14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (2024)

  • Non-Alcoholic Drinks
  • Coffee

Regular, Sweet, Boozy, and Edible

By

Molly Watson

Molly Watson

An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 11/13/22

Trending Videos

14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (1)

When the days turn hot, nothing is quite as refreshing as an iced coffee. Iced coffee can be as easy to make as pouring coffee or espresso over ice. But, if you're looking for something just a tad more interesting, there are 16 options below to tempt your tastebuds.

From deliciously smooth cold brew iced coffee to intensely sweet and creamy Thai iced coffee, and from edible cold coffee jelly to a handful of iced coffee co*cktails, we predict you'll love these a latte.

Tips

  • For a balanced iced coffee, use a ratio of 4 cups of water for every 1 cup of coarse ground coffee.
  • Keep things intense by using cooled or cold brew coffee to make ice cubes that you can use in your iced coffee. That way you don't ​accidentally water down your beverage.

The 10 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers of 2024

  • Cold Brew Iced Coffee

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (3)

    While pouring old hot coffee over ice cubes may work for some,and others like to brew espresso right over ice for their iced coffee,the best flavorfor iced coffee comes from cold-brewing the coffee in the first place and then putting it over ice.

  • 02 of 14

    Thai Iced Coffee

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (4)

    The use of sweetened condensed milk gives Thai iced coffeeits unique and, for some, irresistible flavor. It's sweet, creamy, and intensely flavored. Because everything in it is so intense, it benefits from being poured over ice and diluted just a bit to help those flavors and textures meld as they chill.

  • 03 of 14

    Homemade Frappuccino

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (5)

    Frappuccinos are popular for a reason: they are insanely delicious. Save money by making frappuccinos at home. Since a frappuccino is simply espresso, milk, and sugar blended with ice, it's pretty easy. The bonus is that you can control the sugar, and play with the exact proportions

  • 04 of 14

    German Iced Coffee

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (6)

    Cold coffee, ice cream, and evaporated milk—plus additional sweetener if you're so inclined—make this classic summer treat known as eiskaffee. It's popular in German sidewalk cafés during the long days of northern summer, and super easy to throw together at home.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.

  • 05 of 14

    Iced Café Canario

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (7)

    This Spanish favorite can be served hot or iced. Café Canario, also known as café bombón, features espresso, condensed milk, a touch of vanilla extract, and cocoa powder. It's espresso-forward enough for the morning, while being sweet and tempting enough for an afternoon pick-me-up.

  • 06 of 14

    Dehli-Style Iced Coffee

    Just cold milk, instant coffee, and plenty of ice come together in this hot-weather classic. This particular version of instant iced coffee is named after Delhi, where it is popular - but similar concoctions are found in hot climates around the world. In some areas, the drink is known simply as a "Nescafé," after the instant coffee used to make it.

  • 07 of 14

    Cold Coffee Jelly

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (9)

    For those times when it's too hot out for hot coffee and you're in too much of a rush to sip anything, that's when having a batch of coffee jelly in the fridge, ready to slurp down, is needed. This easy recipe makes a coffee gelatin that's as refreshing as iced coffee without the need for ice.

  • 08 of 14

    Affogato

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (10)

    Keep glasses and ice cream in the freezer and you can enjoy this delicious Italian affogato whenever you please. It's a quick coffee dessert that's perfect for a dinner party or afternoon treat. If you don't have an espresso machine, a moka pot or stovetop brewer will do just fine.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.

  • 09 of 14

    Coffee Chocolate Protein Shake

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (11)

    Turn your iced coffee into a snack, or even a meal, with this recipe for an iced coffee chocolate protein shake. Strong coffee or espresso, plus milk and chocolate protein powder makes this iced coffee drink a single-cup breakfast. Add a banana to turn it into a real smoothie.

  • 10 of 14

    Sombrero (Kahlua Milk)

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (12)

    Sweet coffee liqueur -commonly known by the brand name Kahlua - and milk over ice make for a refreshing, coffee-charged drink. Add a shot of espresso to kick it up a notch.

  • 11 of 14

    Spiked Iced Vanilla Latte

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (13)

    A bit of vanilla vodka brings this iced latte to the level of the perfect brunch co*cktail. You can easily adjust the booze to make it stronger or weaker and the alcohol-buzz is balanced by the coffee-buzz.

  • 12 of 14

    Coffee Old-Fashioned

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (14)

    Want something icy, caffeinated, and boozy? This coffee old-fashioned combines espresso, bourbon, crème de cacao, and orange bitters over plenty of ice. Watch out with this iced coffee drink—it goes down smooth and easy, but packs a real punch.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.

  • 13 of 14

    Bailey's Irish Ice

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (15)

    Bailey's Irish cream and Guinness, or vanilla ice cream with some espresso, make a lightly boozy, heavily delicious cold coffee treat. Whipped cream on top will kick it up a notch. You can sip some of this, but you'll want a spoon to really dig in and get every bit.

