From the sweetened hibiscus tea of years past to the cotton candy syrup of Big Red, celebrating with red drink has always been a special part of Juneteenth picnics and reunions. A little sweetening magic will keep everyone happy at a festive family occasion.

Use Big Red in the following recipes to bring love, joy, and peace to your holiday. If you can’t find Big Red (local mostly to Texas), use Faygo Red, Strawberry Fanta, or Kool-Aid. And if you really want to go all out, try the following recipes!

Big Red Drizzle Icing

Start with a cup of confectioners sugar and add 1 ounce of Big Red. Slowly adjust with more sugar and more soda until you get a nice consistency. Try as a drip frosting for a 7-Up Pound Cake — replacing the 7-Up with Big Red, naturally!

Big Red BBQ Glaze

To begin, you’ll want a Big Red reduction — over low heat, reduce two cans of Big Red to about 2/3 cup. Combine with a spicy vinegar base BBQ sauce (no honey or teriyaki — the Big Red is sweet enough!). Baste your ribs or other meat for the oven, a gas grill, or mesquite charcoal.

Big Red Pudding Pops

Add a big dollop of vanilla pudding to any popsicle mold, then fill to 3/4 full with Big Red (soda will expand as you freeze it). Add sticks and freeze for four hours. Voila, a special treat for the day!

Sweet Freedom Hoodoo Oil

So what makes Big Red Big Red? It’s NOT Strawberry! Big Red is a red cream soda — and you can adapt its recipe for your very own sweetening oil! Combine a few drops each of lemon, orange, and vanilla essential oils, then add to a red-dyed almond oil. Elements of cleansing, love, and road opening merge in a magical way. Let me know what you think!