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The Best Iced Coffee Ever

Iced coffee in a jar with a straw.

This iced coffee is simply the best ever thanks to one unexpected key ingredient: sweetened condensed milk! This frothy, creamy beverage is perfect on a hot summer day.

A glass jar with iced coffee and a straw.


Cold coffee = meh. However, with a few simple tweaks, you can make the most delicious iced coffee ever. No fancy ingredients. No need to make even simple syrup! My recipe only has a handful of ingredients that you likely have right now in your home.

On those hot summer days, I love switching out my regular coffee for a perfect iced coffee, but I don’t always want to spend the money to buy one from my favorite coffee shop.

Luckily, this iced coffee is a cinch to make, and you don’t need specialty coffee like cold brew coffee or espresso – just regular brewed coffee works great! You can even use instant coffee if you like! 

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    You’ll blend all of the ingredients together and pour in a tall glass for the perfect sweet, cool beverage.

    recipe binder image

    Why You’ll Love this Easy Iced Coffee Recipe

    Ingredients

    The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

    Ingredients to make iced coffee.

    How to Make Iced Coffee

    Steps to making iced coffee.
    Steps to making iced coffee.

    What I Used For This Recipe

    This post contains affiliate links.

    What to Serve with an Iced Coffee

    Variations and Substitutions

    An iced coffee in a glass with a straw.

    ​Storage Instructions

    ​To make a great iced coffee, fresh is best. I recommend making it when you are ready to drink it. You can store it in the fridge if you need to for a day or so, but make sure it’s covered so it doesn’t absorb any strange smells from the fridge.

    Can I Freeze Iced Coffee?

    I don’t recommend freezing iced coffee. Make it fresh!

    Recipe Tips and Tricks

    Flavorings and Syrups to Try

    Can You Make Iced Coffee with Hot Coffee?

    Absolutely! While you can cool coffee overnight or use cold brew if you prefer, hot coffee works just fine here. The ice cubes included in this recipe will cool it down. 

    Can I Make This Iced Coffee with Different Flavors?

    Yes! For even more vanilla flavor, you could scrape the insides of a vanilla bean and add it. For a mocha version, try a teaspoon or two of cocoa powder! Add some coffee syrups in place of the vanilla extract. Hazelnut syrup is yummy.

    Is Iced Coffee Just Cold Coffee?

    Not really, no. It’s typically made by brewing hot coffee by whatever method you choose, and then cooling the coffee down with ice cubes. Adding the extra ingredients like milk and sweetened condensed milk tones down the bitterness and strength of the coffee making it more yummy to drink.

    An iced coffee in a jar with a straw.

    FAQ

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

    An iced coffee is made with brewed coffee and milk/sugar while a latte is made with espresso and milk. Iced lattes are typically stronger in taste because of the espresso. They are very similar though.

    What is the difference between an iced coffee and a cold brew coffee?

    Though iced coffee and cold brew coffee are both cold coffee drinks, they are made differently and have different flavor profiles.

    Iced coffee is made by brewing hot coffee using any method, and then cooling it down by pouring it over ice. You can add milk and sugar to dilute its strength and give it more flavor. It’s more acidic than cold brew because of the hot water brewing method. 

    Making cold brew coffee is more complex and takes a lot longer. Coarsely ground coffee beans are steeped in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. This will give you a less acidic coffee concentrate. The coffee concentrate is diluted with water or milk and served over ice. 

    What type of ice is best to make a good iced coffee?

    ​Generally, the larger ice cubes are preferred made with a typical ice cube tray found in most homes. In my recipe, it really doesn’t matter much since I’m blending the ice cubes in the blender with the coffee. Use whatever ice you have at home.

    More Coffee Recipes You’ll Love

    You’ll also like this Shirley Temple drink.

    Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, Facebook at Simply Stacie, TikTok @simplystacierecipes or Pinterest at @simplystacie and let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

    4.43 from 7 votes

    The Best Iced Coffee Ever

    Created by Stacie Vaughan
    Servings 2
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Cold, creamy sweet perfection! This easy summer drink can be whipped up in a minute. Made with a secret ingredient that brings it to the next level.

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 ½ cups brewed coffee
    • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
    • ½ cup milk
    • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
    • 5 ice cubes
    • pinch cinnamon

    Instructions

    • Combine all the ingredients in a blender.
    • Blend until ice is crushed and drink is mixed. Serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 132mg | Sugar: 42g

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Course Beverages
    Cuisine American
    Keyword coffee, iced coffee

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