One of my favorite traditions during any holiday is making the kids Italian Sodas.  They are made with homemade simple syrups and garnished with a pretty straw.

They look fancy and it makes the kids feel special to have this pretty treat!

This Valentine’s Day I’m going with a chocolate covered cherry theme.  So….Chocolate Covered Cherry Italian Sodas for the kids and Chocolate Covered Martinis for the grown-ups.  Make one batch of simple syrup that will work for both.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

~ Gena

Ingredients:

Makes one 8 oz. serving

• 2 oz. Chocolate Cherry Simple Syrup (see below)
• 6 oz. sparkling water
• splash of half and half or cream
• whipped cream for topping
• chocolate chips for topping
• pretty straw  🙂
• ice

Directions:

• Pour 2 oz. simple syrup into the bottom of a glass
• Add sparkling water and stir.
• Add a few ice cubes.
• Pour in a splash of half and half and watch it trickle down, so pretty!
• Top with whipped cream, a few chocolate chips and a straw.

Enjoy!!

For the Chocolate Cherry Simple Syrup

(Makes 1 1/2 cups or 12 oz. -enough for 6 drinks)

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1  1/2 cups frozen cherries (tart or sweet)
• 1 t. cocoa powder

Bring water, sugar and cherries to boil over med. heat in a med. sized saucepan.

Reduce heat to low, add cocoa powder and stir to dissolve.

Let simmer for 10 min.  Turn off heat and let cool.  Strain syrup into a glass and refrigerate, if not using right away. (Syrup will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.)  Keep cherries for another use, like Sweet Cherry Muffins.