If you’re not familiar with dirty soda, you will be soon. The syrup-spiked and creamer-swirled soda beverages are all over TikTok, and many brands like Slice, Mountain Dew, McDonald’s, and Dunkin’ are getting in on the dirty soda trend with creations of their own. But what exactly is dirty soda? Read on to find out what dirty soda is made from, where it came from, and how to make it at home.

What is a Dirty Soda?

A dirty soda is a customizable non-alcoholic beverage made with soda, flavored syrup, a splash of creamer, and pebble ice. Dirty soda originated in Utah, where it was popularized by the Mormon community (which prohibits the consumption of coffee and tea but not soda) and later TikTok virality, with influencers sharing their favorite combinations and flavor rankings.

Other brands are getting in on the dirty soda trend, including Slice, whose canned dirty sodas come in strawberry or orange flavors at Target; Mountain Dew, which offers Dirty Mountain Dew Cream Soda; McDonald’s, where the Dirty Dr Pepper is made with vanilla flavor and a cold foam topper; and Dunkin’, which offers a Dunkin’ Dirty Soda crafted with Pepsi, Dunkin’s coffee milk, and a layer of sweet cold foam.

Where Do Dirty Sodas Come From?

Dirty soda originated at Swig, a soda shop chain founded in Utah by Nicole Robison in 2010. Inspired by her daily afternoon pick-me-up ritual (a drive-through order of Diet Coke), Robison created a modern day soda shop experience, initially offering Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper flavored syrups and a couple of creamers with a drive-through format and friendly service. One of the most popular dirty sodas at Swig is called The Founder®, which features Diet Coke, sugar-free coconut syrup, freshly squeezed lime juice, and coconut cream.

Dirty soda, aka Mormon soda, gained popularity after appearing on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and becoming a viral TikTok sensation. Since dirty soda has grown in popularity, Swig now offers dozens of bases, including sodas and sparkling waters, flavored syrups and creamers, along with frozen fruit purees, fresh fruit, and fresh fruit juices. "The reason I think dirty soda has become so popular is because younger consumers want new flavor profiles, they want new combinations, they want customization and personalization" says Alex Dunn, CEO of Swig. "And so, we’re taking [soda], something that is a staple, that is obviously wildly consumed and we’re giving it to the customer in a way that leans into those trends."

How To Make a Dirty Soda

The flavor combinations for dirty sodas invite endless experimentation and customization but a basic recipe includes a 12-ounce can of soda with 1 to 2 tablespoons of flavored syrup or sugar-free syrup and 1 to 2 tablespoons of dairy or non-dairy creamer, topped with pebble ice. Although Swig’s recipes are proprietary, Dunn shares Swig’s top tips for making a dirty soda at home:

• Start With a Can of Soda: Swig has its own carbonation system that delivers crisp, high carbonation soda, but a can of soda is the next best thing.
  
  
• Choose Your Syrup Flavor: At Swig, syrups come in pump bottles; Dunn suggests adding one pump at a time to your base soda until you reach your preferred sweetness level.
  
  
• Add Fruit To Take Things to the Next-Level: If you’re opting for a clear soda or seltzer, consider adding a fruit puree, which offers a concentrated flavor; freshly juiced citrus such as lemons, limes, or oranges (then toss in the wedge to get all the nuanced citrus flavor); and diced fruit like strawberries, raspberries, and mangos. Use a long stir spoon to gently incorporate the fruit or puree.
  
  
• Add the Pebble Ice Toward the End: Always add the ice after the soda and flavored syrup (and fruit, if using) so that it doesn’t dilute the drink as you’re making it. Plus, it’s easier to combine ingredients without ice in the cup. Pebble ice is key — its porous texture helps cool the drink down quickly and absorbs the drink’s flavors, and it has a pleasant texture for chewing after your drink is finished.
  
  
• Finish Your Dirty Soda With Creamer: Dairy creamers like half-and-half or heavy cream, flavored creamers, and non-dairy creamers like coconut can be used in dirty sodas. Dunn cautions against adding too much creamer as it can drown out the other flavors in the drink.
  
  
• Choose the Best Straw: If you add diced fruit to your dirty soda, note that you’ll need a wider straw so that you can easily slurp up the fruit pieces.

Can You Make a Healthier Dirty Soda?

Dirty sodas typically include a mix of soda, syrup, and dairy- or dairy-free creamer, creating a beverage that’s high in sugar and fat, says Dana Angelo White, M.S., R.D., A.T.C, cookbook author, and nutrition expert at Food Network. "Some [dirty sodas] will also have caffeine but not as much as a coffee drink. The new Dirty Dr Pepper at McDonald’s is a prime example; a medium sized drink contains 300 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 65 grams of added sugar (that’s more than 16 teaspoons!),” she says.

While there’s no denying that dirty soda has become a trendy treat, White cautions against drinking dirty sodas regularly. "If you do enjoy a calorie and sugar-laden dirty soda I would suggest modest portions and consuming along with a high protein meal or snack — this will help slow the blood sugar spike and provide some food with nutrients along with the fun beverage," White says. She also advises that people with diabetes or individuals trying to reduce their caloric intake should be extra cautious to avoid the extra calories and sugar that dirty sodas contain.

It’s possible to make modifications to your dirty soda order to help keep sugary calories in check. "Using diet or zero calorie bases and syrups would certainly help keep the sugary calories lower. You can skip the syrup all together and replace with a small amount of a monk fruit or stevia extract — a little goes a long way," White says. "As for the creamers — there are some healthier options out there to choose from. I have also seen an increase in using functional beverages like prebiotic sodas in dirty soda recipes. Bloom Pop even hosted a dirty soda event during Coachella!" Even if you opt to use a better-for-you soda for the base, White still suggests having it along with a well-rounded meal.

Dirty Soda Recipes

There are a seemingly endless array of dirty soda recipes. Bookmark our festive Holiday Dirty Soda (pictured above), in which a cola base mingles with homemade vanilla-mint syrup, chocolate sauce, creamer, and a crushed candy cane garnish. For more dirty soda inspiration, check out these popular flavor combinations:

• Dirty Dr Pepper: Dr Pepper with coconut syrup, lime juice, and creamer
• Dreamsicle: Orange soda with vanilla syrup and creamer
• Raspberry Dream: Sprite with raspberry syrup, vanilla syrup, and creamer
• Swig’s Beach Babe®: Mountain Dew with raspberry syrup, peach syrup, and vanilla cream
• Swig’s Texas Tab: Dr Pepper with vanilla syrup and coconut cream

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