• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Get my FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

New? Start Here
  • About
  • ★ Popular ★
  • Printables
  • Videos
  • Shop

Project Meal Plan

Project Meal Plan is a food blog dedicated to make-ahead recipes, meal planning and preparing ahead.

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Popular
    • Meal Prep
    • Latest
    • Videos
  • Course
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
  • Season
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
  • Method
    • Baked
    • Stovetop
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • No Heat
  • Meal Prep
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Lunches
    • Breakfasts
    • Chicken
    • Beef & Pork
    • Tips & Tricks
    • All Meal Prep
Home Tips & Tricks
4.3 /5
GF Gluten Free DF Dairy Free LC Low Carb 30 30 Minutes or Less 5 5 Ingredients or Less

How to Make Homemade Lacroix With a SodaStream

Jump to Recipe
By: Danielle18 Comments Posted: 12/14/2017 Updated: 05/12/2020

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Homemade Lacroix is totally a thing. An amazing thing. And all you need is a SodaStream, some super cold water, and your favorite citrus fruit! Here’s my version of How to Make Homemade Lacroix With a SodaStream.
Jump to Recipe

A cold fizzy beverage with lots of bubbles at the top and a red and white candy cane striped straw. Homemade LaCroixOur SodaStream Journey (to Homemade Lacroix)

Totally not as epic as the word “journey” makes it sound, but I still wanted to give a little backstory. After several months of use, I feel like I might be able to call myself a SodaStream expert (jk jk) so I decided to share my favorite use for the thing. If you were wondering, I’m not affiliated with SodaStream at all and we purchased this product at full price. Any affiliate links will take you to Amazon, and I’ll make a small commission on your purchase.

Fact about me: I really like soda/fizzy beverages. If a 2-liter is open in the fridge, I will consume the WHOLE THING (ask my husband) because it’s open and I don’t even know how it happens. Refrigerated cans of soda will simply disappear. It’s a crazy carbonated beverage mystery.

I’m also a fan of those zero calorie flavored sparkling waters they sell at any and all grocery stores. Costco also sells their own brand of super yummy flavored sparkling waters, and you know I love Costco. We were buying that stuff every trip!

Another fact about me: I have a degree in Environmental Science. I care a lot about the environment, and I do my best to recycle and compost everything I possibly can.

Andddd you may have guessed my dilemma at this point. Thinking about all the plastic bottles I was going through to casually drink carbonated beverages on an almost daily basis was slightly soul crushing. Relief from knowing I was recycling the bottles only went so far.

So, we got a SodaStream Source (mid-level version). Beverages on demand. Mixers when I need them. No electricity required. Easy to replace (and recyclable!!) carbon dioxide canisters. Our aluminum can and plastic bottle usage decreased considerably, and I can finally fit other things into the recycle bin. HECK YES SODASTREAM.

A slice of grapefruit sitting next to a SodaStream carbonating bottle filled with cold water in a bright room.After having the SodaStream for a few weeks, we had tried most of the classic SodaStream syrup flavors (all diet) – root beer, cola, lemon lime, orange, even grapefruit soda. Even the SodaStream brand MyWater Essences were just okay. Most of the available flavors were sweetened, colored, or heavily flavored in a way that did not satisfy our craving for LaCroix.

So we scoured the Internet for homemade LaCroix recipe ideas. What we found was surprising: essential oils, candy flavoring oils, infused ice cubes, concentrated juices, liquid Stevias… every solution seemed too complicated, or purpose defeating (sorry, not adding powdered Kool-Aid to my sparkling water… duh).

So we tried something else. It seemed a little too easy… but I’m happy to share that it totally worked.

Here’s the question you’re probably wondering the most:

Can a SodaStream make delicious sparkling water?

YES. YES IT CAN. And it’s so easy. Here’s my method:

  1. carbonate water with SodaStream
  2. pour in 1 tablespoon of fresh squeezed citrus juice
  3. put on the cap and invert once
  4. drink and enjoy

A GIF of grapefruit juice being poured into a SodaStream carbonating bottle.

