Copycat Dunkin Coolatta Recipe – Easy Homemade Frozen Coffee Drink

Dunkin’ Coolatta® Copycat Recipe (Easy At-Home Version)

If you’re craving that icy, fruity, slushy drink from Dunkin’ but don’t want to leave the house, this homemade Dunkin’ Coolatta® copycat recipe is for you. It’s cold, creamy, and sweet with that classic frozen texture that feels like a cross between a slushie and a milkshake. The best part? You can make it in just a few minutes with simple ingredients you probably already have.

What Is a Dunkin’ Coolatta® and Why Do We Love It?

Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) is known for coffee, donuts, and a huge variety of drinks. One of their most iconic treats has been the Coolatta® line—bright, colorful frozen drinks that taste like summer in a cup. A Coolatta® is:

Ice-cold and blended smooth
Sweet, fruity, and refreshing
Perfect for hot afternoons or as a fun dessert drink

Think of it like this: If a slushie and a milkshake had a baby and then it went to a beach party, you’d get something close to a Coolatta®. For this post, we’ll focus on a copycat frozen vanilla “base” Coolatta® with a fruity twist (strawberry), because it’s easy to customize. You can swap the flavor and make your own versions at home any time. Important note: Coolatta® is a registered trademark of Dunkin’. This recipe is a homemade copycat inspired by the flavor and texture of the drink. It is not the original recipe and is not endorsed by or affiliated with Dunkin’.

Homemade Dunkin’ Coolatta® Copycat – Overview


This homemade Dunkin’ Coolatta® copycat is icy, creamy, and sweet—an easy frozen drink you can make at home in minutes

This recipe makes about 2 servings of a thick, icy, blended drink. You’ll blend:

Ice
Milk (or non-dairy)
Vanilla and sugar
Flavoring (we’ll use strawberry)

The result is a frosty, smooth, and creamy frozen drink that you can sip with a big straw or enjoy with a spoon.

Ingredients for Strawberry Vanilla Coolatta® Copycat

Yield: About 2 servings (16 ounces each)

Total Time: ~10 minutes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes (just blending)

Ingredients:

2 cups ice cubes (about 10–12 regular ice cubes)
1 cup cold milk (whole milk gives the creamiest texture; 2% also works)
1/2 cup cold water
1/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup strawberry syrup or strawberry drink mix (like a liquid drink concentrate)
Optional: 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream for extra richness
Optional garnish: whipped cream and a drizzle of strawberry syrup on top

Equipment:

Blender (standard blender works; high-speed just makes it smoother)
Measuring cups and spoons
2 large glasses

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Chill Your Liquids

Cold ingredients help your drink stay nice and icy.

Make sure your milk, water, and any cream are cold from the fridge.
If you have time, chill your glasses in the freezer for 5–10 minutes.

Step 2: Add Liquids and Flavor to the Blender

Pour into the blender:

1 cup cold milk
1/2 cup cold water
1/3 cup strawberry syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Optional: 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream

Blend on low for about 10–15 seconds just to dissolve the sugar and mix the flavors.

Step 3: Add the Ice

Add:

2 cups ice cubes

Blend on high until the drink is:

Thick
Frosty
Smooth, with very tiny ice crystals

This usually takes 30–60 seconds. If your blender has a “crush ice” or “frozen drink” setting, use that.

Step 4: Adjust the Texture

Too thick?

Add 1–2 tablespoons of cold water or milk at a time and blend again.

Too thin?

Add a few more ice cubes and blend until thicker.

You’re aiming for a texture that you can sip through a straw but still feels almost like soft-serve.

Step 5: Taste and Tweak the Sweetness

Take a small taste:

If it’s not sweet enough, add 1–2 teaspoons of sugar, blend, and taste again.
If you want a stronger strawberry flavor, add a tablespoon more syrup and blend again.

Step 6: Serve Right Away

Pour into chilled glasses. If you’d like, top with:

Whipped cream
A drizzle of strawberry syrup

Enjoy immediately while it’s icy and thick.

Food Safety Notes

While this is a no-cook drink, a few food safety tips still matter:

Use pasteurized milk and cream. Most store-bought milk in the USA already is.
Keep dairy cold. Don’t leave milk or cream out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it’s over 90°F).
Wash your blender parts well after use with hot, soapy water, especially around the blades.
Use clean ice. Old ice from a freezer that smells off will make your drink taste off, too.

Since there’s no cooking involved, there’s no internal temperature to reach, but keeping everything cold and clean is key.

Approximate Nutrition Info (Per Serving)

These numbers are estimates and will vary based on the brands you use and any swaps you make. For 2 servings, using whole milk and no heavy cream:

Calories: ~220 per serving
Carbohydrates: ~35g
Sugar: ~32g
Fat: ~5g
Protein: ~5g

If you add heavy cream or extra syrup, the calories and fat/sugar will increase.

