Guide
Copycat dirty soda recipes: make the chain drinks at home
Home versions of the dirty and crafted sodas from KFC, Arby's, Dunkin', McDonald's, Burger King, Sonic and Taco Bell, with exact 16 oz amounts and about $1.40 a drink.
How to use this
Find the drink you had, then tap our home take below for exact amounts, sugar-free swaps and a shareable card. Ingredients come from each chain's own announcement or press coverage; amounts are ours.
The universal copycat formula
16 oz cup of pebble or crushed ice. 12 oz soda in the same style (cola, spiced cherry cola, lemon-lime, orange, citrus). 1 oz syrup matching the named flavor. Then either 0.5-1 oz half & half stirred in, or 3 tbsp cold foam on top.
| Chain drink (as published) | Our home take | Source |
|---|---|---|
| KFC: Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning Peaches & Cream (optional vanilla cream swirl) | Peaches & Cream Citrus | global.kfc.com |
| Arby's: Shirley 'n Cream (Shirley Temple + sweet cream cold foam + dark cherry) | Shirley & Cream Classic | brandeating.com |
| Dunkin': Dirty Soda (Pepsi + coffee milk + sweet cold foam) | Coffee Cream Cola | news.dunkindonuts.com |
| McDonald's: Dirty Dr Pepper (crafted soda) | Dirty Dr Pepper with Vanilla Cold Foam | corporate.mcdonalds.com |
| McDonald's: Orange Dream (crafted soda) | Orange Dream | corporate.mcdonalds.com |
| McDonald's: Sprite Berry Blast (crafted soda) | Berry Blast Lemon-Lime | corporate.mcdonalds.com |
| Burger King: Frozen Fanta Strawberries & Cream with vanilla cold foam | Strawberry Orange Sunset | brandeating.com |
| Sonic: "Make It Dirty" add-on (coconut, cream, lime) | Dirty Dr Pepper | nrn.com |
| Saucy by KFC: Pepsi Zero Sugar Salted Caramel Fizz (caramel cold foam) | Salted Caramel Cola with Foam | qsrmagazine.com |
Why it's cheaper
Reported 2026 chain prices run $2.99 to $3.89 for a medium McDonald's crafted soda and about $4.59 for a large Arby's Shirley 'n Cream. The same build at home is about $1.40. See our price guide for the sourced numbers.
Recipes to try
- Peaches & Cream CitrusCitrus soda · Peach · Vanilla cold foam
- Cherry Lemon-Lime CreamLemon-lime · Cherry · Half & half
- Vanilla Cream Cola FloatCola · Vanilla · Half & half
- Dirty Cherry Cola with Vanilla Cold FoamSpiced cherry cola · Vanilla · Vanilla cold foam
- Orange DreamOrange soda · Vanilla · Vanilla cold foam
- Berry Blast Lemon-LimeLemon-lime · Raspberry · Popping boba
- Strawberry Orange SunsetOrange soda · Strawberry · Freeze-dried fruit
- Salted Caramel Cola FizzCola · Salted caramel · Vanilla cold foam
FAQ
Are these the official chain recipes?
No. They are our own home versions built from each chain's published ingredients. We're not affiliated with any restaurant or soda brand.
What's the easiest copycat to start with?
Dirty Dr Pepper: spiced cherry cola, 1 oz coconut syrup, a splash of half & half and lime. Most people have the soda already.
Sources
More guides
Independent site; not affiliated with any restaurant or soda brand. Brand names are used only to report news and describe ingredients. Spot an error or a new launch? Tell us.