Iced Coffee Recipes - 9 Delicious Iced Coffee Drinks (Plus one Bonus!)

Iced Coffee is a drink that has captured our hearts. Whether it's a hot day and you need to cool off, or wanting a refreshing iced coffee after dinner, what's not to love? There are many different recipes for making iced coffee at home and in this blog post I'll be giving you 9 of the best recipes for your perusal!

Whenever I feel like I want a cold drink I grab my list of iced coffees to refresh myself. But why keeping this all to myself?

I tested all of them and these are 9 of my favorites iced coffee recipes. They are fine-tuned till the amount of coffee and milk. So it are quick and easy to follow steps. Every single recipe is tested with drip coffee, French press, cold brew and coffee from an iced coffeemaker. And as a bonus I added one extra special Iced Coffee recipes which I like to serve at Christmas.

Want to start direct with make a nice tasting Iced Coffee, Jump to recipes

Iced Coffee Recipes - 9 Delicious Iced Coffee Drinks (Plus one Bonus!)
Table of Contents

What makes a great cup of iced coffee?

A great cup of iced coffee is all about the balance of flavors. The coffee should be strong and rich, but not bitter. The sweetness should be just enough to take the edge off the coffee, but not so much that it overpowers the flavor. And finally, if you add milk to the recipe, the milk should be smooth and creamy, without being too heavy.

The best way to achieve this balance is to start with a high quality coffee bean. A dark roast will give you the strongest flavor, while a light roast will be more mild. For sweetness, you can use sugar, honey, or even flavored syrups. And for the milk, whole milk will give you the creamiest results, but you can also use skim or almond milk if you prefer.

The best coffee to use?

There are a few different types of coffee that you can use for iced coffee recipes. The best coffee to use is a personal choice of taste. It can be freshly brewed dark roast coffee. But you can also use cold brew coffee, which is a stronger type of coffee. If you want to make a sweeter iced coffee drink, you can use espresso or café au lait.

Brewing An Espresso As Base For Your Iced Coffee

Drip coffee for iced coffee

Big chances are that you drunk your first coffee at home, from a drip coffee maker. Most people and household have an drip coffee maker. It is easy and convenient and you can adjust it by adding more or less water and coffee grounds. When you make your Iced coffee recipe don’t forget to turn off you heating plate. This way the coffee cools already when entering the dripping pot.

Espresso for iced coffee

If you have an espresso machine then it’s quite easy. As you already have adjusted the settings to your perfect espresso cup. Make two cups of espresso, make sure you don’t use too much coffee grounds. As this increase your caffeine intake.

You freshly made espresso will be a perfect fit to create these yummy iced coffee drinks.

Cold brew for iced coffee

If you’re looking for a delicious stronger tasting iced coffee recipe, cold brew is the way to go. Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time – typically 12 hours or more. This results in a coffee that is less acidic and has a smoother flavor than traditional iced coffee.

To make cold brew iced coffee, simply combine cold brew concentrate with water or milk over ice. For a stronger drink, use less water or milk. And if you want it sweeter, add some simple syrup, honey, or agave nectar. For an extra special treat, top your iced coffee with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or chocolate shavings.

If you like cold brew but forget to make them, or simply don’t have the time and energy for it. I saw an option for already bottled Cold-Brew Concentrate in the supermarkets and online.

Coffee from an iced coffee Maker

When you brew coffee using an iced coffee maker, you're basically just heating water until it's hot enough to boil. Once boiling, the coffee maker pours the mixture into a cup. Having an Iced coffee maker makes your live easy.

Make sure that if you start with making your iced coffee you have different types of roast as a medium roast is delicious in the Vanilla Cinnamon Iced Coffee.

Essentials for Iced Coffee’s

  • Cold Coffee (Drip coffee / Cold Brew Maker / Espresso Machine / Iced Coffee Maker)
  • Iced Coffee Glass – you can just pop one of your glass for a few minutes in the freezer
  • Straws it can be from glass, paper, metal or re-usable plastic
  • Milk
  • Coffee Flavoring
  • Ice cubes
  • Ice cube tray – if you want to freeze your creation

More of a ‘to-go’ type of person

Some time you are in a hurry, for these occasions I have a collapsible travel cup. Another good option my neighbour has is the insulated iced-coffee travel mug. This is still on my wish-list, but who knows after making so many tasteful iced coffees I might even give myself a treat.

9 Awesome Iced Coffee Drinks

Once you have your ingredients assembled, it's time to make your iced coffee. Start by brewing a pot of coffee using your preferred method. If you want to keep things simple, you can just pour some hot coffee over ice cubes in a glass and add your milk and sweetener of choice. Or, for something a little fancier, try one of the recipes below.

1. Classic Iced Coffee

Want to have a refreshing drink but still urging for that delicious taste of coffee? Try this Classic Iced Coffee recipe. It brings that nice taste in your mouth and your nose sensors are treated with the delicious smell. And the good part no burning of your tongue. It is the easiest recipe in the book, where are you waiting for?

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (8 ounces or 300 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • Handfull of ice cubes

Steps to follow

  1. Prepare you coffee. Make sure that you add some extra coffee grounds as the ice cubes will dilute the taste. With drip coffee I prefer to only use ½ of my water and the rest will come from the ice cubes. So this way I can keep my coffee grounds the same.
  2. Put the ice cubes in a nice tall glass
  3. When your coffee is done, this can either be drip coffee, French press or cold brew. Pour it over the ice cubes.
  4. If you use hot coffee the ice cubes will melt instantly and will cool down your drink. You can always add in some extra ice cubes.
  5. Pop in a nice straw and your Classic Iced Coffee is ready.
Classic Iced coffee in a glass

2. Classic Iced Coffee latte

The iced coffee latte is the most beginner friendly coffee. The heavy amount of milk neutralizes the bitter taste of coffee. Another well tried additive is honey, sugar and caramel sweetener.

Pouring milk into a Classic Iced Coffee Latte

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup (4 ounces or 150 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • ½ cup (4 ounces or 150 ml) cold milk
  • Glass 300ml
  • Handfull of ice cubes

Steps to follow

  1. Brew your coffee. If you use drip coffee or French add extra coffee grounds. The milk and the ice cubes will dilute your coffee taste. Cold brew coffee already has a stronger taste in comparison due to the longer extraction.
  2. Put the ice cubes in a nice tall glass
  3. Pour the coffee over the ice cube. You should fill the glass about halfway.
  4. Now pour in the cold milk.
  5. You can add in a straw and swirl the milk and coffee. But it looks even better if you serve while the two drinks are still mixing together.

Tip
Extra iced coffee latte tip. If you are a beginner and still need to get used to the bitter taste of coffee. Add sweetener in step 3, sugar syrup mixes better with iced coffee than plain sugar.

3. Caramel Iced Coffee

Ooh, this is one of my favorites to put at the table as a closure of a meal with friends and family. I always get asked for the recipe and what my secret are to make it so delicious. My trick is to ask upfront if they drink the coffee extra sweet of normal sweet. If they choose ‘extra sweet’ I add in an extra tablespoon of caramel syrup in step 2. Try it out an see for yourself if you go for double sweet or not.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces or 225 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • 1/4 cup (2 ounces or 75 ml) milk
  • 1 ½ tbsp. caramel syrup
  • 1 tall glass filled with ice cubes
  • 4 tbs whipped cream
  • 1 tbsp caramel sauce

Steps to follow

  1. Brew your coffee. Remember if you want a stronger taste of coffee add in some extra coffee grounds.
  2. Toss all your ice cubes in the glass.
  3. Add 1 ½ tbsp. of caramel syrup, if you prefer ‘extra sweet’ this is the moment to add the extra tablespoon.
  4. Pour the coffee over the ice cubes and caramel syrup.
  5. Add your milk to the mixture and give it a stir. If you want to have a smoother Caramel Iced coffee, put all the ingredients in a blender. It takes about 3 minutes extra.
  6. To make it more festive, top of you glass with whipped cream. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the whipped cream. The caramel sauce has this nice golden look and makes your drink pop.

 

Use caramel to fancy your iced coffee

Tip
Are you also a huge fan of the McDonalds Caramel Iced Coffee? Use condensed milk instead of whole milk. Due to the pasteurization process the milk already has a more sweeter taste. It brings extra creaminess to your Caramel iced coffee.

4. Vanilla iced coffee

This is one of those – must try iced coffee recipes. The Vanilla iced Coffee is a big hit with commercial chains. So what do you need to make this delicious coffee at home, and refill if you like.

Pour The Milk Over The Vanilla And Ice Cubes For Your Vanilla Iced Coffee

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces or 225 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • ¼ cup (2 ounces or 75 ml) milk
  • 1 ½ tbsp. vanilla syrup
  • handfull of ice cubes
  • glass

Steps to follow

  1. Brew you coffee. If the weather is warm use cold brew and store the remaining in the fridge. If you haven’t a cold brew option, add an extra spoon of coffee grounds. The milk and ice cubes will dilute your coffee taste a bit.
  2. Add ice cubes and vanilla syrup to the glass.
  3. Pour your coffee over the vanilla and mix it together.
  4. As a final step add the milk to your Vanilla iced Coffee.

 


Tip
If your vanilla iced coffee is extremely hot, use 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream instead of milk. It instantly makes the Vanilla Ice Coffee cold and chances are you’ll want to go for a second round.

5. Vanilla Cinnamon Iced Coffee

Still in love with your iced coffee but want to add some Autumn flavor to it? Why not try this Vanilla Cinnamon Iced Coffee. See if your taste butts like this new version of an ice coffee.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces or 225 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • ½ cup (4 ounces or 150 ml) cold milk
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup of ice cubes

Steps to follow

  1. Brew your coffee. It doesn’t matter if you go for a drip coffee which is hot or cold brew, the taste will amaze you.
  2. Mix in a separate glass the coffee with the sugar, this helps to dissolve the sugar easier.
  3. Add the ice cubes and vanilla extract to the glass.
  4. Add the ground cinnamon to the glass but don’t overdo it! You better can add in a bit more at the end.
  5. Pour the coffee over the ice cubes. The coffee will mix the vanilla and cinnamon through the coffee.
  6. As the final step pour the cold milk to your Vanilla Cinnamon Iced Coffee.
  7. Pop in a colourful straw and your drink is ready

Extra tip! Make Vanilla cinnamon Ice Cubes

Instead of making Vanilla Cinnamon Iced Coffee every time from scratch you can also make it upfront and freeze it. Next time you feel like a refreshing drink, just pop the ice cubes out of the tray in your glass. I always make a bigger portion so I can share it wite friends when they come over. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cup (16 ounces or 600 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • 1 cup (8 ounces or 300 ml) cold milk
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ice cube tray

Steps to follow

  1. Brew your coffee.
  2. Add sugar, ground cinnamon and vanilla extract all in one carafe.
  3. Pour the coffee. Mix it all together for a few minutes till all the sugar is dissolved.
  4. Let is rest for 5 minutes. Feel if the coffee it not too hot anymore, you don't want to melt your tray.
  5. Grab you ice cube tray and fill it up with the Vanilla Cinnamon Ice coffee you just made.
  6. Put your ice tray in your freezer.

Et voila! The next time you want to give yourself a treat. Walk over to the fridge and pop-out the Vanilla Cinnamon Ice Cubes. Put 6 ice cubes in a glass. Brew a fresh pot of coffee, pour it over the flavoured ice cubes. Add some extra milk if needed.

