Strawberry Cream Soda

By ltrodrigu

—Adapted from Devon Tarby & Alex Day, Honeycut, L.A.

Ingredients

• For Vanilla Syrup:
• 1/4 Tahitian vanilla bean
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup filtered water
• a pinch of Kosher salt
• 1 1/4 grams lactic acid (optional)
• For Strawberry Purée:
• 1 1/2 cups strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• For Strawberry Cream Syrup:
• 1 cup strawberry purée
• 1 cup vanilla syrup
• For Mocktail:
• 5 ounces strawberry cream syrup
• 2 1/2 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 20 ounces club soda
• crushed ice
• lemon wheel, for garnish
• strawberry half, for garnish

Details

Adapted from online.wsj.com

Preparation

Step 1

To Make Vanilla Syrup:
Combine Tahitian vanilla bean with sugar and allow to sit for 1 week. Remove vanilla and discard. In a blender, combine vanilla sugar with water, Kosher salt and lactic acid, and process. Set aside.

To Make Strawberry Purée:
In a blender, pulse strawberries with sugar. Strain through a double-mesh sieve.

To Make Strawberry Cream Syrup:
Combine strawberry purée with vanilla syrup and set aside.

To Make Mocktail:
Combine strawberry cream syrup, fresh lemon juice and club soda. Serve in a Collins glass over crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a strawberry half.