This homemade frozen coffee is my go-to drink on hot days when I want something cold, creamy, and very coffee-forward.
It’s blended iced coffee with just enough ice to give you that slushy texture, almost like a coffee frappuccino, but without needing any fancy equipment or pre-frozen coffee cubes.
If you’ve ever tried to make frozen coffee at home and ended up with something thin or watery, this recipe fixes that. The secret is using cold brew concentrate so you get bold coffee flavor without watering it down.
Why You’ll Love This Frozen Coffee Recipe
- Quick and easy. From craving to sipping takes less than 5 minutes.
- No espresso machine needed. This recipe uses bottled cold brew concentrate instead of espresso or freshly brewed coffee.
- No coffee ice cubes to prep. The concentrate adds strong coffee flavor without extra liquid.
- Creamy, slushy texture. It blends up thick and smooth with tiny bits of ice throughout.
- Lower calorie than coffee shop drinks. This frozen coffee comes in under 150 calories, with all of the calories coming from the milk. (Whipped cream is extra.)
What is Frozen Coffee?
Frozen coffee is a blended iced coffee drink similar to a Dunkin’ Frozen Coffee or a Starbucks coffee frappuccino.
It’s made with coffee, milk or cream, sweetener, and plenty of ice, all blended until thick and frosty.
Coffee shops use super-concentrated coffee bases designed specifically for blended drinks, which can be tricky to replicate at home.
Using cold brew concentrate is the easiest way to get that same bold flavor in homemade blended coffee drinks.
Cold Brew Concentrate Tip
Cold brew concentrate is the secret to bold, thick blended coffee drinks at home. It adds tons of coffee flavor without watering things down. I use the same trick in my 2-ingredient coffee milkshake recipe, where the concentrate keeps the drink rich, creamy, and intensely coffee-forward.
Ingredients Needed
- Cold brew coffee concentrate
- Milk
- Ice
- Sweetener of choice
- Xanthan gum (optional)
Ingredient Notes
Cold brew coffee concentrate
This is the key to bold flavor in homemade frozen coffee. Make sure you’re using concentrated cold brew, not ready-to-drink coffee. I like Starbucks Signature Black Cold Brew Concentrate, but any brand works.
Milk
I use whole milk for the creamiest texture (this is what Starbucks uses for frappuccinos), but you can swap in whatever milk you normally use. Just keep in mind that lower-fat or dairy-free milks may blend up a little thinner.
Ice
Filtered water ice gives the best flavor. Since this is a blended iced coffee, ice quality actually matters.
Sweetener
Granulated sugar, simple syrup, or your favorite sugar substitute all work here. Use whatever you usually add to coffee.
Xanthan gum (optional)
A tiny pinch helps keep blended coffee drinks from separating. If you slip slowly, you may want to add some for sure, but it’s totally optional.
Where I Use It
I use a small pinch of xanthan gum in all of my homemade frappuccino-style drinks, including my chai frappuccino, matcha frappuccino, and chocolate covered strawberry frappuccino. It’s optional, but it makes a noticeable difference in texture.
How to Make Frozen Coffee in a Blender
Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.
This frozen coffee is made entirely in a blender. Since there’s a good amount of ice, use a blender that can crush ice well.
- Add cold brew concentrate, milk, sweetener, ice, and xanthan gum (if using) to the blender.
- Blend on low for about 10 seconds, then increase to high speed and blend for about 1 minute, until smooth and slushy.
- Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
- Top with whipped cream, if desired.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- For best results, start with cold cold brew concentrate straight from the fridge.
- Xanthan gum is optional, but it helps stabilize blended iced coffee drinks.
- You can adjust the coffee-to-milk ratio depending on how slushy or creamy you like it:
- Slushier: 2/3 cup cold brew concentrate + 1/3 cup milk
- Creamier: 2/3 cup milk + 1/3 cup cold brew concentrate
- Add whipped cream for a more indulgent, coffee shop–style frozen coffee.
Flavor Variations
This is a basic frozen coffee recipe, similar to what you’d get at Dunkin’. You can easily customize it by blending in:
- Caramel or chocolate syrup
- Vanilla syrup
- A splash of flavored creamer
- Or use a flavored cold brew concentrate
More Blended Coffee Drink Recipes
Homemade Frozen Coffee (Blended Iced Coffee)
This easy at-home recipe for frozen coffee has just 5 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make. This blended iced coffee beverage comes together quickly into a cool slushy drink that features lots of creamy bold coffee flavor.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cold brew coffee concentrate
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 1/4 cups ice
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
Instructions
- Add cold brew coffee, milk, sugar, ice and xanthan gum (optional) to a blender. Blend for 10 seconds on low, then 1 minute on high speed until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
- Top with whipped cream, if desired.
Notes
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 20 ouncesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 134Total Fat: 4gCholesterol: 12mgCarbohydrates: 20gSugar: 19gProtein: 5g