10 Best Dr. Pepper Cocktails and Drink Ideas

Perfect for parties, get-togethers, or a relaxing night at home, these easy Dr. Pepper cocktails are much more complex than a simple rum and coke.

Subtly sweet with lovely notes of cherry and licorice, these unique mixed drinks are ideal for any occasion.

If you’re not a fan of overly boozy, fruity, or super sweet cocktails, I think you’ll really enjoy these Dr. Pepper cocktail recipes.

Because even though they’re a touch fruity and a little sweet (and can be sweetened), they’re also bold, spiced, and intensely flavorful.

So, if you’re looking for a fun, new way to enjoy drinks with friends, check out these delicious Dr. Pepper cocktails!

10 Easy Dr. Pepper Drink Recipes We Can’t Get Enough Of

1. Cake Doctor – Dr. Pepper Cocktail

I baked with soda all the time. But cake and cocktails?

Don’t knock it til you try it!

This tasty drink includes three simple ingredients: Dr. Pepper, cake vodka, and grenadine. (The grenadine is optional, so you could get by with two.)

It really is like having a slice of birthday cake and a big glass of Dr. Pepper on the side.

Fortunately, it isn’t too sweet. Like Baby Bear’s bed for Goldilocks, it’s just right.

2. Vodka and Dr. Pepper

Zesty, refreshing, and perfect for summer, you’ll love this crisp, biting drink. It’s just what you need from a cocktail, without all the sugary sweetness.

And all you’ll do is combine Dr. Pepper with vodka and a squeeze of lime.

Be sure you pour them together and maybe give them a little stir. Just don’t shake them! That’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Stick a lime wedge on the edge and a cherry on top. Yum!

3. Dirty Dr. Pepper

Check out this fun, refreshing mocktail the next time you want something unique but booze-free.

The coconut syrup gives the Dr. Pepper a light tropical boost. If you don’t want it too sweet, use sugar-free coconut syrup. 

Garnish it with a lime, and pour it over ice. Unless you tell folks, they’ll never realize your drink is alcohol-free.

And if they try it for themselves, they’ll like it too much to care.

4. Fireball and Dr. Pepper

We’ve had sweet, and we’ve had zesty. Now it’s time for something with a bit of heat!

Fireball whiskey is no slouch in that department. And luckily, the sweetness of the cinnamon keeps it from being overwhelming.

Mix it with Dr. Pepper for a genuinely delightful treat that’s not super strong but perfect for sipping.

Between the cinnamon, whiskey, and caffeine, it’s a terrific fall drink.

5. Southern Doctor

As you can probably guess from the name, this drink combines Dr. Pepper and Southern Comfort.

Hence, the name.

It’s a relatively robust, whiskey-forward drink with a sweet Dr. Pepper twist. I think it’s like Dr. Pepper’s answer to the Crown and Coke. 

It burns a little going down, and definitely tastes like alcohol. Still, if whiskey is your drink of choice, you’ll love it.

Especially if you’re a big Dr. Pepper fan, too. 

6. Super Bowl Slammer & DIY Football Glasses

This Super Bowl Slammer is pretty darned tasty. But those DIY football glasses are too cute for words!

(And yes, I made some of my own.)

This drink, too, is whiskey-forward and alcohol-heavy.

Still, the apple-flavored whiskey pairs better than expected with Dr. Pepper. It’s hard to describe, but it’s like apple cider meets soda. 

This one is an excellent option if you need a simple-to-make fall cocktail.

It requires just the two ingredients and a dash of grenadine. So, you can pull it together in mere moments.

7. Bourbon & Dr. Pepper

I know what you’re thinking: this one probably tastes a lot like the Southern Doctor!

Actually, though, the two drinks have very little in common. 

Maybe if the ingredients stopped at Dr. Pepper and bourbon. However, this recipe also calls for nutmeg and Cola Maison. 

The two additional ingredients give it a spiced, herbal flavor that’s hard not to love. Furthermore, the cherries aren’t just garnishes. 

Instead, you’ll crush and muddle them in the drink. It gives this cocktail a sweet, boozy Cherry Coke flavor. Yum!

8. Cherry Bourbon Smash

Are you looking for something a little brighter and with more zing? Give the cherry bourbon smash a try.

It, too, features cherries, bourbon, and Dr. Pepper. But you’ll also include lemon juice, so it’s deliciously zesty.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s tart. But it’s definitely on the border of tartness.

The sweetness of the cherries pairs nicely with the bourbon’s oakiness, too. All in all, it’s a pretty yummy drink, even if bourbon isn’t usually your thing.

9. Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper Cocktail with Amaretto

Pro Tip: If you want to order this drink at a bar, do it early in the night. Once you get a little tipsy, you’ll have a hard time asking for it. 

Even sober, cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper cocktail with Amaretto is a mouthful.

That said, it does tell the bartender everything they need to know. So maybe write it on a napkin!

This drink is sweet, smooth and barely tastes like it has any booze in it. For a fruitier flavored drink, add some extra maraschino cherry juice. 

10. Caramel Apple Cocktail

The caramel apple cocktail is a fall favorite in my house. The sweet, sticky caramel around the rim probably has something to do with that.

It’s an exquisite drink, and it’s strong, too!

You’ll combine Dr. Pepper, apple whiskey, and caramel vodka. So, of all the drinks on this list, this one is the sweetest.

It tastes like a boozy caramel apple, and that’s A-okay in my book. I also love that you can whip two up in about five minutes. 

Enjoy these while sitting around a campfire or burning leaves in the backyard. Either way, it’ll improve your night.