Dr Pepper

Although Dr. Pepper was a real person after whom the popular drink was named, he doesn’t get credit for the creation of the sweet, peppery soda. Rather, the cola style drink was developed by a pharmacist in Waco, Texas in 1885.
Dr Pepper contains a unique blend of various flavors, including caramel, cherry, and vanilla. It tastes sweet with a mild kick of pepper, notes of citrus, and a hint of nuts and vanilla. That’s a lot of flavor in one drink.
There are 240 calories and 68 milligrams of caffeine in a standard 20-ounce bottle of Dr Pepper.
Read this guide for a complete overview of the calories, nutrition facts, and ingredients in Dr Pepper.
Dr Pepper Nutritional Information
Calories
A bottle of 20 fluid ounces has 240 calories.
There is zero fat and zero protein in Dr Pepper. Accordingly, 100% of calories is derived from carbohydrates. Moreover, nearly all carbohydrates are added sugars.
Dr Pepper
% calories from fat, carbs and proteinTotal Sugars
There are 66 grams of total carbs in a 20oz drink. Nearly all of the carbohydrates are added sugars (high fructose corn syrup).
High Amount of Added Sugars
Dr Pepper contains high fructose syrup (an added sugar). However, to understand the amount of sugar in one drink, we measured 65 grams of table sugar. It’s approximately 1/3 cup.
For reference, Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10% of total calories. A serving (20 fl oz) of Dr Pepper has 240 calories from added sugars. That is high.
Individual calorie needs vary. Consult your physician for dietary advice. Nutritional information in this guide is based on a 2,000 calorie daily diet, the standard measure used by the FDA for general nutrition guidance.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per 20 fluid ounces
Red indicates %DV is high.
Calories 34944_9183f2-10> |
240 34944_0de33f-be> |
34944_56dd62-2c> | 34944_aebd1a-d8> |
%DV 34944_fb71c6-9e> |
Total Fat 34944_4f4e96-9f> |
0g 34944_979b3d-59> |
0% 34944_59bcca-fb> |
Saturated Fat 34944_1a2bc0-06> |
0g 34944_994c3a-ab> |
0% 34944_f53bf9-30> |
Trans Fat 34944_167b3e-fc> |
0g 34944_b5cf73-5a> | 34944_6c3702-3a> |
Cholesterol 34944_76cc16-7c> |
0mg 34944_26b0db-ec> |
0% 34944_c9089a-cd> |
Sodium 34944_d752f0-1a> |
95mg 34944_37bd98-90> |
4% 34944_8fee19-94> |
Carbohydrates 34944_99bfee-14> |
66g 34944_9d9bf8-7b> |
24% 34944_ea31b0-fb> |
Dietary Fiber 34944_b61ac3-3b> |
0g 34944_1b40c1-05> |
0% 34944_89d3a1-cd> |
Total Sugars 34944_87e40f-86> |
65g 34944_ca4184-ea> | 34944_58cef9-4b> |
Added Sugars 34944_76537f-a6> |
65g 34944_1fd108-8b> |
129% 34944_aedd11-00> |
Protein 34944_517ab4-3e> |
0g 34944_fdd490-89> | 34944_d8d9b0-37> |
%DV based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your %DV may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.
Sodium
In addition to the sugar in this sweet drink, there are 95 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Caffeine
Dr Pepper also contains caffeine. There are 68 milligrams caffeine per 20 ounce bottle.
For comparison, an 8.4 fl. oz. can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine. An average brewed coffee contains 95 milligrams per cup, and a Coca-Cola has 34mg caffeine (per 12 ounces).
Here is a summary of the amount of caffeine in Dr Pepper, based on various serving sizes:
Compare the nutritional value of a Red Bull Energy Drink and review the comparison report for Coke vs Sprite. Learn more about what’s in packaged foods and drinks to make an informed decision about your diet.
Dr Pepper does not provide a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron, or potassium.

Dr Pepper Ingredients and Allergens
Ingredients
The recipe for Dr Pepper is known for containing a unique blend of 23 flavors. The actual recipe, however, is proprietary so the underlying details and specific flavors are hidden away in secret.
That said, with much speculation, the unconfirmed list of natural and/or artificial flavors may include:
Almond, amaretto, blackberry, black licorice, caramel, carrot, clove, cherry, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, plum, prune, pepper, raspberry, root beer, rum, tomato, and vanilla.
Here is the list of disclosed ingredients in Dr Pepper.
Original Dr Pepper Ingredients34944_86be89-83> |
---|
Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate, Caffeine 34944_9ffcb2-3a> |
Studies have shown that acids in bottled drinks contribute to dental erosion. As the pH level in the oral cavity drops, the tooth surface softens and erodes.
Allergens
The FDA recognizes nine foods as major allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
Dr Pepper is not made with any of the items that are considered common allergens.
Review Soft Drinks Nutrition Reports
Nutrition facts, prices, and ingredients are based on available information as of the date of publication. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change recipes or formulations without notice. Check package labels and ask the product manufacturer or restaurant for the most up-to-date information. Unless otherwise stated, %DV is based on a 2,000 calorie diet. All reports and reviews published on this site are for informational purposes only. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide healthcare advice or dietary recommendations. Always consult your licensed physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.
Nutrition facts and ingredients source: Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc.