Name: Dirty Dr Pepper
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 1 cup ice (nugget ice preferred); 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lime juice (or a squeeze of juice from a small wedge of lime); 1 cup Dr Pepper soda (chilled); 4 tablespoons Coconut Creme non-dairy coffee creamer (Coffee Mate brand used); Lime circle ( ⅛-¼ inch thick, optional garnish for edge of glass)

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This Copycat Dirty Dr Pepper is a fizzy, fun drink that perfectly mimics Sonic’s creamy 3-ingredient mocktail. It’s easy to make your own sweet, bubbly beverage at home with just three simple ingredients: Dr Pepper, coconut cream syrup, and a splash of lime juice.

Glass of Dirty Dr Pepper with ice, lime slices, and a swirl of cream, surrounded by a bottle of Dr Pepper and coffee creamer.

What Is A Dirty Dr Pepper?

Dirty Dr Pepper is a fun twist on the classic soda, mixing Dr Pepper with coconut cream syrup and lime for a smooth, tropical flavor. This Sonic-inspired drink is sweet, creamy, and easy to make at home anytime!

Don’t miss out on our original Dirty Soda, which uses orange soda.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Dirty Dr Pepper

Ice: Some fast food chain restaurants, such as Sonic or Chick-fil-A, will sell bags of their nugget ice or pebble ice. If you cannot find nugget ice cubes, you can substitute with crushed ice from an ice machine.
Lime juice: Fresh squeezed lime juice yields the best flavor when making this drink.
Dr Pepper: Feel free to use diet Dr Pepper instead of regular Dr Pepper to cut some of the calories and carbs.
Coconut creme non-dairy coffee creamer: Swap the non-dairy coconut creamer for 2 tablespoons half & half creamer plus 1 tablespoon coconut flavored syrup. Coconut syrup can be found on Amazon or in some grocery stores.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Iced Dirty Dr Pepper in glasses with lime slices and striped straws, surrounded by mini Dr Pepper cans and fresh lime wedges.

How to Make Dirty Dr Pepper

Pour In The Pebble Ice: Fill a 16 oz tall glass with pebble ice and add lime juice on top.
Add The Soda: Pour in the soda, tilting the glass on an angle to prevent foam from forming.
Combine The Creamer: Add the coconut cream coffee creamer and stir to combine.
Serve: Garnish with a fresh lime wedge and sip through a straw.

pour ingredients into a glass and mix well.

Dirty Dr Pepper Recipe Variations

Make it Creamy: Add half-and-half, coconut cream, or coconut milk for a richer, velvety drink.
Lighten It Up: Swap in Diet Dr Pepper for a lower-calorie, low-sugar version.
Add a Kick: Mix in rum, coconut liqueur, or your favorite spirit for an adult twist.
Serve It Swig-Style: Start with a base soda like Dr Pepper, Coke, Pepsi, or Sprite, then mix in flavored syrups, creams, or fruit purees for a custom twist. Swig’s dirty sodas became popular in Utah, especially among the Mormon community, for their fun, caffeine-filled flavors.

For more “dirty” delicious drink recipes, check out my Creamsicle Dirty Soda, Dirty Shirley Float, and Dirty Snowmen.

Two iced Dirty Dr Pepper drinks topped with lime slices and black-and-white striped straws, surrounded by fresh lime wedges and a Dr Pepper can.

Tips

Skip the Bottle: Fresh lime juice adds a brighter, more natural tang than bottled.
Get the Ratio Right: Fill your glass halfway with crushed ice to keep it cold without watering it down.
Mix It Up: Add grenadine for fruitiness, bitters for depth, or swap in sparkling water for a lighter sip.
Store Smart: Keep coconut syrup sealed in a cool spot, and adjust sweetness by tweaking the lime-to-syrup balance.

Storage Instructions

Prepare In Advance: Store coconut syrup and lime juice separately, but don’t mix with soda until serving to keep the fizz.
In The Refrigerator: The mixed drink won’t stay fizzy, but leftover syrup and lime juice last up to a week in the fridge.

A freshly mixed Dirty Dr Pepper is best enjoyed immediately, as the fizz will start to dissipate within an hour or two. If you must store it, keep it in an airtight container and try to consume it within a few hours.

A refreshing Dirty Dr Pepper served over ice, garnished with a fresh lime slice, with ingredients like Dr Pepper and creamer in the background.

More of Our Favorite Beverages

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Dirty Dr Pepper

Author — Jennifer Fishkind

Serves —

Dirty Dr Pepper is a delicious combination of soda, lime juice, and coconut cream served over ice. An easy to make mocktail that takes only 2 minutes total time to start sipping!

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Prep Time 2

Total Time 2

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup ice nugget ice preferred
▢ 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lime juice or a squeeze of juice from a small wedge of lime
▢ 1 cup Dr Pepper soda chilled
▢ 4 tablespoons Coconut Creme non-dairy coffee creamer Coffee Mate brand used
▢ Lime circle ⅛-¼ inch thick, optional garnish for edge of glass

Instructions

Fill a 16 ounce sized glass with ice and top with the fresh squeezed lime juice.
1 cup ice, 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lime juice
Slowly pour in the chilled Dr Pepper soda into the glass being careful not to create too many foamy bubbles on top. Tilting the glass on a slight angle as you pour, then gradually standing the glass back upright when done pouring in the soda, helps to prevent lots of foam from forming as you pour the soda into the glass.
1 cup Dr Pepper soda
Pour the coconut creme non-dairy coffee creamer into the glass and stir gently to combine.
4 tablespoons Coconut Creme non-dairy coffee creamer
Garnish the rim of the glass with a single fresh lime circle, if desired and serve with a straw.
Lime circle

Jenn’s Notes

Storage :

Prepare In Advance: You can prep the components of Dirty Dr Pepper ahead of time, but don’t mix it with the soda until you’re ready to serve. The carbonation in the soda will lose its fizz if stored together. Store coconut syrup and fresh lime juice in separate containers for easy assembly later.
In The Refrigerator:It’s not recommended to store the mixed drink in the fridge, as the carbonation will quickly flatten. However, you can refrigerate any leftover coconut syrup for future use. Leftover lime juice or syrup can be stored separately in the fridge for up to a week.

Tips :

Fresh lime juice provides a much brighter and more complex flavor compared to bottled lime juice. It adds a natural tangy flavor that enhances the sweetness of Dr. Pepper and coconut syrup, providing a more authentic, refreshing taste.

Make sure you use the right ice-to-liquid ratio for optimal refreshment! Fill your glass halfway with crushed or small ice cubes so the drink stay cold without quickly diluting the flavors.
If you want to experiment, you can add a splash of grenadine for a fruity touch or a dash of bitters to give it a more complex flavor profile. You can also try using sparkling water in place of some of the Dr. Pepper for a lighter version.
Store the coconut syrup in a cool, dry place with the lid tightly sealed. Coconut syrup can be very sweet, so you may want to adjust the amount you use depending on your preference. The key to the perfect Dirty Dr Pepper is finding the balance between the Dr. Pepper, lime, and coconut syrup. If it’s too sweet, increase the lime juice or reduce the syrup. If it’s too tart, add a touch more syrup.