Possibly the most refreshing drink ever: My homemade sugar free ginger ale will make your taste buds do the happy dance. This easy, quick and healthy ginger ale recipe uses fresh ginger!
Summer is my favourite season. It is expansive, generous, about enjoying life to the full.
Here is what I love about summer:
- Holidays
- Running through a water sprinkler and feeling like a kid
- Sitting outside in the evening in a T-shirt (happened last night - in London!)
- Somehow needing less sleep
- Driving with the windows down
- It's BBQ season (always in my fridge: this sugar free bbq sauce!
- Having a legit need for a pedicure
- Eating fresh food al fresco (auch as salmon ceviche)
- Drinking this healthy ginger ale!
Note: I first published this recipe in July 2017 and just updated the post in May 2024. I want to add that my homemade ginger ale tastes great any time of year!
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What's To Love About This Recipe
The first sip of my sugar free ginger ale will knock your socks off. Metaphorically speaking. You will be in sandals, after all.
This recipe is simply a million miles better than the overly sweet shop-bought ginger ale drinks we're used to.
It is zingy, energising and revitalising and has that delightful sharp edge only fresh ginger can lend.
And don't even get me started about the health benefits. An extra dose of vitamin C is always welcome and ginger has so many powerful benefits for body and brain (it is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, amongst others) that we should be eating it day.
Ingredients And Method
Traditionally, homemade ginger ale is made by cooking ginger with sugar and water to make syrup.
I prefer using the ginger raw - this way you get the full plant power benefits and it's much quicker.
You only need 4 ingredients:
- Ginger - I peel and grate the ginger root finely.
- Lemon - Use the juice from a fresh lemon. Lime also works.
- Carbonated water
- Sweetener - I added powdered erythritol, but you can replace it with your preferred sweetener such as allulose syrup, stevia drops or xylitol - and, as always, add more if necessary until it has the right kind of sweetness for you. Or simply leave it out altogether!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make keto ginger ale:
STEP 1: Squeeze the grated ginger in a muslin of cheese cloth until you have 1 tablespoon of ginger juice.
STEP 2: Mix the ginger juice and lemon juice with the carbonated water and sweeten to taste. Serve straight away with ice cubes, lemon slices and mint leaves.
Scroll down to the recipe card for all details and nutrition info!
Katrin's Top Tip
Want only 1 serving?
Prepare the ginger and lemon juice. Then, use half of the mixture and add carbonated water for 1 cup of ginger ale.
Store the rest of the ginger/lemon mixture in the fridge. Assemble the second ginger ale with fresh carbonated water just before drinking.
Variations
Quick fix: If you don't mind a few bits in your ginger ale, use the grated ginger directly in the drink. I would halve the amount of ginger in this case.
Still water: The recipe tastes delicious with still water.
No ginger: Turn your homemade ginger ale into a sugar free lemonade. Lemon juice, mint leaves and a few slices of cucumber in still or sparkling water are incredibly refreshing.
Turmeric: Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to the drink for a flavor variation and even more health benefits!
Storage And Notes
As this recipe calls for carbonated water, it is best enjoyed fresh. Leftovers stored in the fridge will go flat within a day.
For a larger batch, store the lemon and ginger juice in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer (in an ice cube tray) for up to 3 months. Assemble just before serving and sweeten to taste.
Use carbonated water from a bottle or make your own with a soda stream. Never use anything but water in a soda stream.
More Healthy Drinks
- Keto Green Smoothie5 Minutes
- Cottage Cheese Smoothie3 Minutes
- Keto Iced Coffee (Starbucks Copycat)1 Minutes
- Avocado Milk2 Minutes
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Sugar Free Homemade Ginger Ale
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 6 cm ginger root peeled and grated
- juice of ½ lemon
- 1 tablespoon powdered sweetener or more, if you prefer
- 500 ml / 2 cups carbonated water
- ice cubes and mint leaves to decorate
Instructions
- Peel and grate the ginger. Place it in a muslin or cheese cloth and squeeze until you have around 1 tablespoon of liquid ginger juice.
- In a jug, mix ginger juice, lemon juice and carbonated water.
- Stir in sweetener to taste, add ice cubes and mint and serve immediately.
Damian
Sounds simple a delicious can't wait to taste!
Lizzy
Due to a health condition, am I able to just use regular tap or refrigerated water instead of carbonated water? Would the flavor still be similar to ginger ale?
Katrin Nürnberger
Yes, I think it would still taste good with still water.
Suzanne
If I were to use a ginger paste, would I use the same measurement as the ginger liquid?
Katrin Nürnberger
My feeling is that you probably would need a bit less.