So I was planning on posting this amaaaaaazing dinner recipe today (seriously…this is the one and only meal in my arsenal than not one person in my family complains about and where every single leftover got eaten), but as I was madly preparing for the 4th and then reeling in the aftermath of it all, I realized that today is Friday and that people are likely not working and tired and are sleeping in and are going to be out of their routines and that a day like today is not a day for meals that take grocery shopping and advance preparation and things like fresh herbs. Today is a day for caffeine.
Now…I know there are people reading this who are going to think I’m a heathen spawn of evil for posting a recipe with Diet Coke. I know there are those of you out there who long to tell me that Diet Coke is poison and that every cell in my body screams with a tiny, hyper voice with every sip I take. To all of you: I hear you. I probably am the heathen spawn of evil and I probably am poisoning myself, but see, I’m a Mormon girl, which means my list of potential vices is depressingly small, and, try as I might, I can’t seem to find more than 5, sometimes 6 hours to sleep every night. So here we are at Diet Coke. Hello, old friend.
I heard about Dirty Diet Coke the other day on a comment on one of my pictures on Instagram (if you haven’t already, go check out Sara’s, too!) and I knew I pretty much needed to try it out immediately. As luck would have it, I had coconut syrup (I ordered mine from Amazon, but World Market carries an amazing selection too), Diet Coke (duh), and limes on hand.
Now…some of the methods I see call for sugar-free coconut syrup. I used full-sugar coconut syrup because a) that is what I had and I didn’t really feel like waiting and b) sugar-free syrup didn’t sound very dirty. It kind of reminded me of when Gwyneth Paltrow said she knew she had hit rock bottom when she found herself eating brown rice straight from the container in the middle of the night and I just thought, “Her dieting rock bottom is way different from my dieting rock bottom.” If I’m going to have a Dirty Diet Coke, it’s gonna be dirrrty. Sugar and everything.
I found a 24-ounce cup to be the perfect size (I totally haven’t been obsessively making these or anything).
I have these heavy-duty clear cups from Sam’s Club (kind of like the ones you get in coffee shops or cool little cafes), but I have many cups and glasses in my cupboards that hold 24 ounces.
Pour 2 tablespoons of coconut syrup into the bottom of a 24-ounce cup or glass.
Fill it about halfway full with crushed ice.
Squeeze the lime quarters over the ice and drop them into the glass so the rind is touching the ice. Pour the Diet Coke over the spent limes.
This is kind of the traditional Dirty Diet Coke. And it’s delicious and amazing and I think about it all the time (not that that’s weird or anything).
But if you’re feeling wild and crazy…if you’ve had a rough day…if you wish you were somewhere tropical…if you just want to, add about 1-2 tablespoons (really, just a splash) of half and half. It’s amazing. It’s such a great treat (and honestly, if you’re going to have a treat, all things considered, this one isn’t too bad, although it’s probably not the best idea to drink ALL your Diet Cokes with sugar and cream…just saying.) Add a straw to stir and serve. This makes 1 serving. Just for you. No one else. Go hide somewhere with a lock on the door and enjoy.
Dirty Diet Coke
Description
This Dirty Diet Coke recipe is a doctored-up concoction with coconut syrup, fresh lime, and a splash of half and half.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut syrup
- crushed ice
- 1/2 lime (cut the lime into quarters and use 2 quarters)
- 12 ounces Diet Coke
- 1–2 tablespoons half and half (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the coconut syrup into the bottom of a 24-ounce glass. Fill it about halfway full with crushed ice.
- Squeeze the lime quarters over the ice and drop them into the glass so the rind is touching the ice. Pour the Diet Coke over the spent limes.
- If desired, add a splash of half and half. Add a straw to stir and serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
Questions & Reviews
Got to Torani’s website…. you will be AMAZED at all of the goodness there. SO many syrups, so little time. Dirty Dr. Pepper is THA BOMB!!!
Yum! I love adding a little torani to my diet sodas! This sounds delicious! I also love any kind of diet lemon lime soda with sugar free black cherry and vanilla! Tastes almost as good as a real shirley temple! 🙂
LOVE it!! Can’t wait to go home and try this!