The following flavors are easy to create and worked great for me:

  • grapefruit (pamplemousse)
  • lemon
  • lime
  • orange
  • lemon/lime

The next question, and maybe the most important one to some:

Will the SodaStream save me money?

To fully answer this question, I decided to do a comparison of (estimated in Seattle) prices. To do this, I compared the price of buying LaCroix at Costco (already an awesome deal) and the price at a regular store, to the price of making your own LaCroix with the SodaStream in the way I described above.

Cost of LaCroix from a grocery store:

  • 8 pack of 12-ounce cans equals 96 ounces and costs $3.99
  • $3.99 / 96 ounces = $0.042 per ounce

Cost of LaCroix from Costco:

  • 24 pack of 12-ounce cans equals 288 ounces and costs $9.99
  • $9.99 / 288 ounces = $0.035 per ounce

Cost of Homemade LaCroix with a SodaStream:

At this point, we’ve had the SodaStream for around 6 months and made AT LEAST 200 liters of carbonated water, so I decided to split the original cost of the machine over this entire amount:

  • 200 liters x 33.814 ounces/liter = 6762.8 ounces
  • $75.99 / 6762.8 ounces = $0.011 per ounce for original cost of SodaStream (at the current amount we’ve used)

And for the actual beverage:

  • Carbonation canister makes 60 liters (2028.8 ounces) of soda and costs $14.99
  • Citrus juice estimated to cost $0.50 per liter x 60 liters = $30.00
  • $44.99 / 2028.8 ounces = $0.022 per ounce for carbonation and juice

Final Cost:

  • $0.011 + $0.022 = $0.033 per ounce — WINNNNER!!

This is really exciting to me for a couple reasons:
1) I’ve never actually done the math on this before so I’m glad it works out how I thought;
2) Mentioning this again – we’ve only had the SodaStream for a few months, which means the cost per ounce of the original machine will continue to decrease the more we use it;
3) These numbers don’t include the material or recycling costs of either method – consider how much making sparkling water at home saves on plastic bottles and aluminum cans, and I think the winner is even clearer!

Citrus fruits laid out on a counter viewed from above - including grapefruit, lemons and limes. Some are cut in half.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade LaCroix with a SodaStream

  • Only carbonate cold, refrigerated water. I think SodaStream recommends this. But it’s an easy thing to skip at first. I would definitely agree with this tip after we tried each method one after another. Good thing someone at The Kitchn tested it for us. “Verdict: This is a mind-blowing tip.” – Kelli Foster, The Kitchn
  • Measure your citrus juice. Unlike I did in my Instagram story that one time, you should definitely use a measuring spoon and possibly even a strainer to make sure you don’t make your homemade LaCroix too sour or flavorless. I have done both because sometimes I pretend I’m too good for measuring (always a bad idea).
  • Add citrus juice slowwwly. Otherwise it will fizz up and over the bottle real quick.
  • Don’t fizz it ALL the way. 2-3 lights worth of carbonation from the SodaStream Source is totally fine with refrigerated water. It’s already going to be pretty fizzy from that small amount of carbonation and you do not need more. 

Two different variations of homemade la croix in big glasses with ice and straws, including lemon and lime.

Other How-To’s from Project Meal Plan:

  • How to Cook Quinoa in the Rice Cooker
  • How to Make and Freeze Homemade Pizza Sauce
  • How to Meal Prep for Beginners
  • How to Turn TJ’s Pizza Dough into Freezer Friendly Premade Pizza Crusts

Did you make this? I want to see how it turned out! Tag me in your social media post @projectmealplan and use #projectmealplan when you share!

Recipe
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.3 from 3 reviews

How to Make Homemade Lacroix With a SodaStream

Yield: 1 liter 1x
Print Save Rate it
Prep: 5 minutesTotal: 5 minutes

Homemade Lacroix is totally a thing. All you need is a SodaStream, some cold water, and your favorite citrus fruit!

