The weird Coca-Cola trend sweeping social media as fans create increasingly outrageous
If you think adding creamer into your Coca-Cola is wacky, just wait until you hear what the kids are doing to their bubbly beverages.
Since Coca-Cola released its freestyle machines in 2009, fans have been getting creative with flavor combos.
Now, soda lovers nationwide are flocking to Coca-Cola Freestyle machines to make their own custom drinks inspired by discontinued flavors, viral recipes and internet-famous creations.
The latest craze centers around a recreation of CherryBaby101 – a cult-favorite flavor originally released as part of Coca-Cola’s limited-edition ‘Internet’s Favorite Mix’ collection for Freestyle machines. It has since been removed from its offerings.
Now, social media users are determined to bring it back.
One video shows a social media user revealing his DIY formula for the long-lost drink: equal parts Cherry Sprite, Vanilla Sprite and Grape Fanta. According to fans, the combination tastes remarkably similar to the original CherryBaby101 flavor.
‘Me when I’m at a Coca-Cola freestyle machine and I don’t know what to get,’ one commenter wrote. Another added, ‘We have one at my job. I’m gonna report back when I’m in the office next week.’
Coca-Cola’s account commented on the post, giving a special shoutout to ‘Internet’s Favorite Mix’ and earning dozens of likes in the process.
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Even AMC Theatres commented on the post, saying, ‘we’re happy to be a part of this experiment, just saying.’
The hack has also sparked a flood of copycat recipes online, with users racing to share their own ‘secret menu’ creations.
‘Love the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine and it’s probably the biggest thing that drives me to Wendy’s, spicy nuggets would be second,’ one Reddit user wrote. ‘Cherry Sprite and Orange Coke are both great, but tried the Peach Sprite with lunch today and I think it’s my favorite soda yet from it.’
The fast food chain has Coke Freestyle machines at most of its locations, even offering exclusive flavors like Dave’s Cherry Cream Soda, with another social media user writing that they mix ‘vanilla Sprite with orange vanilla High-C.’
AMC Theatres, one of the world’s largest movie theater chains, also carries Coke Freestyle machines, sparking director Ryan Coogler to share his love for the soda options.
‘I’m not a big soda person, but when they started to let you mix and match the drinks, I got involved with that,’ he said, quickly going viral for the hilarious response.
‘I usually go with the cherry vanilla Pibb mixed with the red creme Barq’s, one Reddit user said. ‘I’ve also tried some of the limited flavors from time to time. Spiced green apple is by far the worst I’ve tried, but I’m not sure if that was an Icee exclusive or not.’
Among other fan-favorite combos are mixing Mr Pibb with Dr Pepper, cherry Coke with vanilla Coke and orange Hi-C with vanilla Hi-C for a creamsicle-esque flavor.
Coca-Cola often releases limited edition flavors on its Freestyle machines, including Dave’s Cherry Cream Soda at Wendy’s
Singer Dua Lipa shared her own Diet Coke creation, complete with pickle juice and jalapenos
This wouldn’t be the only cooking concoction trend taking over social media.
Earlier this month, the viral ‘Kool-Aid Pineapple’ made waves, as sweet-toothed creatives soaked fresh or canned pineapple in a mixture of Kool-Aid powder, sugar and pineapple juice.
Last year, ‘Fluffy Coke’ became one of TikTok’s most talked-about drinks, involving glasses lined with marshmallow fluff before being filled with the classic Coca-Cola product.
Meanwhile, singer Dua Lipa shared her unconventional Diet Coke recipe featuring pickle juice and jalapenos, a combination that divided fans and even prompted celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay to try it himself.