  • 14 of 14

    Dorda Café

    14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (16)

    A bit of espresso, some Dorda chocolate liqueur, and some amaretto over ice make a special iced coffee co*cktail known as a ​Dordacafé. Add whipped cream to turn a delicious co*cktail into something supremely special.

  • Coffee
  • Breakfast Drinks
14 Knock-Out Iced Coffee Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make your own iced coffee at home? ›

Method
  1. Make a 200ml cup of black coffee following pack instructions, then allow the coffee to go completely cold. Pour into a blender with the milk along with 2 or 3 handfuls of ice and maple syrup, if using, then blend until smooth and foamy.
  2. Pour into a chilled tall glass and serve.

What coffee does Starbucks use to make their iced coffee? ›

Currently, Starbucks uses their "Iced Coffee Roast" - which is available for retail sale during the summer and which they order and use year round to brew and create the iced coffee base that you drink in store. When this first came out, the roast was called "Terraza Blend."

Is there a trick to iced coffee? ›

Let the brewed coffee sit out until it's cooled to room temperature. Or, to speed up the chilling process, stash the coffee in the fridge. A third smart make-ahead option? Pour the coffee into ice cube trays and freeze it.

What is the best coffee to use to make iced coffee at home? ›

Best Coffee for Iced Coffee

Use a full-bodied coffee to avoid tartness. For an iced coffee with a sweet, creamy, and/or chocolate flavor profile, go with a medium roast from Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, or Honduras.

What's the difference between cold brew and iced coffee? ›

Iced coffee is typically made by brewing hot brewed coffee and then pouring it over ice, while cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for a long period of time, usually 12-24 hours. Cold brew has lower acidity and bitterness than iced coffee and a smooth coffee flavor with subtle nutty undertones.

What coffee does McDonald's use for iced coffee? ›

Enjoy a refreshingly cool Iced Coffee at McDonald's! Our McCafé Iced Coffee recipe is made with 100% Arabica beans, cream, and your choice of flavored coffee syrup—Caramel, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, and Sugar-Free French Vanilla.* A fan of black coffee?

What is the difference between iced coffee and iced latte? ›

Iced lattes use a rich double shot of espresso combined with steamed milk and are often sweetened with various sweeteners like sugar or syrup, while iced coffees utilize regular brewed coffee and may or may not include milk and sweeteners depending on personal taste.

What is the secret to making good iced coffee? ›

How do you make a good iced coffee? The key is to brew a strong coffee concentrate: I let mine steep overnight, then I strain it, and chill it. I don't add ice until I'm ready to drink my iced coffee; I don't want the ice cubes to melt and dilute it!

Why does McDonald's iced coffee taste so good? ›

What makes McDonald's iced coffee taste so good? The secret behind the signature taste of McDonald's iced coffee isn't just the chain's proprietary Arabica beans—it's the ratio of bitter coffee to sweet simple syrup and luscious light cream.

What is the most popular iced coffee? ›

Iced Mocha

This is one of the most popular cold coffee drinks out there. Iced Mocha consists of equal parts espresso, milk, and chocolate syrup. The ingredients are then blended to create a fun summer drink. If you want to add some extra flavor, try adding vanilla or almond extract instead of chocolate.

Can I refrigerate coffee to make iced coffee? ›

Yes, however in order to avoid oxidation, you must use an airtight container, such as a mason jar.

Can you just add ice to hot coffee to make iced coffee? ›

If you make hot coffee and pour it over ice, you'll have iced coffee almost instantly. We would recommend adding more ice to your coffee after it's been poured over ice, since most of the ice cubes will have melted. The danger with this super-quick method is that you water down your coffee and lose all the flavor.

Can you just add ice to coffee to make iced coffee? ›

Technically, you can simply pour hot coffee over ice. But I wouldn't recommend it! The ice will water down your coffee, and it won't get as cool either ... and perfect Iced Coffee needs to be quite cold.

Is iced coffee just coffee poured over ice? ›

Iced coffee is brewed hot coffee that has cooled and poured over ice. If you pour ice over a hot cup of coffee, you dilute your coffee and make it taste bitter. You can easily make sweet iced coffee with hot coffee right in your home and enjoy a bold, refreshing cup of coffee.

How can I make cold coffee without a machine? ›

The Recipe
  1. Measure out 20 grams of coffee. ...
  2. Put 20 grams of ground coffee into your container. ...
  3. Pour 250 grams of water into your container.
  4. Agitate the bottle to make sure grounds are incorporated into the water. ...
  5. Put your container in the fridge. ...
  6. Take your coffee out and serve over ice in a glass.
Apr 16, 2021

Does pouring coffee over ice make it iced coffee? ›

To be clear, iced coffee is not simply hot coffee poured over ice — at least it shouldn't be. Doing that not only dilutes the coffee, but can make it bitter, as well.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 5497

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.