Scale:

Ingredients

  • SodaStream Sparkling Water Maker
  • 1 liter of refrigerated water in a carbonating bottle (affiliate link!)
  • 1 tablespoon citrus juice (exact measuring is recommended but not required)
    • lime (around 1/2 lime)
    • lemon (a little less than 1/2 lemon)
    • orange (around 1/4 large orange)
    • grapefruit (a little less than 1/4 grapefruit)

Instructions

  1. Carbonate your cold water with your SodaStream.
  2. Measure and strain with a fine mesh strainer to remove pulp and seeds.
  3. Slowly add juice to your carbonated water. Enjoy!

Equipment

SodaStream Fizzi One Touch Sparkling Water Machine

Buy Now →

Sodastream Carbonating Bottles

Buy Now →

1-Cup Angled Measuring Cup

Buy Now →

(affiliate link!)

Notes

Adjust the strength of the Homemade Lacroix by changing the amount of citrus juice to your liking. We did a side by side taste test comparison with 1TB of grapefruit juice in carbonated water and found they tasted the same.

Please note the SodaStream I own is no longer sold! Here is the newer version called the Sodastream Fizzi One Touch Sparkling Water Machine (affiliate link!).

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 8 ounces
  • Calories: 0
© Author: Danielle
Cuisine: Fancy

Did You Make This?

I love seeing what you made! Leave a review below, and be sure to tag me at @ProjectMealPlan when you share a photo!

Tag me on Instagram Rate recipe

Thanks for checking out How to Make Homemade Lacroix With a SodaStream! Be sure to use #projectmealplan on social media if you make homemade Lacroix with your SodaStream!

Pinterest pin containing two images already shared above with title, How to Make Homemade La Croix with a SodaStream
  • Share
  • Threads
  • Save
  • Email

About Danielle

Hi, I’m Danielle! I'm a PNW gal on a mission to help you reduce food waste, and save both time and money with meal planning and make-ahead recipe ideas! I've got weekly meal plan templates and recipes waiting for you!

Read more...

You May Also Like...

  • How to Make and Freeze Homemade Pizza Sauce - Big batch pizza sauce recipe to prep so you can have homemade pizza sauce in 10 minutes, anytime! - ProjectMealPlan.com
    How to Make and Freeze Homemade Pizza Sauce
  • Homemade Chipotle Grilled Chicken recipe, super easy to make in large batches for that Chipotle restaurant taste at home! - ProjectMealPlan.com
    Homemade Chipotle Grilled Chicken
  • Crispy Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas - A healthy crunch holiday treat! Four simple ingredients and your home smells amazing! - ProjectMealPlan.com
    Crispy Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas
  • Store-Bought Vs. Homemade Pesto: Which is Cheaper?
    Store-Bought Vs. Homemade Pesto: Which is Cheaper?
10 Meal Prep Lunches cover.

Get my FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

Subscribe and receive my FREE Top 10 Meal Prep Lunches eBook PLUS recipes and meal prep tips weekly!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. ME says

    Posted on 1/13/20 at 10:53 pm

    Refrigerated water is already pretty fizzy? Really? Not the sharpest tool in the shed now are wwe?

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      Posted on 1/14/20 at 11:28 am

      Hi there. I think the part you are referring to is when I talk about how much carbonation to add to the water. There is no need to continue adding carbonation longer than when 2-3 lights come on the SodaStream because carbonating refrigerated water will give you very fizzy water. There is no need to continue adding carbonation. I’m sorry this was confusing to you.

      Reply
  2. Steve B. says

    Posted on 1/25/20 at 12:54 pm

    I’m debating whether to go the “make it myself” route or not. I’m researching replacement CO2 cartridges and did not find anything close to your $15 number. Most of what I find on Amazon are $60 – $70.

