Sunny D Vodka Seltzer Recipe – Turn your favorite childhood orange drink into a bubbly adults-only beverage with only 4 simple ingredients. This fruity homemade version of the popular canned cocktail is perfect for all your summer pool parties, backyard barbecues, or any fun and casual gathering!

3 sunny d vodka seltzer drinks, each in a glass cup with slice of orange on top.

Why We Love This Vodka Seltzer Cocktail Recipe

This Sunny D Vodka Seltzer recipe is a copycat version of the popular canned beverage you can buy in many places around the country. It combines nostalgic childhood flavors of tangy orange drink with a summertime vodka seltzer in one fruity, bubbly, and boozy drink that everyone (21+ of course) loves!

Although you may be able to find SunnyD vodka seltzer at your local grocery store, making it at home is extremely easy with only 4 ingredients. Plus, it’s more affordable and offers the ability to provide quality control with the type of vodka and seltzer water you choose. You can also make your vodka seltzer more or less boozy based on the crowd you’re serving.

This tangy orange vodka seltzer is a crowd favorite, and can be made in advance, adding the seltzer water at the end for bubbles. I like to serve it with a wedge of Cara Cara orange, but you can garnish it any way you like for a refreshing and fun summer drink!

Top down view of 3 sunny d vodka seltzer drinks, each in a glass cup with slice of orange on top.

Ingredients You Need

  • SunnyD Tangy Original Orange Drink – to “unleash the power of the sun” (a throwback for the 1980s and 1990s babies!)
  • Orange-flavored seltzer water – mineral water or club soda
  • Vodka – choose a quality brand for the best-tasting cocktail
  • Lemon juice – for a nice pop of fresh citrus

Plus ice and whatever garnishes you want, like an orange wedge or slice, lemon slice, and/or mint leaves.

Recipe ingredients: Bottle of juice, metal cup with vodka, fresh orange wedge, and can of soda.

How to Make a SunnyD Vodka Seltzer

Set out a 16-ounce tumbler and fill the cup halfway with ice.

Add the vodka and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Hand pouring vodka from a metal shot glass into a glass filled with ice.
Hand squeezing orange juice into a glass filled with ice.

Get the Complete (Printable) SunnyD Vodka Seltzer Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Add Sunny D to the cup. Stir well, then stir in the orange seltzer water and garnish. Serve with your favorite summertime dishes.

It’s that easy!

Hand adding orange juice from a metal shot glass into a glass cup.
Sunny d vodka seltzer drink in a glass cup with slice of orange on top. Bottle of juice, metal cup with vodka, and can of soda in the background.

Recipe Variations

  • Juice – SunnyD now offers a wide variety of delicious flavors, like orange pineapple flavors, orange strawberry, and mango. Choose whichever you like to make the fruity, bubbly, boozy cocktail of your summertime dreams! Alternatively, make this drink with classic Tang orange drink for a different but still delicious nostalgic bold orange flavor. You can also use real fruit juice, or juice blends!
  • Seltzer – Swap seltzer for club soda, which has minerals added and a slightly salty taste.
  • Alcohol – Use orange vodka or other flavored vodkas you prefer.
  • Without Alcohol – Simply omit the vodka for a nonalcoholic Sunny D mocktail.
  • Servings – This recipe makes one vodka seltzer, but use our serving slider in the recipe below to adjust the recipe and make as many as you like!
3 sunny d vodka seltzer drinks, each in a glass cup with slice of orange on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the sweetener in Sunny D vodka seltzer?

In this homemade version of a canned SunnyD Vodka Seltzer, the cocktail only gets its sweetness from the orange beverage. There’s no additional sweeteners needed here.

Is vodka soda and vodka seltzer the same?

Not quite. Vodka soda is made with club soda, which is a bubbly mineral water that usually includes a bit of sodium. Seltzer, on the other hand, is carbonated pure spring water.

Two hands cheersing with glasses of vodka, juice, and seltzer drinks.

Looking for More Summer Drink Recipes? Be Sure to Try:

3 sunny d vodka seltzer drinks, each in a glass cup with slice of orange on top.
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Sunny D Vodka Seltzer Recipe

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
This SunnyD Vodka Seltzer recipe turns your favorite childhood orange drink into a bubbly adults-only beverage with only 4 simple ingredients!
Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Set out a 16-ounce tumbler and fill the cup halfway with ice.
  • Add the vodka, squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and Sunny D to the cup. Stir well, then stir in the seltzer water.
  • Garnish and serve.

Notes

Garnishes: Garnish with a fresh orange slice or wedge, a lemon wedge, or fresh mint leaves.
If you prefer the taste of Tang to SunnyD, you can make this recipe as a Tang Seltzer instead!
This recipe makes one vodka seltzer, but use our serving slider here in the recipe card to adjust the recipe to make as many as you like!

Nutrition

Serving: 9oz, Calories: 132kcal, Carbohydrates: 0.3g, Protein: 0.02g, Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 6mg, Fiber: 0.01g, Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 0.3IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 0.3mg, Iron: 0.01mg
Course: Beverage, cocktail
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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