Take your soda game to the next level of deliciousness with this Dirty Dr Pepper recipe that combines soda with a splash of coconut syrup and sweet cream. It’s an inexpensive luxury that is worth trying.
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What makes the Sonic Dirty Dr. Pepper so good?
Sonic serves up some fantastic burgers, but many guests flock to the chain primarily for its drinks. Among the customers’ favorites is the famous Dirty Dr Pepper. No, there’s nothing filthy about this soft drink; that’s just the name.
So, what is a Dirty Dr Pepper from Sonic? The Dirty Dr Pepper Sonic has on its menu combines Dr. Pepper, a squirt of coconut-flavored syrup, and a splash of half-and-half, all garnished with a lime. The coconut syrup balances out the soda’s more licorice notes, while the half-and-half adds extra creaminess.
If you have never had a Dirty Soda, this is a great one to try first!
Why you’ll love this recipe
This kid-friendly recipe is an excellent introduction to measuring and mixing in the kitchen. Plus, since everything is so easy to customize, you can get exactly what you want.
If you like a stronger coconut flavor, add more syrup. If you’re not a dairy person, use coconut milk instead. Want more options? Check out the Variation section below for other Dr. Pepper-centric Dirty Soda options.
Sonic Dirty Dr. Pepper ingredients
For this dirty soda recipe, you’ll need:
- Dr. Pepper
- Coconut syrup
- Sweet Cream
- Fresh limes
You can use either regular Dr Pepper or diet Dr Pepper to make this dirty drink.
When choosing coconut syrup, many prefer Monin over Torani in terms of flavor and taste.
Sonic Sweet Cream – What is it?
Sonic uses sweet cream in many of its drinks; it is the base for its ice cream. You can use melted vanilla ice cream. You can swap straight half-and-half for this, with no real change in the drink’s flavor. You could also make a simple sweet cream by adding two teaspoons of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 cup of half-and-half.
How to make a Dirty Dr. Pepper
To prepare the Dirty Dr. Pepper Sonic serves in your own home:
- Fill a large glass three-quarters of the way with crushed ice.
- Add two teaspoons of coconut syrup and stir with a long-handled spoon.
- Pour in the Dr. Pepper. Give one or two quick stirs.
- Top with a splash of sweet cream.
- Cut a lime into wedges and garnish the rim of the glass with a wedge.
Variations
There are endless Dirty Soda combos that you can make. Here are just a few options using Dr. Pepper as a base. Feel free to share your favorites in the comment section:
- The Berry Bad Doctor. Fill three-quarters of the glass with crushed ice. Add a teaspoon each of coconut syrup and vanilla syrup. Stir in a tablespoon of raspberry puree. Fill the glass almost to the top with Dr. Pepper. Add a splash of cream.
- The Candy Striper. Fill three-quarters of the glass with crushed ice. Add a teaspoon each of cherry syrup and vanilla syrup. Stir well and fill the glass almost to the top with Dr. Pepper. Add a splash of cream or half-and-half.
- The Coco-Nutty Bin. Make the Dirty Dr Pepper as above, but substitute coconut cream for the half-and-half or heavy cream.
What to serve this with drink
You can sip Sonic Dirty Dr Pepper solo, but it’s better with a bit of food. Here are three suggestions:
Sonic Onion Rings. You will never guess the secret to these extra crispy and delicious Sonic Onion Rings. Melted vanilla ice cream! How “cool” is that?
Sonic Frito Pie Chili Cheese Wraps. Fans of Frito Pies will want to make these Sonic Fritop Pie Chili Wraps as soon as possible. The Frito-Lays give the Chili Cheese Wraps a big crunch. Since you can use canned chili in this recipe, it makes a quick and satisfying snack or meal!
Crumbl Sugar Cookies. Sugar cookies are a popular snack at Dirty Soda takeout joints, but they’d be hard-pressed to serve better cookies than these copycat Crumbl Sugar Cookies. Crumbl Cookies are rich and buttery, and the pink frosting is just the, well, icing on top.
All about Dirty Sodas
Dirty Sodas can be considered Third-Wave soda fountains. First, the 19th-century original soda fountains served soda with a healthy dose of narcotics. Next came the 50s soda jerks and sock hop era, and finally, in the 2010s, the Dirty Soda shops started popping up in Utah. These LDS-friendly soda shops first appeared in Utah and the mountain states but eventually gained more general popularity.
So, why do people love Dirty Sodas? Sure, they taste good, and yes, Mormons are free to indulge in them, but that probably isn’t the main reason why they are so popular. The major draw is their flexibility and the cocktail-esque crafting of the drinks. Making Dirty Sodas gives you the ritual of cocktails without the stomach-churning morning after.
More copycat Sonic recipes
Favorite summer drink copycat recipes
- Chick Fil A Lemonade
- Chick Fil A Sunjoy
- Starbucks Berry Hibiscus Refresher
- Starbucks Lemonade
- Starbucks Dragon Drink
- Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade
- Starbucks Pink Drink
- Taco Bell Baja Blast Freeze
Check out more of my easy recipes for drinks and the best copycat fast food recipes on CopyKat!
Sonic Dirty Dr. Pepper
Ingredients
- ice
- 12 ounces Dr. Pepper
- 2 teaspoons coconut syrup
- 2 teaspoons Sweet cream See note below
- 1 lime wedge
Sweet Cream
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup half-and-half
Instructions
Sweet Cream
- Add 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 cup of half-and-half in a small bowl. Stir to combine. This will make enough sweet cream for 24 servings (2 teaspoons per serving.)
Dirty Dr. Pepper Preparation
- Fill a tall glass ¾ of the way full of ice. Add syrup, then Dr. Pepper. Stir with a bar spoon.
- Top with half and half and garnish with a lime wedge.
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