Strawberry Dirty Soda

This is another dirty soda recipe that has been a go-to sweet treat of mine lately! If you love bubbly soda with a creamy strawberry flavor, then I know that you too will appreciate my strawberry dirty soda recipe!

I have always loved to have some sort of fun drink and so as an adult, I love how I can come up with different drinks to make at home. Another plus to making drinks at home is that it saves you money!

Looking for another dirty soda recipe? Check out my cherry vanilla dirty soda recipe! It’s made with a darker soda, such as Dr. Pepper or Doc Pop (Poppi).

What is a dirty soda?

According to Wiki, a dirty soda is a type of beverage consisting of soda that is spiked with cream and different flavorings. Additionally, it is considered a “mocktail,” or a drink that is alcohol free.

Dirty sodas originated from the state of Utah where they were popularized by members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Members of this church typically can’t have coffee, tea, or alcohol, so they drink soda instead. Just to clarify, I’m not a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, but I still can appreciate a dirty soda! 🙂

For more info about dirty sodas, check out the dirty soda Wikipedia page!

Why I love this recipe

Simple: You only really need three key ingredients for this recipe- soda, strawberry syrup, and half and half. Also, these ingredients are pretty easy to get at grocery stores.

Affordable: It’s no secret that buying drinks can be pricey, and while it’s fun to splurge and go out and buy a drink once in a while, it can be costly. So making this drink yourself, at home, is an affordable option.

Customizable: Another perk about this recipe is that it’s very customizable. Start by choosing your base soda. You could do classic Sprite or 7up or something that doesn’t have as much sugar, such as Poppi’s Lemon Lime flavor. Additionally, you can add more or less half and half and strawberry syrup to taste.

Tasty: Lastly, I might be biased, but I think that this strawberry dirty soda recipe is delicious! And it’s especially great for special occasions and holidays.

What does strawberry dirty soda taste like?

Strawberry dirty soda has the taste of it’s base soda flavor, typically lemon lime, with strawberry cream notes. Add a little vanilla for an extra depth of flavor that gives your dirty soda a little bit of warmth.

Can I make a dirty soda at home?

Of course! In fact, they are some of the easiest drinks to make in my opinion. They are very forgiving too. You can always add more soda, syrup, or cream/half and half to taste.

Ingredient Variations

Instead of Sprite, use 7up Lemon Lime Poppi or Lemon Lime Olipop.

Don’t have strawberry syrup? Try cherry or raspberry syrup instead.

Try vanilla creamer if you don’t have half and half.

Equipment needed

Measuring cups and spoons

A spoon or straw (for stirring)

A glass that’s around 12 ounces

Straw (optional)

Ingredients for strawberry dirty soda

7.5 fl oz can of Sprite (use can use a different low-sugar variation such as Lemon Lime Poppi or Olipop).

1-3 tablespoons of strawberry syrup

1-2 tablespoons of half and half

Ice- can be cubed or crushed (optional)

How to make strawberry dirty soda

First, add desired amount of ice to a glass that’s about 12 oz.

Then add your strawberry syrup.

Next, slowly add the soda and then the half and half into the glass of strawberry syrup.

Finally, gently stir your strawberry dirty soda to combine and enjoy!

How to store

I highly recommend drinking your strawberry dirty soda right away and then making a new one if need be. The reason for this is because the half and half will separate from the soda and the soda will loose its fizz.

You can prep your syrup ahead of time though. If you are making your own strawberry syrup, then you can make it and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Lastly, if you must store your strawberry dirty soda in the fridge, be sure to give it a good stir and add some ice to revive it again!

How to make the strawberry simple syrup

Want to make your own strawberry simple syrup, but aren’t sure how? Well like the name suggests, it is pretty simple!

Start by bringing a cup of cane sugar and a cup of water to a boil.

Once the sugar and the water are boiling, add in about a cup of hulled, sliced strawberries.

Turn the heat down to a simmer and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.

Next, remove the strawberry syrup from the heat and use a potato masher, or some other type of masher, to mash the strawberries into a pulp.

Then, strain the pulp from the syrup with a cheese cloth of fine mesh strainer.

Store the strawberry syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Also, be sure to save the pulp! It tastes really good on ice cream, yogurt, pancakes, and more.

FAQ’s (Common Questions) for Strawberry Dirty Soda

Can I use a 12 fl oz can of soda instead of a 7.5 fl oz can? Yes, just adjust the ratios of strawberry syrup and half and half to taste. I recommend adding at least an additional tablespoon of strawberry syrup and half and half. But again, the biggest thing is to make it to your liking! 🙂

What if the half and half and soda start separating? This commonly happens, so don’t worry! Just give the dirty soda a good, gentle stir.

What if I don’t have half and half? You can use another dairy or non-dairy alternative. Some examples of what you could use are: heavy cream, oat milk creamer, or even coconut cream.

Is this drink kid friendly? Yes, but keep in mind that some sodas have caffeine, so consider using a caffeine-free soda if making it for a kid.

Can I make a big batch? I would, again, just recommend prepping the strawberry syrup first. You could buy your soda in bulk and have a pitcher of it. Then have guests add in desired amounts of half and half and strawberry syrup.

Can I use store-bought strawberry syrup? Of course! You can choose what strawberry syrup you want to add.

Can I make it dairy-free? For sure! Use whatever plant based milk or creamer that you want! Just keep in mind that some plant based milks can separate a bit more in sodas.

Shop this blog article

Lemon Lime Poppi

Lemon Lime Olipop

Strawberry Syrup

Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it turned out in the comments section! 🙂