I’m laughing reading your post because Diet Coke is my vice and I use the exact same rational – the number of vices available to me are so small that waking up after two night time feedings and helping myself to a Diet Coke doesn’t seem all that bad. I might have to try this but I’m a purest when it comes to my Diet Coke.
Where do you find the coconut syrup? I’ve looked in all the stores, and haven’t been able to find it except online.
Cost Plus World Market has all the Torani syrups – sugar and sugar free.
I got mine from Amazon, but yes, you can find it at World Market (we don’t have one where I live) or you can order them from the Torani website. Some kitchen/restaurant supply stores sell them locally, too.
in southern california, smart & final has them too.
If you have a Gordmans near you they sell a variety of Torrani syrups. They’re cheaper than World Market too.
OH thanks for the tip!!!! I have a Gordman’s!!
I’m going to be trying this…but with regular Coke. I know it will make my usual day seems like a tropical escape. My sister sometimes adds a splash of coconut rum to her Dr. Pepper – and has what she calls a “Dr. Palibu”…lol. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Oh, and I’m sure my dieting rock bottom in no way involves brown rice. *wink
Kate I am laughing out loud – you are SO refreshing!! Thanks! 🙂
This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. At the beginning of the year, I gave up Diet Coke because it had become an unhealthy obsession. Now, I do allow myself one per week as a special “mom treat”. This would be a fun way to make it even more special! Thanks for another amazing recipe!!
I haven’t had a soda in 2 months but I am so tempted to try this just for fun. I can stop again any time I want, right? Loved the “hyper little voice” comment. Thanks for making me smile when I am also dragging from a late night 4th of July block party with the neighbors. It’s criminal to have to get up early for work today.
My first word was Pepsi too! 😉 This looks heavenly, though as a devoted Dr. Pepper drinker, I’ll be going that way as well…thanks for the idea!
Cheers!
I have to admit I am more of cherry Pepsi girl. Yet another thing I really enjoy are cherry limeades, like the ones you can get at Taco Bell or sonic. How could I recreate that at home?
Oh yes, please someone help with the Cherry Limeade from Taco Bell. I know the base is Sierra Mist, but which Cherry flavoring do they use? Considering I’m a regular Coke person or unsweetend ice tea drinker I love those and drive out of my way to find one. Love that you are so real and funny Kate.
I don’t know what cherry syrup Taco Bell uses, but try Roses grenadine syrup. That’s what most places use to make Shirley Temples, so I wonder if it would work for cherry limeades.
I stopped drinking soda for a few weeks and now I keep seeing this dirty diet coke recipe and want to try it! What else do you use Coconut syrup for?
You can use it for snow cones, Italian sodas, use it to flavor syrups, etc.
Add a spot of coconut syrup to your hot cocoa this winter….
One of my all time favorite drinks has been a Dr. Pepper with Blue Coconut syrup from Sonic. Will have to try an “at home” version for sure.
I am loving the idea of adding half and half— hehehe!
I recently heard of dirty diet cokes and had no idea what that was. Thank you for clarifying. I WILL be trying this.
2 things: First, I think I need a trip to St. George. Second, you crack me up!! I’m going to the store today to buy ingredients for a dirty diet coke. I actually stopped drinking it a couple months ago (which is ca-razy because I’ve been an addict for my whole life – my mom put Tab in my baby bottles sometimes! lol) but I’m going to try this with the caffeine-free version. 🙂
Haaaaa! Yeah, me, too. One of my first words was Pepsi–I was at my mom’s friend’s house and her friend opened up a Diet Pepsi and I came crawling into the room saying, “Pepsi Pepsi Pepsi.” I had no shot at a normal life.
Holy Hannah. This sounds insanely delicious!
Love this post!! Of course I need to try the drink, but I really need those 24oz glasses!!
My neighbor got me hooked on these at Warrens! Yum! But I am not a coke drinker so I do mine with Dr. Pepper, and I think it is equally delicious. Have never heard of the half and half. I am going to have to try it that way as well! Your looks divine! Like it is 9:30 am and I think I need one.
I’m REALLY going to have to try this with Dr. Pepper. Like…today.
I have been doing the same thing with Dr. Pepper and it is DELICIOUS!!!!
