and uses just 5 ingredients! Let’s get brewing!

A Summertime Classic

Craving a Root Beer Float or a refreshing drink for working outside? We usually are, too, which is why we keep coming back to this simple recipe that will grace your scoops of vanilla bean ice cream or your cold glass with homemade soda in just a few days!

If you can’t already tell just by looking at the sweaty glasses in the picture below, this recipe is perfect for a hot day in the sun. I also feel better about giving this 5 ingredient drink to my kids: Making homemade Root Beer, or any homemade soda for that matter, makes for a simplistic yet tasty recipe without all of the additives.

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Who knew brewing your own soda could be so easy!

A few summers ago, the kids and I set out to make the perfect Root Beer Recipe and we spent the whole summer experimenting to find the right amount of flavor and fizz. Once the bottles were done fermenting we would sit down as a family, taste test, and alter the recipe from there. After having bottles that legitimately smelled like my homemade sourdough bread (too much yeast!), we have finally found a recipe we deem tasty enough to share with you!

What role does each ingredient play?

• Yeast: Once dissolved, the yeast will react with the sugar. This chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide and voila – carbonation!
• Sugar + Vanilla Extract: For the optimal amount of sweetness we find that 1 1/2 cup of sugar does the trick! Adding in 1 1/2 – 2 tsp is optional but we like the flavor it adds!
• Root Beer Extract: The Root Beer Extract will have all of the staple flavors: sassafras, sarsaparilla, licorice, and vanilla as well as that dark caramel color.

Many at-home soda recipes include making a flavor/fruit concentrate and adding in seltzer. This recipe is unique because the yeast and sugar create the carbonation internally. This is why the mixture needs to sit out for several days, so the yeast and sugar can react and so that the flavor becomes concentrated enough!

Tips for Success

1. Make sure to use warm water! This helps the sugar dissolve and allows everything to mix together evenly
2. Root Beer extract likes to stain so be cautious about what surface you are using and what clothes you are wearing!
3. Leave a bit of room at the top of your jugs because it is going to fizz when you open it after the fermentation

How to Brew your Own Homemade Root Beer: The Video Tutorial

Making Homemade Root Beer

Materials

• (2) Half-Gallon or (1) Gallon Jugs with lids

Ingredients

Makes 1 full Gallon Jug worth of Root Beer. I chose to divide this recipe up into (2) Half-Gallon Jugs, but you could also use (1) Full Gallon Jug.

• 1/2 tsp dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3-5 tsp Root Beer Extract
• 1 1/2-2 tsp Vanilla Extract (this is optional but we like the extra flavor it adds!)

Steps

1. Dissolve dry yeast into 1 cup of warm water
2. Pour into a gallon jar or jug
3. Add sugar and Root Beer extract plus enough warm water to mix until dissolved
4. Fill a gallon jar or jug with filtered water and set in a warm place, or sunlit room for several hours until the flavor is strong enough. I’ve found the perfect spot is outside in the summer heat best at 70-80°F, sitting under a shade tree.
5. Once the fermentation (bubbles stop) your brew is ready to refrigerate. If it’s really warm, the fermentation will only take 3-4 days. If it’s cooler, like in the 70’s, think 5-6 days.
6. Once cooled down, Enjoy!

Note: We find it much more efficient to make a large batch, but love to pour into separate glasses as needed. Splitting the measurements into multiple 12 oz bottles – making for ready to-go, individualized portions. It’s perfect for a fun addition to our field meals to-go!

Questions about this At-Home Soda Recipe

Will it be carbonated? Yes, don’t fret about the fizz! The yeast will react with the sugar, which results in carbon dioxide. It’s important to make sure the yeast is completely dissolved and evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Where can I buy Root Beer extract? One of our favorite brands, Watkins, sells Root Beer extract here! They also sell their product in Menards and Walmart, I recommend trying to find this at one of your local stores, the price to buy the extract on Amazon is more than 3 times the price in-store!

How much Root Beer does this recipe make? 1 gallon = 128 ounces. This is equivalent to about 10 -12 oz soda bottles.

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