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Author:
Franco Salzillo
If you’re a regular at your local Dunkin’ Donuts shop, then you know what a coolatta is. A decadently sweet and creamy cold coffee that’s as fun to drink as it is fun to pronounce – say it with me, coolatta!
The coolatta came to be thanks to the competitive coffee market. You might not know this, but the term Frappuccino is a Starbucks trademark, so you won’t find it in other coffee shops. That’s why Dunkin’ Donuts made up its own name, the coolatta. On paper, there’s no significant difference between the two refreshing drinks; they’re both blended coffee, milk and ice.
Coolattas, like any other blended coffee, are incredibly versatile. It’s easy to see how you can put together an Oreo coolatta or a caramel sauce version — you just need to keep on adding fun stuff to it, and you know toppings matter.
Today we’re making a regular coolatta at home, a trustworthy copycat recipe that honors Dunkin’s famous drink. If you’ve tried the ‘classic’ coolatta, you might have noticed this is more than just a creamy frozen treat; it is infused with a je ne sais quoi. Well, the secret ingredients are vanilla and a hazelnut-flavored syrup.
We’re emulating these warm flavors with tasty and nutty hazelnut creamer, (a smart buy) and vanilla sugar, which acts both as a sweetener and an all-natural flavoring agent. If you can’t find vanilla sugar, which is basically sugar infused with vanilla beans, use your go-to sugar and add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
If you want the real deal, you’ll need strong coffee. So, let your percolator do its magic. The stronger and more robust, the better. Keep in mind the coffee loses some of its potency once mixed with milk and blended with ice.
As for the milk, we’re as open-minded as the folks at Dunkin Donuts. Choose your dearest milk or plant-based milk alternative. I’m using regular whole milk, but you get the idea. Almond and oatmeal milk are awesome, too, but will deliver a lighter drink.
Let’s make ourselves a fantastic coolatta coffee and don’t forget to top yours with whipped cream. This one lends itself for a little creativity too, so flavor your coolatta with everything from chocolate to crushed cookies!
Brew your coffee and let it cool.
In a blender that can crush ice, add the ice, coffee, milk, vanilla sugar and hazelnut creamer. Blend until smooth.
Top with whipped cream.