I love your recipes and I will NEVER judge your obsession with Diet Coke. I myself prefer Diet Coke Vanilla and I don’t know how you can hack the regular.
Do they still make it?! I haven’t seen it in the stores in forever!!
They sell Vanilla Coke Zero!!! And if you ask me, Coke Zero is WAY better than Diet Coke 🙂 No calories and more flavor!
I think that Dirty Diet Coke and Dirty Dr. Pepper were made famous in a little drive-through joint in St. George, Utah called Swig (as in, can I have a swig of your drink?). Swig is famous not only for its dirty drinks–but also for a particular kind of cookie called a Swig Sugar Cookie.
How funny! It’s good to know where it came from. If I’m ever in St. George, I’ll have to go there!
Okay, I have to let you know, in case no one else in Ephraim, Utah reads this… that they have a little drink shack here too.. called “Sip-it”, i’m not a big pop drinker, so I’m not a regular there, but I hear the favorite drink there is dirty Dr. Pepper.. Now that you have posted this recipe i’m totally curious about all things related to “dirty soda’s” so i’m going to have to give this, or some variation of this a try, you’ve sparked my interest with this one 🙂
You’re right about that. I just saw Swig profiled on television and apparently the Dirty Dr Pepper is the best seller. Have to investigate!
Your sense of humor cracks me up! This dirty Diet Coke sounds delish. And I’m with you 100% – Gwyneth’s dieting rock bottom is waaay different than mine!
Years later…I’m reading this and wondering “what is that amazing dinner recipe you were going to post??” ????
I literally don’t even know anymore. ????
You had me at diet coke. 🙂 In fact, I’m drinking one over crushed ice right now. Too bad I don’t have any syrup or limes at work!
You’re right, I do believe Diet Coke is Satan’s Spawn 🙂 But seriously, if you’re gonna drink something as bad as that, why not go all the way with a regular Coke? ‘Cause I mean, this ‘diet nonsense’ ain’t helpin’ anyone in the weight department,am I right?
I do like regular Coke, but it’s almost always too sweet for me, so if I added coconut syrup, it would be way over the top (for me). 🙂
I’m with you there, Kate.
I drink diet coke for the taste, baby. I like the aspartame taste way better than the sugar taste of regular coke.
Me too! So yummy!
Heck yea!
I am a strictly regular Coke kind of girl. (Can’t STAND the taste of artificial sweeteners.) Would love to hear from anybody who’s tried this with reg sodas?
It’s good with regular Dr. Pepper.
Maybe if you’re using regular Coke you could add the sugar free syrup so it doesn’t add more sugar to it. I have given up drinking any kind of soda all together because I didn’t like the way it made me feel. (I was a Diet Coke-aholic for years) I will say though that this makes me want to run to the store and give this a try!
You are right about the diet part. I had a friend who lost 80 pounds just giving up her “diet” coke habit. She also started walking everyday. She changed her life in a BIG way.
That’s amazing! From the research Ive done it is the carbonation. It bonds to fat and becomes a compound your body can’t get rid of. Course I’ve heard it’s the aspartame. I guess it depends on who you talk to. Ü
I use the sugar free coconut syrup and it is still delicious and I drink one about every day!
I’m not even a huge fan of diet coke (gasp…shocking, I know :)), but even I want to try this!
Does the sugar in the syrup make the diet coke taste more bitter? I’m gonna need one of these today. My kids don’t understand the concept of sleeping in after staying out super late watching fireworks.
Not at ALL. If anything, the sugar in the syrup kind of takes the bitter edge/aftertaste off of the Diet Coke.
I’d never heard of Dirty Diet Coke or Dirty Dr Pepper until a few weeks ago when my friends introduced me to it. Now I’m seeing it on several of my favorite blogs. It’s karma. Never heard of using half-and-half in it though. That’s a stroke of brilliance that is bound to be delicious.
Oh yum!! I’ve heard my friends talk about these Dirty Diet Cokes – I’m gonna have to see what the fuss is all about!
This sounds so tasty! Coconut and lime are one of the best combinations ever. Sweet, tart, and tropical. I think a common Mormon vice is sugar. We can never seem to get enough of it. 😉
That’s because SUGAR is as addictive as CRACK – it’s from the devil, sent here to destroy us all. I joke but …………just sayin’