The Prebiotic Dirty Soda Trend: What It Is and How to Make It at Home

The dirty soda trend has exploded thanks to “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” and home mixologists are now swapping sugary sodas for prebiotic versions. Here’s what you need to know about the drink and how to make it at home.

What is a dirty soda?

A dirty soda is a sweetened soft drink mixed with cream, flavored syrups and other add-ins like coconut cream or half-and-half. The base is typically a soda — cola, lemon-lime, root beer or fruit-flavored — customized with creamers and syrups for a layered, dessert-style beverage.

“There’s nothing inherently wrong with dirty soda — it’s just a sweet drink with added sweeteners and creamers,” dietitian Christine Byrne, owner of Ruby Oak Nutrition, told CBS News. “The amount of sugar you’d get from one really depends on whether you’re using diet or regular soda, and sugar-free or regular syrup or creamer.”

When did dirty sodas start trending?

Dirty sodas hit a new peak in September in 2024 after being featured in the Hulu unscripted series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, according to Food & Wine. The drink has long been tied to the Latter-day Saints community in Utah, where soda shops serve as a social hub.

In episode five, cast member Jessi Ngatikaura explained the cultural footprint: “Utah is like land of the Mormon bar, which are all the soda shops that we have. There’s one on every corner.”

Yelp’s trend expert Tara Lewis told CBS News the appeal is the customization. “What makes this trend so exciting is its endless customizability,” Lewis said. “Recently, we’re even seeing new recipes that swap cream for protein shakes. As we head into Sober October, we also see this trend evolving into a fun mocktail and expect to continue to see this growth as more people search for non-alcoholic alternatives past Dry January.”

Why use prebiotic soda instead of regular soda?

Swapping in a prebiotic soda lets you enjoy the dirty soda trend with less added sugar than a traditional cola or fruit soda base. The flavor profile stays familiar — cola, root beer, orange, lime, raspberry — but the base does the heavy lifting on the sweetness side, so you can control how much syrup and creamer you actually need.

The result is a drink that hits the same nostalgic notes without leaning entirely on a sugary soft drink. Byrne noted that the sugar content of any dirty soda comes down to which soda, syrup and creamer you choose.

What are the best classic and nostalgic dirty soda recipes?

The most popular dirty sodas mimic familiar flavors from childhood — orange creamsicles, cherry vanilla cola and root beer floats. Each uses a soda base, a flavor syrup and a creamy element to build the layered taste.

Classic nostalgic combinations to try:

• Orange Creamsicle: orange prebiotic soda, vanilla cream and half-and-half
• Cherry Vanilla Coke-style: cola prebiotic, cherry syrup and cream
• Root Beer Float remix: root beer prebiotic soda with coconut cream or vanilla creamer
• Strawberry Cream Soda: strawberry prebiotic soda + strawberry syrup, vanilla and cream

What are the best vacation-inspired dirty soda recipes?

For a tropical spin, lean into pineapple, mango, coconut and lime. These combinations turn the dirty soda format into a non-alcoholic mocktail that fits the Sober October and Dry January moments Yelp’s Lewis flagged as growth windows for the trend.

Vacation-style recipes to mix at home:

• Piña Colada Dirty Soda: pineapple prebiotic soda, coconut cream and lime
• Mango Creamsicle: mango prebiotic soda, vanilla and cream
• Coconut Lime Cooler: lime prebiotic soda and coconut cream

What are the best dessert-inspired dirty soda recipes?

Dessert-inspired dirty sodas borrow from pies, cheesecakes and classic ice cream parlor flavors. A graham cracker rim, a splash of lemon or a swirl of vanilla creamer can take the drink from a quick refresher to a full sweet-treat substitute.

Dessert-style recipes to try:

• Key Lime Pie: lime prebiotic soda, coconut cream and a graham cracker rim
• Peaches & Cream: peach prebiotic soda, vanilla and cream
• Raspberry Cheesecake: raspberry prebiotic soda + raspberry syrup, vanilla cream and a splash of lemon
• Banana Cream: vanilla prebiotic soda + banana syrup, vanilla and cream

This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.