Frozen Coffee Recipe and Overview

Blended iced coffee (frozen coffee)is the answer to your fluffy and creamy coffee cravings. Some people fancy frozen coffee for summer treats but it can be a year-round delight.

For this frozen coffee recipe, I blend coffee with ice, milk(whole and condensed), and a flavored sweetener to make a creamy drink with a heavenly flavor. A sprinkle of ground cinnamon tops the drink for a sweet and spicy finish.

Frozen coffee need not be complicated; simply let your imagination run wild and you will be amazed at how many offshoot recipes you can come up with.

Jump to Recipe

How Do You Make Frozen Coffee (Iced Coffee in a Blender)

Equipment: A blender, cup, coffee maker (optional), and a measuring cup.

Ingredients:

• 8 pieces of ice
• 6oz Cold coffee
• 2oz chilled milk
• 1oz condensed milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
• Cinnamon powder

Instructions:

1. Brew the Coffee

Brew the coffee and chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes for the best results. However, if you are pressed for time, cool the coffee for 10-15 minutes. Avoid using hot coffee unless it is espresso. If a cold brew is available, continue to the next steps.

2. A Fluffy Blend

Add the ice, coffee, regular and condensed milk, and vanilla syrup to a blender and blend for 45-60 seconds for a smooth and creamy consistency.

Swapping regular milk with either evaporated milk, half and half, or heavy cream will thicken the drink.

3. Garnish and Enjoy

Pour the drink, preferably, in a cold cup and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon powder. Enjoy your fluffy frozen coffee.

Tips and Tricks When Making Frozen Coffee at Home

Coffee

Strong coffee is the best choice so that the drink is still bold after blending with ice. If you are brewing your coffee with a drip coffee machine, use the over-ice setting or bold setting.

Avoid using hot coffee as it will require a lot of ice which is likely to water it down. Instead, chill the coffee beforehand or use a cold brew.

See this post about how to properly chill hot coffee in the fridge.

However, when using espresso, you can add it when still hot as the volume is low enough to not require extra ice. I recommend using a double-shot espresso or more for an intense finish, depending on the size of your cup.

Cold-brew concentrate is an excellent choice when making frozen coffee as it is already cold, potent and you need not dilute it. Cold-brew coffee also has a lower perceived acidity than a hot brew and therefore it makes a smoother drink.

When using a cold brew concentrate, add it like espresso. For example, if the concentrate requires a dilution ratio of 1:2 and you intend to fill a 12oz mug, then you can add about a third of the mug (4 ounces of the concentrate) to the blender. For a less intense flavor, use less of the concentrate and more milk.

You can use a store-bought cold coffee concentrate or make it at home by steeping coarsely ground coffee in a closed container at a ratio of 1 part of ground coffee to six parts of water. Steep for at least 12 hours on the counter or 18 hours in the fridge.

Ice

You do not want to add excess ice as your drink will be too runny and the coffee will be watered down. To avoid these pitfalls, use about 8 ice cubes or measure the ice using the serving cup from which you intend to drink the frozen coffee.

Alternatively, you can make coffee ice cubes for a more intense blend.

Milk and Milk Substitutes

For a creamier flavor, use evaporated milk, half-and-half, or heavy cream instead of regular milk. Avoid the temptation to add a lot of milk or its substitute as it will over-dilute the coffee. Generally, you want to stay below a ratio of 1:2 for milk to coffee.

Personally, I prefer using two ounces of milk or milk substitute per 5-6 ounces of coffee. Adding an ounce of condensed milk gives a fluffy finish.

Flavors and Sweeteners

There is a host of flavoring and sweetening options available. Keep in mind that condensed milk is usually sweetened so you do not want to add a lot of sweeteners.

You can spice up the drink with some spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.

My favorite flavoring and sweetening syrup is Maison Routin vanilla syrup. You can also sweeten with caramel, hazelnut, and other syrups and sauces of your choice.

Alternatively, you can swap artificial sweeteners for natural honey for a healthier frozen coffee.

See other healthier substitutes for vanilla syrup.

Garnish

To garnish the drink, you can top with one or two scoops of whipped cream and a drizzle of your choice of sauce. You can also squirt some caramel or chocolate sauce on the inner walls of a transparent cup. The sauce sticks on the cup even when you pour the drink and gives a great appearance.

Sprinkling a pinch of ground nuts such as almonds and walnuts gives a nutty finish whereas spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg on the blended iced coffee provide a sweet and spicy aroma and flavor.

Cup and Drinking

Frozen coffee tends to melt rather fast if it sits for long so try to drink it as soon as possible. Also. avoid pouring the drink in hot mugs.

Although not necessary, you may want to chill the cup by filling it with ice or keeping it in the fridge until you are ready to pour the drink.

Wrap Up on How to Make Frozen Coffee

With this recipe, your cold coffee will no longer be the usual boring over-ice coffee or a plain cold brew. There are countless ways to change this recipe whether it means using cream or flavoring with a different sauce or syrup.

I once shared this recipe with a bodybuilder friend of mine who ended up swapping condensed milk with raw eggs for their higher protein and calorie count.

If you do not have a coffee maker, simply buy a cold brew concentrate or make a cold brew at home at least a day before. Cold-brew coffee makes a more potent and smoother frozen coffee than a hot brew.

Consider using natural flavors and sweeteners for a healthier drink.