Vanilla Iced Coffee

Total time: 6

Prep time: 5

5 from 10 votes

Make a cheap & easy Vanilla Iced Coffee at home in just a few minutes with 3 simple ingredients. Enjoy this healthy ice coffee option every day - it's all good for you, and your wallet.

milk being poured into a vanilla iced coffee

Why you will love this recipe

It's quick - just 1 minute when your coffee is brewed
It's easy - just season your coffee, ice it, and top with some milk
It uses basic ingredients - just regular brew coffee, vanilla sugar or extract, milk, and ice
It's delicious and refreshing and everything an ice coffee should be
It's cheap - homemade is just a fraction of the price at Starbucks
It's healthy - there's a tiny bit of sugar in that vanilla sugar, but thre's no need for a super sweet syrup

What you need to make it

ingredients needed to make iced vanilla coffee

Ingredient notes & substitutions

Hot brew coffee - make it a bit stronger than usual, if you can, since the ice will water it down a bit.
Coffee - instead of hot brew coffee you can use cold leftover coffee or cold brew coffee, and if you have an espresso machine you can use two shots of espresso for one vanilla iced coffee
Vanilla sugar can be switched for vanilla extract in the same amount
Milk is optional but provides a nice softness - use whichever kind you enjoy, including dairy free versions

How to make it

collage showing how to make iced vanilla coffee

Start by filling your heatproof glass or cup a little bit more than halfway with hot coffee
Add in the vanilla sugar
Mix and make sure the vanilla sugar has dissolved
Fill up with ice cubes
Pour over milk
Add a straw if you like, and enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

Cold brew coffee makes it even better - and then I might even skip the milk
Add more or less vanilla sugar to give it more or less vanilla taste
Add more or less milk to suit your taste - or skip it completely
Adding your vanilla sugar (and other seasonings) when the coffee is still hot makes it easier to get it to dissolve completely
Make it sweeter by adding a teaspoon of sugar together with the vanilla sugar
Make it vegan by using non-dairy milk
Make an iced mocha by adding a teaspoon of cocoa powder (sweetened or unsweetened, depending on your tastes) together with the vanilla sugar
Freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray and use to cool your ice coffee in the future. This way the ice doesn't water down the coffee.

Recipe FAQ

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it ahead of time and store in the fridge - this is a great option to have a nice iced coffee ready to go in the morning. Just mix your hot coffee, vanilla sugar & milk together then let it cool down bit in room temperature before refrigerating. You can then add ice cubes just before serving, or skip them.

Is iced coffee good for you?

That depends on what you put in it - which is why I love to make it at home, because then I know exactly what is in there.

This version has very little sugar and fat and is a healthy option as is. To lower the amount of sugar further use vanilla extract instead of vanilla sugar, and to lower the fat content further opt for a low fat milk.

Is cold brew the same as iced coffee?

No, cold brew is made by letting coffee steep slowly in cold water while iced coffee is made by icing hot coffee. Since cold brew steeps slower it becomes less bitter, and is a great option if you want to make this recipe without adding milk.

vanilla iced latte with straw on a wooden surface sprinkled with coffee beans

More quick & easy summer drinks

Love quick & easy summer drinks, like this one? Then you will love these delicious options that you can enjoy totally guilt-free all summer long:

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