A little sugar never hurt anyone. But make sure you're only having a little—and not the whopping 40-plus grams in a can of commercial pop—by using simple syrup. The sweet base for many homemade sodas lets you control how much sugar goes into your drink. Start with just a small amount—a tablespoon has 8 grams of sugar—adding more as desired.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 1 1/2 cups
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Preparation
Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat, let cool, and transfer to a jar. Cover and store in refrigerator for up to 1 month.