Homemade Root Beer
By the QuiteRecipes team (Jamy & Kaïna) | Food Service Professional, Early Childhood Expert & Parents
Bold, aromatic, and naturally fizzy — this Homemade Root Beer is brewed with real sassafras, vanilla, and wintergreen for an authentic old-fashioned taste.
Bold, aromatic, and naturally fizzy — this Homemade Root Beer is brewed with real sassafras, vanilla, and wintergreen for an authentic old-fashioned taste.
🥄 Ingredients
- 🫗 4 cups (960 ml) water
- 🫗 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 🫗 1 oz (28 g) sassafras root bark (dried)
- 🫗 1 oz (28 g) sarsaparilla root (dried)
- 🫗 1 cinnamon stick
- 🫗 1 tsp (5 ml) molasses
- 🫗 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 🫗 ½ tsp (2.5 ml) wintergreen extract
- 🫗 ¼ tsp grated nutmeg
- 🫗 ⅛ tsp ground star anise
- 🫗 1 packet champagne yeast (for carbonation)
- 🫗 Ice (for serving)
Nutrition Facts*
*Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients, brands and portion sizes. Values are provided per serving.
👨🍳 Instructions
In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the sassafras bark, sarsaparilla root, and cinnamon stick. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a large heatproof pitcher. Discard the solids.
While the liquid is still hot, stir in the sugar and molasses until completely dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.
Stir in the vanilla extract, wintergreen extract, nutmeg, and star anise. Mix well.
Once the mixture is at room temperature, sprinkle the champagne yeast over the surface and gently stir to incorporate.
Pour into clean, sealable plastic bottles (not glass — pressure can cause breakage), leaving 1 inch of headspace. Seal tightly.
Let the bottles sit at room temperature for 24–48 hours to carbonate. Check carbonation by gently squeezing a bottle — it should feel firm.
Transfer to the refrigerator to stop fermentation. Serve chilled over ice.
🎥 Video Tutorial
Homemade Root Beer
Video credit: embedded from YouTube. All rights belong to the original creator, who allows sharing on other websites.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✕
Over-Carbonation: Letting the bottles ferment too long at room temperature can cause them to explode. Refrigerate as soon as the bottles feel firm to the touch.
- ✕
Sassafras Safety: Use only dried sassafras root bark from a reputable spice supplier. Avoid commercial sassafras oil, which may contain concentrated safrole.
- ✕
Glass Bottle Danger: Always use plastic bottles for fermentation. The pressure from carbonation can shatter glass bottles.
🔄 Variations
Ginger Root Beer: Add 2 oz of fresh sliced ginger to the simmering roots for a spicy, warming kick.
Sugar-Free Root Beer: Substitute the granulated sugar with 1 ½ cups of erythritol or allulose for a low-carb version.
Root Beer Float: Pour your finished root beer over a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream for the classic American float.
🧊 Storage
- 📦
Homemade root beer will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The carbonation will gradually decrease over time.
- 📦
Do not freeze — the liquid will expand and the bottles may burst.
- 📦
Store upright in the fridge to minimize sediment settling in the cap.
💡 Chef Tips
Yeast Matters: Champagne yeast creates a clean, crisp carbonation without affecting the flavor. Bread yeast will work but may leave a yeasty aftertaste.
Burp the Bottles: If you're using glass bottles (not recommended), "burp" them every 12 hours by briefly opening the cap to release excess pressure.
Custom Spice Blend: Feel free to adjust the spices to your taste. Add a star anise or two for a deeper licorice note, or increase the wintergreen for a cooler finish.
🔗 Related Recipes
About the Authors
This recipe and guide was developed, tested, and approved in our home kitchen and daily life. Jamy is a retired Food Service District Manager and Early Childhood Program Manager who spent his career overseeing multi-site restaurant operations, large-scale culinary production, and daycare menu management. Kaïna brings the ultimate real-world test: making sure it brings ease and joy to our kids on a busy weeknight.
Read more about our professional background and philosophy →