8 soda water recipes

Moist chocolate cake made with buttermilk, cocoa powder, vegetable oil, and boiling water. No butter needed for an incredibly tender, rich crumb that stays moist for days.

Classic old-fashioned fruit punch with cold tea, fresh-squeezed orange and lemon juice, ginger ale, and soda water. Garnished with orange slices and fresh mint. Makes 40 cups for a crowd.

A rich chocolate coconut layer cake made from scratch with unsweetened baking chocolate, brown sugar, and light cream, topped with a pink cinnamon candy boiled frosting. Retro baking with serious wow factor.

Tea timers, dainty triangle-cut sour cream cookies rolled in graham cracker crumbs and flecked with orange and pecans. Crisp, lightly sweet little wedges built for an afternoon teacup.

Homemade raspberry currant syrup for sparkling water, cocktails, and sodas. Fresh berries simmered with sugar, strained, and bottled for a concentrated fruit cordial.

Hobo bread is an old-fashioned raisin quick bread that starts with an overnight soak of raisins in baking soda and boiling water. Dense, moist, and easily turned into a fruitcake.

Old-fashioned date nut bread made with boiling water-softened dates, baking soda, and chopped nuts. A dense, sweet quick bread that slices beautifully.

Macaroni and bean soup with white beans, salt pork, elbow pasta, and a tomato-beef broth base. An Italian-American pasta e fagioli cousin with a hearty two-hour simmer for deep flavor.