The Easiest Homemade Copycat Sprite Lemon-Lime Syrup

ByJennifer Roberts
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Growing up, I drank soda like it was my job (like most kids in the 90’s). Now, as an adult that cares about what ingredients are in my drinks, I realized that if I was going to experience the nostalgia of soda, I’d have to figure out hot to make it myself!

This homemade Sprite syrup gives you that bright, citrusy lemon-lime flavor you love—without the artificial ingredients, corn syrup, added sugars or mystery additives. It’s fresh, clean, and super easy to make, using real lemons and limes for a flavor that actually tastes like fruit.

Once you have this syrup, you can mix it with sparkling water and sweetener for a homemade sprite soda or use it in other recipes as a tart syrup addition.

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Why You’ll Love This Homemade Sprite Syrup:

  • Fresh lemon + lime flavor (not artificial tasting)
  • No corn syrup, refined sugar or artificial dyes/flavors
  • Simple, real ingredients
  • Customizable sweetness level
  • Works for soda and drinks
  • The best fun-drink option for kids to enjoy!

Other Homemade Syrups You May Like:

Ingredients

Please see recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe details.

1. Lemons & Limes
Using fresh fruit and juices from the fruits creates the best outcome.

2. Maple Sugar
Maple sugar adds sweetness to the Using maple sugar instead of refined white sugar keeps the flavor warm and well-balanced.

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Helpful Tools & Gadgets

Shop The Tools

No special tools? Here’s how to make it work:

No strainer funnel → use a cheesecloth
No juicer → zest the lemons and limes and mix that with juice + maple sugar
No glass bottle dispenser → use a mason jar with a lid

Juicing the Lemons & Limes

Fresh lemon and lime wedges in a metal bowl.
Juicing fresh lemons and limes with a modern electric juicer.

1. Mix together all of the ingredients together in a mixer.

2. As it whips it will change form from a milk like consistency, to bubbly and light, to cream.

Creating the Syrup

Grated Parmesan cheese being sprinkled over a fresh vegetable salad in a kitchen setting.
Farm Fresh Family, preparing fresh vegetables with cheese in a stainless steel bowl.

1. Take the solid discard from the juice and place it in a bowl.

4. Cover the discard in maple sugar.

Homemade cornbread stuffing with herbs and vegetables, perfect for holiday dinners and family gather.
Hand pouring mashed vegetables into a pot in a farm-fresh kitchen setting.

3. Squeeze the maple sugar together with the discard to release the oils and draw flavor out of the peels.

4. Convert mixture to a saucepan.

Fresh green juice being poured into a glass measuring cup, with a bowl of homemade dip on a wooden c.
Homemade chicken soup with fresh ingredients, served in a stainless steel pot, highlighting farm-fre.

5. Pour the juiced lemon and lime over the mixture.

6. Whisk together.

Healthy homemade vegetable soup in a stainless steel pot.
Stainless steel cooking pot with lid on a gas stove, ready for meal preparation.

7. Place over medium heat on the stovetop.

8. Place a lid on the saucepan and let it simmer.

Freshly cooked homemade vegetable stew in a stainless steel pot.
Freshly churned butter in a metal bowl on a wooden kitchen countertop.

9. Once cooked down, the color will fade from the peels.

10. Use a stainer or a funnel strainer to remove all the excess syrup from the rinds.

Freshly fried green tomatoes on a cloth on a wooden kitchen counter.
Hand holding a bowl of homemade broth in a kitchen setting.

11. Use a cheesecloth to help squeeze the remaining juice out.

12. Strain the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

The Easiest Homemade Copycat Sprite Lemon-Lime Syrup

Author: Jennifer Roberts
This homemade lemon lime syrup is fresh, citrusy, and made without corn syrup. A gluten free syrup perfect for sodas, drinks, and desserts.
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Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade lemon lime syrup without corn syrup

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Cut the lemons and limes into quarters and place into the juicer.
  2. Take the juicer discard and add Maple Sugar. Squeeze the discard and sugar together. Let it sit for 5 minutes to pull out more flavor from the discard.
  3. Pour the discard and lemon/lime juice into a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
  4. Use a strainer over a bowl and train out the syrup. Pour the syrup into a dispenser and place tin the refrigerator to set.

Additional Allergens/Suggested Modifications

  • No additional allergens

This recipe is naturally free of: eggs, dairy,  nuts, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, seed oils and sesame.

Recipe Tips

Use fresh lemon and lime juice + zest for best flavor (the juicer captures all 3)

Simmer gently—don’t boil aggressively to avoid bitterness

Strain well for a smooth, clean syrup

Add a tiny pinch of salt to enhance flavor

Chill syrup before mixing for best results

Storage Options:

  • Pre–prep: Making the syrups ahead of time is encouraged as it lasts for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
  • Storage: Store in an airtight glass container or dispenser jar.
  • Freezing: Syrups can be frozen for up to 6 months in an airtight container. I suggest pouring into an ice cube tray or soupercube tray and then transferring to a gallon sized plastic bag.

Recipe FAQs

Fresh juice is recommended for the best flavor, but bottled juice can work in a pinch. Fresh citrus provides a brighter, cleaner taste.

Lemon lime syrup typically lasts 2–3 weeks in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

Yes. You can freeze it in small portions (like ice cube trays) for up to 2–3 months. This makes it easy to use small amounts as needed. Ice cube trays are a good idea!

Check out my Copycat Sprite Lemon-Lime Soda recipe.

Too thin → simmer longer to reduce
Too thick → add a small amount of water to loosen
The consistency should be pourable but slightly syrupy.

Yes. It’s a great way to make fun, flavorful drinks for kids without artificial dyes or flavors. This syrup is a bitter one so it would need to be sweetened a little more before adding to something like a dessert topping or snow cone.

If you love nostalgic candy recipes made with simple ingredients, check out more copycat treats inside Volume 2 (desserts & treats) of The Gluten Free Kitchen Cookbook Series.

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