Nothing says ’90s nostalgia quite like the iconic Hi-C Ecto-Cooler, a beverage that was as delicious as it was mysteriously green. Now you can whip up your very own batch of this legendary libation in the comfort of your kitchen with our DIY Ecto-Cooler recipe!
Buckle up, childhood drink enthusiasts, as we’re about to embark on a culinary adventure that’ll send your taste buds on a time-traveling trip back to the 90s! Remember Hi-C Ecto-Cooler, that neon-green elixir that quenched our thirst and made us feel like honorary Ghostbusters?
I have vivid memories of sipping on Hi-C Ecto-Cooler juice boxes and tossing back Capri Suns in the school cafeteria, so I went on a quick search to see if Ecto-Cooler was still available…and it turns out, not so much. Loyal fans of the iconic neon green beverage could tell you that although there have been limited re-releases (typically timed to come out with the latest Ghostbusters movie), it’s pretty impossible to buy Ecto-Cooler today (unless you are looking for a purely collectible can).
In case you didn’t grow up with Ecto Cooler (first of all, how dare you… jk, jk!), it was known for its sweet and tangy citrus flavor that had a distinct lemony-orange essence and was a…unique…green color. Ecto Cooler wasn’t too sweet, but it had a pleasant fruitiness that made it absolutely perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot summer backyard play day or after a recess dodgeball game.
Hankering for a sip of that old childhood favorite, I decided to try making my own version, combining the look and flavors of my favorite 90’s bevies to create one ultimate thirst-quenching throwback drink mash-up. And readers…it was a TOTAL success…!
One sip will have you wondering how you ever survived without this bright green beverage in your life. So dig out your slap bracelets, cue up your favorite dial-up modem sounds, and let’s get ready to relive the magic of the Ecto-Cooler era!
Just in case your nostalgia cup isn’t quite full, we’ve also compiled a list of radical 90s crafts and activities that are perfect for kids, or adults who refuse to grow up.
To make DIY Ecto Cooler, you’ll need:
Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains either our own printable products, or Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As Amazon Associates, we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*
INGREDIENTS FOR 8 SERVINGS:
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 1 scant tablespoon lemon juice
- 3/4 cup grapefruit juice
- 2-4 cups water
- 1-2 drops of food coloring (depending on the juices you included, you may need green, yellow, or even a drop of blue food coloring)
- Add sugar to taste (we didn’t add any!)
OPTIONAL:
- You can use a 1/2 c. juiced spinach (2 tsp juice) instead of food coloring if you’d like to go natural
- Clear reusable drink pouches (we use these BPA-free pouches)
- Our Costume-A-GhostDIY Stickers Printable
- Inkjet Sticker Sheets (We used these Avery full page label sheets)
TIP: If you REALLY want that *extra-bright* neon green color, use powered juice packets for all of your juices. You can find them on Amazon in a pinch, and they dissolve into a nearly clear drink that will take on any color that’s added.
Our Homemade Ecto Cooler Recipe:
Bring back a blast from the past with our homemade Ecto-Cooler recipe! Perfect for 80s kids and Ghostbusters alike, this drink is an easy, nostalgic treat.
Total time: 5 minutes
Mix fruit juices.
Combine the pineapple, grapefruit, and lemon juices into a 1-gallon container.
I have seen recipes for this that included orange juice, but if you REALLY want that authentic bright green color, the color of orange juice doesn’t really work (even if the flavor does).
Now, if you have a powdered orange juice mix (Tang, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, etc.), you can try adding a few tablespoons at a time for flavor. Powdered orange flavors typically don’t have any color added and can be stirred in without changing the green hue of your homemade Ecto Cooler.
Add water and sugar.
Pour in water and add sugar (if desired) to taste. Stir until dissolved.
Pineapple juice is a great natural sweetener, so we didn’t need to add any sugar, but you can adjust the recipe to suit your own palette!
Add food coloring.
Add a few drops of green and yellow food coloring, juiced spinach, or another form of natural green food coloring.
Stir, chill, and serve!
Stir and add more color as desired.Chill or add some ice cubes, pour it into drink pouches or glasses, and enjoy!
We took our presentation a step further to add a 90s childhood touch, so read on to see how we packaged these up as throwback, Capri Sun-like drink pouches.
How to Make Our DIY Juice Boxes
To make our 90s-style juice boxes (pouches, really) we used some BPA-free drink pouches decorated with our free printable ghost stickers to add a bit of Ecto Cooler-style flare (my fellow Gen X’ers/Millenials might remember that the OG Ecto-Cooler boxes featured the Ghostbuster’s infamous Slimer on the box).
Add a bright green straw, and you are in business, baby!
You can download and print our costume-a-ghost printable sheet onto sticker paper, then cut out your stickers. These cute little ghosties can be colored-in and dressed up using the accessories on the sheet!
Our printable ghost sticker sheet includes a full set of more-sweet-than-spooky emoji ghosties, plus accessories you can use to dress up and costume your ghosts. We printed ours as stickers and colored them with markers, but you can also make puppets, add them to a cardboard haunted house, or even make a set of DIY temporary tattoos!
This easy little drink mix is a great opportunity to get kids involved in the kitchen (and sneak in a little pouring practice)!
Looking for a fun snack to pair these with? This classic throwback drink calls for the perfect companion childhood treat – mini vanilla wafer hamburger treats (wait until you see how utterly adorable they are!).
*A note about affiliate links: We strive to use simple, earth-friendly supplies that can be purchased locally whenever we can, but sometimes we find the best universally available options, a rare eco-friendly find, or a niche product only available on Blick Art Materials, Amazon, Etsy, or Woodpeckers Crafts. When included in our supply list, these products are affiliate links, and if you click through to make a purchase we receive a small commission that helps us re-order these supplies!
