Iced Coffee Recipes: 7 Easy Ways to Make It at Home
Iced coffee does not need a café. With one strong brew and a few simple add-ins, you can make a different drink every day of the week, and each one tastes better than a drive-through order.
These 7 easy iced coffee recipes start from the same base and dress it up seven different ways, from a simple milk coffee to a creamy Vietnamese iced coffee and a dessert-style coffee float. Each recipe has a quick nutrition breakdown, who it suits best, and simple steps.
Classic Milk Iced Coffee
This is the base every other recipe on this list builds on: strong coffee, ice, and a splash of cold milk. It is simple, but when the coffee is strong and the ratios are right, it beats most café orders.
Brew the coffee double strength so the ice does not water it down.
- Ready in 2 minutes
- Only 3 ingredients
- Easy to sweeten to taste
- Needs strong coffee so it does not taste watery
- Contains caffeine
- 1 cup strong brewed coffee, chilled
- 1 cup ice
- 1/4 cup cold milk
- 1 to 2 tsp sugar or syrup (optional)
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour in the chilled coffee.
- Add the milk and sweetener.
- Stir and serve.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Iced Coffee
A thick, lightly sweet vanilla cream floats on top of dark coffee and slowly swirls into it as you drink. It is the café favorite that is surprisingly easy to copy.
Make the sweet cream in a jar and keep it in the fridge for the week.
- Cafe-style look and taste
- Cream keeps for several days
- Not too sweet
- Higher in fat from the cream
- Contains caffeine
- 1 cup strong cold coffee
- Ice
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla syrup
- Shake the cream, milk, and vanilla syrup in a jar until thick and slightly foamy.
- Fill a glass with ice and pour in the coffee.
- Slowly pour the sweet cream over the top.
- Drink without stirring first to see the swirl.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Strong, bold coffee meets sweetened condensed milk for a drink that is rich, sweet, and almost caramel-like. It is one of the most loved iced coffees in the world.
A little condensed milk goes a long way, so start small and add more to taste.
- Rich, creamy sweetness
- Just 3 ingredients
- Works with any strong coffee
- Quite sweet
- Contains caffeine
- 1/2 cup very strong hot coffee
- 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- Ice
- Stir the condensed milk into the hot coffee until dissolved.
- Let it cool for a few minutes.
- Fill a glass with ice and pour the coffee over it.
- Stir and enjoy.
Blended Coffee Frappe
Icy, thick, and creamy, a frappe is more like a milkshake than a coffee. Blending the coffee with ice gives it that slushy café texture.
Whipped cream and chocolate drizzle turn it into a real treat.
- Thick, icy texture
- Great for hot weather
- Easy in any blender
- Higher in sugar
- Best enjoyed right away before it melts
- 1/2 cup strong cold coffee
- 1 cup ice
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tbsp sugar or chocolate syrup
- Whipped cream and chocolate drizzle
- Add the coffee, ice, milk, and sugar to a blender.
- Blend until thick and smooth.
- Pour into a tall glass.
- Top with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.
Iced Peanut Butter Mocha
Chocolate, coffee, and peanut butter together taste like a candy bar in a glass. The peanut butter adds a nutty richness that makes it very satisfying.
Warm the peanut butter slightly so it blends into the coffee smoothly.
- Rich and filling
- Tastes like dessert
- Good source of protein from peanut butter
- Not suitable for peanut allergies
- Higher in calories
- 1/2 cup strong coffee
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
- 1/2 cup cold milk
- Ice
- Crushed peanuts and whipped cream
- Stir the peanut butter and chocolate syrup into the warm coffee until smooth.
- Fill a glass with ice and milk.
- Pour the coffee mixture over the top.
- Finish with whipped cream and crushed peanuts.
Iced Almond Milk Latte
Almond milk gives this latte a light, slightly nutty flavor, and it keeps the calories low. It is a simple choice for a dairy-free iced coffee.
Choose an unsweetened almond milk so you can control the sweetness yourself.
- Dairy-free and low calorie
- Light, refreshing flavor
- Quick to make
- Contains tree nuts
- Thinner than dairy milk
- 2 shots espresso or 1/2 cup strong coffee
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Ice
- 1 tsp honey or syrup (optional)
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour in the almond milk.
- Slowly add the espresso on top.
- Stir in the sweetener and serve.
Iced Coffee Float
A scoop of vanilla ice cream floating in cold coffee turns a regular drink into dessert. As it melts, the coffee turns creamy and sweet.
It is a fun one for guests and kids’ parties, since you can serve it with a long spoon.
- Impressive with almost no effort
- Feels like a dessert
- Everyone loves the melting ice cream
- High in sugar
- Best enjoyed right away
- 1 cup strong cold coffee
- Ice
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- Chocolate sauce
- Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in the coffee.
- Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
- Drizzle with chocolate sauce.
- Serve with a long spoon and a straw.
Tips for the Best Results
Brew your coffee double strength. Ice melts and waters the drink down, so a stronger brew keeps the flavor bold.
Chill the coffee first. Pouring hot coffee over ice dilutes it fast, so keep a jar of brewed coffee in the fridge.
Make coffee ice cubes. Freezing leftover coffee in an ice tray means your drink never gets watery.
Complete Shopping List
- Strong brewed coffee or espresso
- Milk
- Heavy cream
- Unsweetened almond milk
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla ice cream
- Vanilla syrup
- Chocolate syrup and chocolate sauce
- Sugar or honey
- Peanut butter
- Crushed peanuts
- Whipped cream
- Ice
Frequently Asked Questions
Chilled brewed coffee keeps well for about 3 to 4 days in a sealed jar.
Yes. Dissolve a generous amount in a little hot water, then chill it before using.
The Classic Milk Iced Coffee and the Iced Almond Milk Latte, since you control the sweetener.
Yes. Swap the milk for oat, almond, or coconut milk in nearly all of them.
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