6. Mocha Iced coffee

Wow, if you are a chocolate fanatic try the Mocha Iced Coffee. Although, it's an ice drink that I like to drink on one of these cold days when it is raining out-side. When you make the Mocha Coffee for the first time make 3 different smaller cups and add different amounts of chocolate sauce. This is the perfect way to figure out how the ratio between coffee and chocolate is best for you.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces or 225 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • ½ cup (4 ounces or 150 ml) cold milk
  • 2 tbs Chocolate sauce or home-made chocolate syrup
  • 1 or 2 tbsp cream (optional)
  • Ice cubes to fill the glass

Steps to follow:

  1. Brew your coffee. Because we are adding chocolate sauce make sure the coffee taste is strong enough. The flavours chocolate and coffee need to be in balanced with each other. I often use same amount of coffee grounds but ¾ of my water.
  2. Add the chocolate sauce to the glass.
  3. Pour the coffee over the coffee and give it a stir. So the coffee and chocolate are already mixed.
  4. Add the ice cubes to the coffee-chocolate mixture.
  5. Pour the cold milk over the ice cubes and stir.
  6. If you want to add some richness, scoop 2 tablespoons of (whipped) cream on top of it. Fill it up to the redge.

Extra tip Mocha Iced Coffee

Don’t have chocolate sauce or syrup in your pantry. Make it yourself! It is quick and easy and you can adjust the flavour to your likings.

Recipe Home-made Chocolate syrup

  • ¼ cup (2 ounces or 75 ml) cold milk
  • 1 ½ tbsp. Sugar
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened Cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps to follow Chocolate sauce

  1. Add all the ingredients in a pot and put it on the stove.
  2. Slowly heat the milk but don’t boil it. Stir the milk so you already get nice dark chocolate syrup.
  3. Stop with heating you chocolate syrup till all your sugar is dissolved.
  4. Tadaaa, your home-made chocolate syrup is ready.

If you even want a quicker way, use a micro-wave. Place the bowl with all the ingredients in the micro-wave. Heat up for 30 seconds. Take off the foam which is produce on top of the milk. Store your Home-made Chocolate syrup in the fridge.

7. Instant Iced Coffee

I always have one pot of instant coffee in my pantry. For going on a camping trip, or you just don’t have the time to brew a cup of Joe. I agree you do have different types of instant coffee. I promised myself to do a test of 5 different instant coffees to figure out which I liked the most. But on this list of Iced Coffee recipes at least one option should be with Instant Coffee. So grab the ingredients and give it a try, you might me surprised by the taste. And if you use cooled water you instantly have a Cooled iced coffee.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp Instant coffee
  • 200 ml cold water
  • 50 ml milk
  • Sugar syrup (optional)
  • Handful of ice cubes

Steps to follow

  1. Pour the water in the glass
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of instant coffee to the water. Stir until your instant coffee is completely dissolved. Instant coffee granules are specifically made to dissolve easy with a liquid, either cold or hot.
  3. Add you ice cubes to the cold instant coffee.
  4. Pour now you milk over the ice cubes and see the two colors dance with each other.
  5. Stir and give it a little taste. Not strong enough add some extra instant coffee. Does the taste suits you, add the ice cubes.
  6. Pop a straw in your glass. And enjoy your quick and easy Instant Ice Coffee.

 

Give Instant Coffee Grind A Try For Your Iced Coffee

Tip
Extra tip! Try this Instant Ice Coffee with Hazelnut syrup. I think it is heavenly, when I’m in a sweet mood I do 2 teaspoons syrup.

8. Frozen iced Coffee

Frozen iced coffee is a refreshing and invigorating beverage that has become increasingly popular in recent years. This drink is a perfect combination of coffee and ice, resulting in a cool and smooth treat that provides an energy boost to get through the day. With its delicious flavor and energizing effects, frozen iced coffee has become a staple for coffee lovers around the world. Whether enjoyed on a hot summer day or as a midday pick-me-up, this drink is sure to please.

Frozen Iced Coffee With Whipped Cream

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces or 225 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • 1 cup of ice cream
  • 1 tbsp of sugar
  • Ice cubes

Steps to follow

  1. Brew your coffee. Make sure you use more coffee grounds or less water to have a strong coffee taste.
  2. Add the sugar to the coffee and stir till it is completely dissolve.
  3. Pour the coffee in the blender, add the ice cream and ice cubes. Blend until it is a thicker ice cold smoother substance.
  4. Pour it in a fancy looking glass and top it off with the whipped cream.

