What’s in a Dunkin’ Donuts Vanilla Bean Coolatta? A Breakdown of the Popular Blended Drink

The Vanilla Bean Coolatta from Dunkin’ Donuts is a sweet creamy frozen blended drink that has been delighting customers for over 20 years. Its rich vanilla flavor comes from a careful balance of dairy flavors, and sweeteners. But what exactly goes into making this signature Coolatta so tasty and refreshing?

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that give this chilled sip its signature blend of creaminess, sweetness and vanilla goodness

The Base – Milk and Ice

The foundation of a Vanilla Bean Coolatta is a combination of milk and ice. The ice chunks give it that fun slushy texture while milk provides creaminess and a neutral backdrop for the vanilla flavors.

Dunkin’ uses a mix of 2% reduced fat milk and skim milk in their Coolattas. The duo contributes protein, calcium, vitamin D, and a creamy texture without too much fat and calories. You can use any type of milk you prefer for a homemade version, including dairy milk, soy, almond, or oat milk.

Ice is also integral for achieving that blended frozen drink consistency. The Coolatta gets its signature slush made from a blend of ice cubes and crushed ice. For a DIY Coolatta, regular ice cubes or even vanilla ice cream can work.

The Flavoring – Vanilla Syrup

No Vanilla Bean Coolatta would be complete without a big hit of vanilla flavor. Dunkin’ adds its concentrated vanilla syrup to every batch to infuse the drink with sweet, aromatic vanilla.

The vanilla syrup contains vanilla extract, corn syrup, natural flavors, and coloring. It likely uses a commercial grade extract with concentrated vanilla bean oleoresins to provide potent vanilla punch. The syrup evenly distributes flavor without needing actual vanilla beans.

Homemade vanilla simple syrup is an easy way to add bold vanilla flavor to DIY Coolattas. Simmer sugar and water with vanilla beans or extract until thickened. Let cool before using in blended drinks.

The Creaminess – Vanilla Soft Serve

Here’s a secret ingredient that takes Dunkin’s Coolatta to the next level – they add a dose of vanilla soft serve ice cream! The ice cream incorporates air for a light, smooth texture and also amplifies the vanilla flavor.

A scoop of quality vanilla ice cream can help recreate the creaminess and richness in homemade Coolatta dupes. Using an ice cream with specks of real vanilla beans also mimics those dark flecks found in Dunkin’s drink.

The Sweetness – Sugars and Sweeteners

With any frozen blended drink, sweeteners are necessary to balance out the icy texture. Dunkin’ adds both white granulated sugar and high fructose corn syrup to their Coolatta. These simple sugars make the drink sweet and palatable.

For a homemade version, sugar, honey, or maple syrup are easy options to sweeten the blend. You can also use sweetened condensed or evaporated milk to incorporate sweetness along with creamy texture. Keep in mind the sweeter the base, the less added sweetener needed later.

The Finishing Touches

Dunkin’ customizes each Vanilla Bean Coolatta with final touches like:

• Whipped Cream – A swirl of fluffy whipped cream tops each Coolatta for a picture-perfect finish. Sweetened whipped cream adds a cooling contrast.

• Drizzle – Caramel or chocolate drizzle adorn the whipped cream for extra flair and sweetness.

• Sprinkles – Colorful sprinkles or powdered sugar add crunchy texture and decorate the Coolatta.

• Straw – A straw allows easy sipping of the thick shake-like beverage. Branded Dunkin’ straws complete the iconic presentation.

So there you have it – a breakdown of everything that goes into crafting this dreamy frozen vanilla drink. Next time you enjoy a Vanilla Bean Coolatta, you can appreciate all the care that Dunkin’ puts into perfecting both the flavor and fun texture of this customer favorite. Understanding the ingredients is the first step to creating that crave-worthy Coolatta experience at home. Give it a try and enjoy ultra-refreshing vanilla deliciousness any time.