Carbonated Beverage Jelly

Yes, you can turn soda into jelly. And yes, it actually works.

This old-school recipe takes any carbonated beverage, boils it down with sugar and liquid pectin, and sets it into a bright, wobbly jelly that tastes exactly like whatever soda you started with.

Grape soda becomes grape jelly with fizzy personality. Cola turns into something dark and caramel-sweet. Root beer? Absolute magic on toast.

The whole thing takes about 15 minutes, which makes it a great starter project if you’ve never canned before.

Kitchen Tips

• Let the soda go flat before using it, or you’ll get too much foam when boiling.
• Use a tall pot because the mixture bubbles up dramatically during the hard boil.
• Pour into sterilized jars immediately after skimming for the cleanest set.

Variations

• Try orange soda for a bright citrus spread that kids go wild for.
• Use ginger ale for a subtler, more grown-up jelly that pairs well with cheese boards.
• Experiment with cream soda for a vanilla-kissed version that’s heavenly on biscuits.