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      Posted on 1/26/20 at 8:43 am

      Hi Steve! I get my replacement 60 liter gas canisters at Bartell Drug here in Seattle – this $15 is the price after you trade in your empty canister and they discount your new canister 50% off. I believe a single canister does cost $29.99 originally, though you should always be trading in an empty canister after your original purchase (no reason to keep them). I know Sodastream also does the exchange program on their website via shipping, and they also have a $14.99 price listed. Here’s the link: https://sodastream.com/products/exchange-cylinder
      Hope this helps Steve!

      Reply
  3. keesimps says

    Posted on 4/4/20 at 7:43 am

    Simple yet effective… I’ve made soda water with essential oils in the past (use a keg and co2 setup), but it hasn’t been close to this. I made pamplemousse for the wife and she loves it! I ended up combining the same ratio of juice, which is roughly 9 1/2 fl oz to 5 gallons of water, but still added essential oils, although I reduced the quantity by 1/3 to account for the juice. Again, this kicked it up a notch and I think I have a convert and am saving money already. Thanks for the info and share.

    Reply
  4. Danny says

    Posted on 5/27/20 at 4:22 pm

    You left out one other factor when debating La Croix vs Sodastream – less waste! Sure, you can recycle cans and boxes that La Croix and others come in, but recycling only goes so far…there’s a reason recycle is the final “R” in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – it’s better to reduce and reuse first! Sodastream gets bonus points for helping to reduce your overall waste.

    Reply
  5. Chris says

    Posted on 1/20/21 at 12:50 pm

    The flavors are hard to get the same. I buy concentrate flavors from prariemoon biz it’s the RIO brand in 4oz bottles. 1 oz makes a quart of syrup for sodas. Some good, others eh. As far the LaCroix, you are adding calories if you use fresh juice. I can’t see how they claim all natural and zero calories. Coconut is one that’s popular, but everything has calories that’s based on real coconut. Very little mind you. They are just using the term Natural as defined by the FDA. They have some wiggle room here.

    Now as for CO2. Amazon sells adapters for $42 that can use a 5-20lb tank. Check local beer brewing supply stores for 5lb CO2 tanks. These are 6.6x that of the 12oz SodaStream CO2. The tanks costs $45 one time. After that about $15 per refill.

    Reply
Older Comments
Newer Comments

Primary Sidebar

bio
Follow Danielle on Instagram for more meal planning inspiration!

Popular

Thin Sliced Stovetop Chicken Breast just cooked in a nonstick pan.

Thin Sliced Stovetop Chicken Breasts

meal prep unstuffed pepper bowls in glass 2 compartment containers.

Meal Prep Unstuffed Pepper Bowls

peanut butter powder blueberry cinnamon smoothie with fresh blueberries.

Peanut Butter Powder Blueberry Cinnamon Smoothie

air fryer tuna melt cut in half stacked on a cutting board.

Air Fryer Tuna Melt

Get my FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

In Season

Herby lemon chicken pasta salad in a white bowl.

Herby Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad

No Bake Pecan Pie Date Balls stacked on a plate.

No-Bake Pecan Pie Date Balls

tuna egg salad meal prep with berries and crackers in glass meal prep containers.

Tuna Egg Salad Meal Prep

meal prep soy chorizo breakfast burritos cut in half and zoomed in on inside fillings.

Meal Prep Soy Chorizo Breakfast Burritos

caesar chicken salad lunch wraps cut in half stacked on a cutting board.

Caesar Chicken Salad Lunch Wraps

no-bake cheesecake Greek yogurt cups in mason jars.

No-Bake Cheesecake Greek Yogurt Cups

explore

Free Meal Planning Resources

Weekly meal planner.
free downloads

Meal Planning Templates

Project meal plan
meal plan inspo

Join the Facebook Group

Favorite Cooking Tools
shop

Favorite Cooking Tools

10 Helpful Tips For Beginners
tips & tricks

10 Helpful Tips for Beginners

Explore Meal Prep

Breakfasts

Main Dishes

Tips & Tricks

Snacks

Lunches

Air Fryer

Instant Pot

Freezer Friendly

Get My FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2025 Project Meal Plan
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top