Soda is for drinking, food is for eating, and never the twain shall meet … right? Turns out, there are plenty of excuses for using soda in your next cooking project. Whether you’ve got a can of Mountain Dew or 7UP waiting to be used in your fridge, we found a handful of recipes to help use up the last drops of your soda. Sprite pie, anyone?
1. Dr Pepper Texas Sheet Cake
Turns out you can literally have your cake and drink it, too. Dr Pepper’s signature spice notes bring a new layer of depth to a classic Texas chocolate sheet cake. Topped off with a rich fudge icing, this is an easy, foolproof way to satisfy chocolate lovers everywhere.
Recipe: Southern Living
Related: 9 Tasty Recipes With Completely Unexpected Secret Ingredients
2. Cola Burgers
Here’s a new twist on burgers and a Coke. In this recipe, Coca-Cola is both mixed into the ground beef and brushed with a mixture of Coke and French salad dressing while the patties are grilled. From there, you can customize your burger however you like — and enjoy it with a Coke, of course.
Recipe: Tastes of Lizzy T
3. Sprite Pie
Do you like Sprite? Do you like pie? Good news: This recipe satisfies both those cravings. Better yet, you don’t even have to make the pie dough from scratch; a frozen pie crust works just as well. This dessert is an updated take on water pie, a Depression-era treat that uses — you guessed it — water. Sprite is doing water’s work here, and we’re not mad about it.
Recipe: Sheri Silver
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4. Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches
These pulled pork sandwiches are ideal for your next backyard barbecue, and only require four ingredients: pork shoulder butt roast, barbecue sauce, a can of root beer (or cola, if you’re so inclined), and Kaiser rolls. The roast is cooked in the soda in a slow cooker before being added to rolls, and you can top with your favorite add-ons like slaw or pickles.
Recipe: Taste of Home
Related: 13 Ways to Use Pulled Pork Leftovers When You’re Sick of BBQ Sandwiches
5. Ginger Ale Carrots
You could caramelize carrots with brown sugar, but ginger ale does the trick, too. This creative recipe uses two ingredients — a bag of carrots and a can of ginger ale — to create a sweet and (relatively) healthy side dish.
Recipe: The Soccer Mom Blog
Related: 24 Healthy Recipes You’ll Never Know Were Made With Frozen Produce
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6. Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings
I can’t remember the last time I drank Mountain Dew, but I would buy a can just to make these luscious apple dumplings. The recipe calls for two cans of crescent rolls, apples, sugar, butter, cinnamon, and a can of Mountain Dew, the last of which gets poured over the whole concoction before it goes in the oven for 45 minutes. This is definitely a new way to Do the Dew.
Recipe: Food.com
Related: 15 Delicious Dumplings from Around the World
7. Coca-Cola Hot Wings
These Korean BBQ-style wings get an unexpected kick with the addition of Coke, which is used in the marinade. The recipe is a little more involved than some of the others on this list, but that shouldn’t dissuade you from trying it — it’s worth all the compliments you’ll be receiving when friends and family take a bite.
Recipe: The Cozy Apron
Related: How To Cook Chicken Wings: Baking, Frying, Grilling, and More
8. 7UP Pound Cake
A classic Southern dessert, 7UP pound cake uses the soda to both help the batter rise and impart a lemon-lime flavor. While this particular recipe features 7UP in the cake and not the glaze, some include it in both — it’s entirely up to you. Moist and decadent, this cake is a bona fide crowd-pleaser.
Recipe: The Seasoned Mom
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9. Cola-Shredded Beef Tacos
There’s an ongoing debate about whether regular Coke or Mexican Coke is superior, but if you’re making tacos, we’d advise going with the latter. This recipe uses Mexican Coke, along with beef, various chilies, and a slew of spices to make hearty tacos that can be customized with your favorite toppings.
Recipe: Sunset
10. Blueberry Cream Soda Pancakes
Forget breakfast for dinner — how about soda for breakfast? Blueberry pancakes get a sweet, fizzy infusion with the addition of cream soda in this creative recipe. Topped with blueberry whipped cream, it’s a fun spin on a classic breakfast dish.
Recipe: A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
11. Coca-Cola Chicken With Cashews
Swap out your go-to stir fry dish with this Coke-infused chicken and cashew medley. Marinated chicken thighs are cooked with a whole can of Coke, which eventually reduces to a thick, syrupy sauce. Serve with some rice and leave takeout for another week.
Recipe: In Simone’s Kitchen
Related: Easy Chinese Food Recipes for an Air Fryer, Instant Pot, or Slow Cooker