Flavor Variations: Make Your Own Coolatta® Flavors

Once you’ve got the base method down, you can switch things up easily. Here are some ideas:

Blue Raspberry Copycat: Use blue raspberry drink mix or syrup instead of strawberry. Keep the vanilla for a creamy note.
Mango: Use mango nectar or mango syrup in place of the strawberry syrup.
Lemonade: Swap the milk for lemonade and water. Use 1 1/2 cups lemonade and skip the vanilla.
Creamsicle-Style: Use orange juice concentrate + milk + vanilla for a frosty orange-vanilla drink.

Think of this recipe as your frozen drink template—once you understand the ice-to-liquid ratio, you can customize it however you like.

Even Simpler: “Pantry-Only” Coolatta® Shortcut

Don’t have strawberry syrup or fresh fruit? Here’s a super easy version using common pantry items. Ingredients (2 servings):

2 cups ice
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 packet flavored drink mix (like lemonade, berry, or fruit punch)
1/4 cup sugar (or to taste)
1/4 cup dry coffee creamer or half-and-half (for creaminess)

Instructions:

Add water, drink mix, sugar, and creamer to the blender. Blend 10–15 seconds.
Add ice and blend until thick and slushy.
Taste, adjust sweetness, and serve.

Is it exactly like Dunkin’? No. But it does give you a creamy, fruity, frozen drink in a pinch using things you probably have around.

Allergy-Friendly & Special Diet Swaps

Everyone should be able to enjoy a fun frozen drink. Here are some easy changes you can make:

Dairy-Free / Vegan

Use almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or your favorite non-dairy milk instead of cow’s milk.
Skip the heavy cream, or use a splash of coconut cream for richness.
Check the strawberry syrup or drink mix to make sure it’s vegan (most are, but some may contain traces of milk or other additives).
Use dairy-free whipped topping if you want whipped cream on top.

Gluten-Free

Most of the basic ingredients here are naturally gluten-free:

Milk
Sugar
Ice
Vanilla extract

Just check labels on:

Flavored syrups or drink mixes
Whipped toppings

to be sure they are certified gluten-free if you are highly sensitive.

Lower Sugar

Replace sugar with a zero-calorie sweetener like stevia or monk fruit, following the package conversion.
Use a diet or sugar-free flavored syrup or drink mix.
Be aware that the texture can be slightly different when using non-sugar sweeteners, but it will still taste good and be icy.

Paleo-Friendly Style

This won’t be a perfect paleo drink, but you can get closer:

Use coconut milk instead of dairy milk.
Sweeten with honey or maple syrup instead of white sugar.
Use real fruit (like frozen strawberries or mango) instead of commercial syrups or mixes.

Can I Make This Without a High-Powered Blender?

Yes. A regular blender will work; you may just need a tiny bit more patience.

Use smaller ice cubes if possible. If your freezer makes large cubes, you can place them in a zip-top bag and gently tap them with a rolling pin to break them down a bit before blending.
Blend in short bursts. Pulse several times, then blend on high.
If the blender gets stuck, stop, stir, and add a tablespoon of water or milk before blending again.

No blender at all? You can:

Use finely crushed ice (from a machine or store) and stir it into your flavored, sweetened milk mixture for a more “granita-style” drink. It won’t be as smooth, but it will still be cold, sweet, and refreshing.

Serving Ideas and Fun Add-Ons

Want to make your homemade Coolatta® feel even more like a special coffee shop treat? Try:

Rim the glass with sugar: Rub a little syrup around the rim, then dip into sugar.
Add boba pearls at the bottom for a bubble-tea-style twist.
Stir in rainbow sprinkles on top of the whipped cream.
Freeze leftovers in popsicle molds for quick frozen treats.

Let’s Chat! Tell Me Your Favorite Flavor

Do you have a favorite Dunkin’ Coolatta® flavor? Blue raspberry, strawberry, something else? Try this recipe, put your own spin on it, and then:

Leave a comment sharing which flavor combo you used.
Tell us if you made it dairy-free, lower sugar, or with real fruit.
Share the recipe with friends or family who love frozen drinks and coffee shop copycats.

Your tweaks and tips help other home cooks, and we love seeing what you come up with in your own kitchens.

Save a Pinterest pin with a link to this recipe.

Copycat & Affiliate Disclaimers

This recipe is an unofficial copycat created for home cooks who enjoy making restaurant-style treats at home. Coolatta® is a registered trademark of Dunkin’. This recipe is not the original recipe, and we do not claim any partnership, endorsement, or approval from Dunkin’. It is simply our best guess based on taste, texture, and common ingredients.

Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary based on brands and substitutions. Always check product labels for allergens and dietary needs.

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