Thickened up with cornstarch or fruit, coladas are great comfort food. They also make a quick breakfast drink chock full of energy - perfect for those of us on the go.

Colada refers to any thick drink, served hot or cold. Coladas are often thickened with a thickening agent such as cornstarch, but even fruit drinks that thicken naturally can be considered coladas.

Who Drinks Coladas?

Popular throughout Latin America, they are often served on cold nights instead of coffee or tea. Because of their high carb and caloric properties, coladas are sometimes given to people recovering from surgery or illness. Small children may be given coladas to help them gain weight. Made from real fruits or milk, they are a great source of calcium and other vitamins.

Quick Energy Breakfast Drink

Coladas are an excellent option as a quick breakfast drink since they are filling and provide a lot of energy. Fruit coladas, such as the apple colada recipe shown here, can be a terrific and nutritious start to any morning. Served warm, they are a healthy substitute for coffee or tea for those watching their caffeine intake.

Watching Your Calories?

For fewer calories, use a sugar substitute such as Splenda for some or all of the sugar in the recipes. Substitute nonfat or soy milk for the whole milk in order to reduce calories and fat content.

Tip: Adding the sugar at the time the colada is served will preserve the drink for a longer period. As an added plus, each person can adjust the sugar to his/her taste.

Basic Cornstarch Colada

Ingredients

• 1 liter whole milk (4 cups)
• 3 tbs. cornstarch
• ¼ cup water
• 2-3 cloves, optional
• 1 stick cinnamon, optional
• sugar to taste (about 1-3 tbs. per serving)

Procedure

1. Boil the milk. Meanwhile, dissolve the cornstarch in the water, mixing well or the colada will be lumpy.
2. Add the cornstarch mixture to the milk. If using cloves or cinnamon, add them now.
3. Let the mixture boil 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until it thickens.
4. Serve warm or cold, adding the sugar at the moment served. Makes five servings.

Orange Juice Colada

Ingredients

• 2 cups orange juice
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbs. cornstarch
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 tbs. sugar

Procedure

1. Dissolve the cornstarch in one cup of cool water. Mix well to ensure that all the cornstarch is dissolved, or the colada will be lumpy.
2. Add the rest of the water, the orange juice, sugar and cinnamon stick to the cornstarch mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
3. Continue stirring as the mixture boils for 2-3 minutes, or until it reaches the desired consistency.
4. Serve warm or cold. Makes six servings.

Variation: Any fruit juice can be substituted for the orange juice. Some to try are blackberry, pineapple, strawberry, guava, tamarind or passion fruit. Adjust sugar as needed.

Apple Colada Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 apples, peeled and cored
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 liters water (8 cups)
• sugar to taste (about 1-2 tbs. per serving)

Procedure

1. Cut the apples in cubes or wedges. Put in a saucepan and cover with water. Add the cinnamon stick. Boil the apples until tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Remove the apples from the water with a slotted spoon, reserving the water. Place in a blender along with about 1 cup of the water they were cooked in (more or less depending on how thick you want the colada). Blend.
3. Serve in teacups, warm or cold, adding sugar (about 1-2 tbs. for each serving).

If you like these recipes, you may also like this Colada Morada recipe from Ecuador