Cool, fruity and super refreshing, this homemade Red Berry Cooler is an easy copycat version of the popular Costa drink. It combines frozen red berries with a red fruit juice, then blends everything until thick, icy and slushy. So easy to make - it's going to be a summer staple.
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This recipe is part of our "You Can Make That at Home" series, where we recreate favourite café and takeaway treats using simple supermarket ingredients and this is a Costa copycat recipe.
It is particularly good on warm days, but because it uses frozen fruit, you can make it at any time of year.
Best of all, you only need a few ingredients and a blender to make it. There is no need for syrups, specialist equipment or a trip to the coffee shop.
This is a homemade recipe inspired by the flavour and texture of Costa's red berry cooler rather than the company's official formula.
The exact flavour will depend on the berries and juice you use, but the combination of frozen red fruit and a sweet summer-fruits-style drink creates a very similar refreshing, slushy result. A bonus is that kids will LOVE it too.
Looking for more cool and refreshing drinks this summer? Why not try our other Costa inspired drink - Mango and Passionfruit Cooler, our Starbucks Iced Latte with Protein Cold Foam or our high protein Cottage Cheese Smoothie?
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Why You Will Love It
- Ready in under five minutes.
- Made with easy-to-find ingredients.
- Naturally thick and icy.
- Much more affordable than buying individual café drinks
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Frozen berries - Good frozen fruit combinations include strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants and cherries. Most supermarket bags labelled summer fruits, red berries or berry mix will work well.
- Juice - You want it to be a red juice. Something like summer berries will work well. You could use a cranberry blend or even an apple and blackcurrant. Pomegranate and cherry work well too. Try to choose a juice you already enjoy drinking, as its flavour will be noticeable in the finished cooler.
Red Berry Cooler Variations
Strawberry and raspberry - Use equal amounts of frozen strawberries and raspberries. This version is sweet, fragrant and close to the classic red berry flavour.
No added sugar - Choose an unsweetened juice or dilute a no-added-sugar summer fruits squash according to the bottle instructions. Use ripe strawberries if you want natural sweetness.
Sparkling red berry cooler - Make the cooler with slightly less juice so that it is very thick. Divide it between glasses, then top each serving with a splash of sparkling water or lemonade. Do not put fizzy drinks directly into a sealed blender, as pressure can build up.
Creamy - For something closer to a smoothie, replace some of the juice with coconut milk, oat milk or yogurt. This will no longer taste exactly like the café-style cooler, but it makes a delicious creamy berry drink.
How To Make Red Berry Cooler
Step 1
Put the berries and juice into a blender.
Step 2
Blend until smooth.
Serving Ideas
Serve your red berry cooler:
- In a tall chilled glass
- With fresh berries on top
- With a slice of lime or lemon
- At summer parties and barbecues
- In smaller glasses as a refreshing children's drink
- Frozen into ice lollies
Red Berry Cooler Leftovers and Storage
This red berry cooler is at its best immediately after blending, when it is thick, icy and freshly mixed
Fridge - You can keep leftover cooler in a covered container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
The fruit and juice may separate, and the mixture will lose its slushy texture as it melts. Stir it thoroughly or blend it again with a handful of frozen berries before serving.
Freezer - Pour leftovers into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to one month.
The mixture will freeze solid rather than staying slushy. Leave it at room temperature for 10 to 20 minutes, break it into chunks and blend it again with a splash of juice.
Freeze in portions - For easier blending, freeze leftover cooler in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a labelled freezer bag.
Blend the cubes with a little juice whenever you want another cooler.
Red berry cooler make ahead packs - Measure individual portions of frozen berries into reusable bags or containers. When you are ready to make a drink, empty one portion into the blender and add the juice.
This makes the recipe almost as quick as pouring a ready-made drink.
Dannii's Top Tips
- The nutritional information is based on a store-bought berry juice drink. The values will change depending on the juice you use.
- There is no need to defrost the berries. Frozen fruit creates the icy, slushy texture without diluting the flavour with lots of ice.
- Putting liquid at the bottom of the blender helps prevent the frozen fruit from becoming stuck around the blades.
- It is easier to thin a drink than to thicken it. Begin with most of the juice, then add the rest gradually until the cooler reaches your preferred consistency.
- Cold juice helps the drink stay thick and frosty for longer. Room-temperature juice can cause the frozen berries to melt more quickly.
- Raspberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants can be tart. If your cooler tastes too sharp, add a little sugar, honey, maple syrup or apple juice.
- A small amount of lemon or lime makes the berry flavour taste brighter, but too much can overpower the drink. Start with one teaspoon and add more only after tasting.
- Raspberries and blackberries contain noticeable seeds. For an extra-smooth finish, push the blended cooler through a fine-mesh sieve before serving. Bear in mind that straining will make the drink slightly thinner and remove some of the fruit fibre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but fresh berries will not produce the same thick, slushy consistency on their own.
To use fresh fruit, freeze it first in a single layer until solid. Alternatively, blend fresh berries with a generous handful of ice, although the finished drink may taste slightly more diluted.
A standard blender can still work, but you may need to make a few adjustments:
- Let the frozen berries soften for five to ten minutes.
- Add the juice to the blender before the fruit.
- Blend in small batches.
- Pulse repeatedly before switching to a continuous blend.
- Add an extra splash of juice if the blades stop moving.
- A food processor can also be used, although the drink may need more liquid and could have a slightly less even texture.
- A stick blender is not ideal for large frozen berries, but it may work if the fruit is partially thawed and placed in a tall, sturdy jug.
Yes, provided your blender is large enough. Avoid filling it above the manufacturer's maximum level, particularly when blending thick frozen mixtures.
For the smoothest result, it may be easier to make two separate batches.
More Berry Recipes
If you've tried this Costa Red Berry Cooler, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Red Berry Cooler (Costa Copycat)
Ingredients
- 350 g (2.25 cups) of Frozen berries
- 350 ml (1.5 cups) of Mixed berry juice
Instructions
- Put 350 g of Frozen berries and 350 ml of Mixed berry juice into a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- The nutritional information is based on a store-bought berry juice drink. The values will change depending on the juice you use.
- There is no need to defrost the berries. Frozen fruit creates the icy, slushy texture without diluting the flavour with lots of ice.
- Putting liquid at the bottom of the blender helps prevent the frozen fruit from becoming stuck around the blades.
- It is easier to thin a drink than to thicken it. Begin with most of the juice, then add the rest gradually until the cooler reaches your preferred consistency.
- Cold juice helps the drink stay thick and frosty for longer. Room-temperature juice can cause the frozen berries to melt more quickly.
- Raspberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants can be tart. If your cooler tastes too sharp, add a little sugar, honey, maple syrup or apple juice.
- A small amount of lemon or lime makes the berry flavour taste brighter, but too much can overpower the drink. Start with one teaspoon and add more only after tasting.
- Raspberries and blackberries contain noticeable seeds. For an extra-smooth finish, push the blended cooler through a fine-mesh sieve before serving. Bear in mind that straining will make the drink slightly thinner and remove some of the fruit fibre.
Nutritional Information
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Where nutritional information is provided, it is approximate and calculated using online tools. Values can vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, but we endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
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