Dr. Pepper Recipe

Make simple syrup base

In a small saucepan, combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, light corn syrup and 1/4 cup of water. Warm over medium-low heat just until the sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let cool about 5 minutes.

Stir in salt into the warm syrup until dissolved. This helps balance sweetness and enhance flavors.

Combine flavorings

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine vanilla extract, almond extract, black cherry concentrate, cola or caramel flavoring, the optional wintergreen or mint extract (if using — use sparingly), liquid coffee concentrate (or dissolved instant espresso), lemon and lime juices, orange blossom water (or orange extract), ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon. Whisk gently until uniform.

Add the combined flavor mix to the cooled simple syrup and stir well to make a concentrated flavor syrup. Taste a small amount on the tip of a spoon and adjust: add a little more cherry for fruitiness, a touch more vanilla for roundness, or a drop more coffee for depth. Keep any adjustments small — these flavors are potent.

Dilute and carbonate

Place ice in a tall glass (about 1 cup). Pour carbonated water over the ice. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the prepared flavor syrup to the glass (start with 2 tablespoons). Stir gently and taste. Increase to 3 tablespoons if you want it sweeter/stronger. The recipe scale here yields enough syrup for multiple servings; store leftover syrup refrigerated in a sealed jar up to 2 weeks.

Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a lemon wheel or lime wedge if desired. Serve immediately cold.