Tip
Extra tip Frozen Iced Coffee Swap the ice cream with Cool Whip or Reddi-wip. It keeps your Frozen Iced coffee longer in shape. With ice cream you Frozen Iced coffee melts quicker. I go for the Cool Whip when I want to serve Frozen Iced Coffee for a group of people.

9. Vegan iced coffee with oat milk

As more vegan options are coming to the supermarkets I want to include at least one vegan iced coffee. This Iced Coffee with oat milk is delicious and surprised me the first time I tried it. It is easy to make and similar to an iced coffee latte, just use a different type of milk. For some extra sweetness I add always a table spoon or 2 of sweetener.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces or 118 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces or 118 ml) chilled oat milk
  • ice cubes
  • sweetener (optional)

Steps to follow

  1. Brew your coffee in your preferred method. For this Vegan Iced coffee I like the cold brew the most. Especially if I have a dark and strong cold brew already for 24 hours in the fridge.
  2. Fill you glass with ice cubes.
  3. Pour the coffee over the ice cubes.
  4. Now add your oat milk to the glass and give it a good stir.

Extra tip Vegan iced coffee with oat milk

If you find the oat milk overpowering the taste, add some extra coffee until you find the perfect balance.

Pour your oat milk in your vegan iced coffee

Bonus Salted Irish cream Iced Coffee

Did you try all the 9 different recipes? Or went straight for the bonus recipe. My Salted irish cream recipe is already a big hit for years at Christmas. Prepare and see for yourself. I prepare the recipe already a few days upfront, to lower my stress levels.

Salted Irish Cream Iced Coffee Bonus Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 ml) of strong drip coffee, French press or cold brew
  • 200 ml Irish cream
  • ½ tsp Sea salt
  • ice cube tray

Steps to follow

  • Brew your coffee to your likings. I normally go for the cold brew version when I treat myself to a Salted Irish Cream Iced Coffee. It still tastes perfect with hot brewed coffee. It takes a little longer if you go for the hot brew version.
  • Let the coffee cool down for 10 minutes and pour the coffee into an ice cube tray. Place the ice cube tray in a freezer. Depending on how hot your coffee was, it will take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to freeze.
  • Pour the Irish cream in a pan and heat it until almost boiling. Turn off the heat just before cooking.
  • Heat two cocktail glasses with warm water.
  • Divide 8 ice cubes over the two cocktail glasses and pour the warm Irish cream over it.
  • Sprinkle just before serving a pinch of the sea salt over the Irish Cream Coffee.
  • The coffee ice cubes will slowly melt and release more flavour into your drink
  • Serve this delicious Salted Irish cream Iced coffee to your guest and enjoy.

Want to make Iced Coffee at home? Have these add-ins in your pantry!

So if you every fancy a delicious Iced coffee already have some of the add-ons in your pantry. It makes it so easy to turn your coffee into a delicious treat. And also very convenient if you have guest popping over.

Dairy products and alternatives

If you have one of these in your pantry you can always make an easy Iced Coffee drink.

  • Milk
  • Coffee creamer
  • Foamed Milk if you want to make it yourself easy
  • Whipped cream

Sweetener

  • Homemade Sugar Syrup
  • Honey syrup or honey
  • Vanilla Syrup or vanilla extract
  • Cinnamon Syrup or ground cinnamon
  • Caramel syrup (taste like starbucks)
  • Lavandar syrup
  • Coconut sugar
  • Chocolate sauce or unsweetened cocoa powder

So if you have a sweetener and a (non-)dairy product in your house you can always make you a iced coffee with some extra flavour.

I hope you liked my top 9 list of Iced Coffee recipes with the Bonus of Salted Irish Cream Iced Coffee. Still searching for some new recipes but specifically made with espresso? Try these Iced Coffee recipes with espresso.

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