Drink up, sisters — it’s time to add a little magic to your morning coffee. This Hocus Pocus cold brew is a playful, colorful twist on iced coffee that’s perfect for Halloween mornings, movie marathons, or any day you want a fun pick-me-up.
Use a store-bought cold brew or your favorite homemade concentrate as the base, then top it with a quick, vibrantly colored cream. The recipe is simple, customizable, and ready in minutes.
This sweet, festive drink pairs nicely with cinnamon roll cake or spooky spider donuts, or enjoy it on its own as an afternoon boost.
Ingredients
All you need for this Hocus Pocus cold brew is cold brew coffee, milk or cream, a little flavored syrup for sweetness, and gel food coloring for the Halloween-ready color. It’s intentionally simple so you can customize it to taste.
Optional swaps: flavored creamer instead of milk, non-dairy milk for a lighter option, or a flavored syrup to vary the profile. Use gel food coloring for the brightest, most vivid hues.
How to Make it
Follow these straightforward steps to create a dramatic, layered cold brew topped with foamy colored cream.
1. Fill a glass with ice. Add two pumps of vanilla syrup (or your preferred flavored syrup) per glass.
2. Pour cold brew nearly to the top, leaving room for the colored cream.
3. In a separate pitcher or jar, combine milk or cream with a couple drops of gel food coloring. Start with a small amount of gel — a little goes a long way — and adjust until you reach the shade you want.
4. Froth the colored milk using an electric frother, handheld milk frother, or by shaking vigorously in a jar with a tight lid. Frothing creates the aerated, bubbly cream that sits beautifully on top of the cold brew.
5. Gently pour the foamed, colored cream over the cold brew. The foam will float and create a layered, magical effect. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Variations & Tips
Get creative with colors and flavors to make a drink for every Sanderson sister: purple for Winifred, yellow or orange for Sarah and Mary, or mix shades for a multi-colored effect.
Alcoholic version: replace up to half of the milk or cream with Bailey’s Irish Cream or RumChata for a boozy take. If using flavored creamer, reduce the amount so the drink doesn’t become too sweet.
Non-dairy option: almond, oat, or soy milk can be frothed and colored; results vary by milk type, so froth a small test batch first.
Coloring tip: use gel food coloring instead of liquid for a more vibrant, concentrated color without thinning the milk. Start with one drop of gel and increase as needed.
Make-ahead: prepare the colored, sweetened milk and keep it chilled. Froth just before serving to preserve the best texture.
Recipe Card
Hocus Pocus Cold Brew
By: Andrea Updyke
This cold brew is just a bunch of Hocus Pocus! Use gel food coloring to match your favorite Sanderson sister and enjoy.
Prep: 5 mins · Total: 5 mins · Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients
- 4 cups unsweetened cold brew coffee
- 4 pumps vanilla syrup (about 2 pumps per glass)
- 2 drops purple gel food coloring (or yellow or orange)
- 2 cups milk or cream
- Ice
Instructions
- Fill a glass with ice and add two pumps of vanilla syrup.
- Pour cold brew coffee into the glass, leaving space for the cream.
- Combine milk or cream with gel food coloring in a small pitcher or jar.
- Froth the colored milk until it is light and foamy.
- Gently spoon or pour the foamed colored cream over the cold brew and serve immediately.
Notes
Switch colors for variety, use non-dairy milks if preferred, or reduce syrup for less sweetness. For the brightest color, use gel coloring and froth just before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 · Calories: 157 kcal · Carbohydrates: 13 g · Protein: 9 g · Fat: 8 g · Saturated Fat: 5 g · Sugar: 13 g · Sodium: 103 mg
Nutrition information is an approximation and should be used as a guide.