Cool, refreshing, revitalizing, and always on-point, iced coffee is the definitive cold drink for a reason! Learn some new tricks to make this caffeinated classic better than ever with this easy recipe for Iced Coffee with Milk!
When you have a big day and know you’ll need a boost, it helps to have iced coffee on hand! This deliciously simple recipe shows you how to prep your usual cafe order at home with less money spent and no waste. It’s just the recipe for anyone looking to make more and buy less! This recipe was made for anyone who loves:
- Barista Basic – Every great home barista has to master the basics, and this recipe has all the tricks to make luscious iced coffee every time!
- Easy Iced Coffee – It only takes two ingredients and a few steps to make the perfect cup!
- Smooth Flavor – The ratio of milk to coffee in this mix makes for a balanced, creamy coffee drink! Plus, there’s no ice watering down your coffee, just a smooth, creamy flavor!
- Zero-Waste – I love the technique for freezing milk used in this recipe! It makes the milk last longer and saves your drink from becoming too watery!
- Creamy Options – You can use this frozen milk trick to make other tasty drinks and more!
Ingredients you need
Coffee – The ideal iced coffee has a great flavor full of yummy tasting notes, like cocoa, wood, and cherry, but how do you find the perfect flavored coffee?
Follow your taste buds! The more you get to know the flavors of different beans, the more aptly you will be able to choose a brew for you!
Don’t be afraid to try some new blends and single-origin coffees. Stopping into your favorite cafe and asking for recommendations or samples can be fun. You can also try smelling the beans before you buy them. You can sense a lot of the flavors from just a sniff!
Remember, light roast coffees tend to be higher in acid than dark roast. Dark roasts can have a bold, bitter flavor, but the best ones have dark notes of fruit and chocolate that cannot be resisted.
In this drink, you will brew your favorite beans before making an iced coffee, but if your favorite brew is cold, go ahead and swap that in! These delicious ratios and tricks work with hot, cold, and cold brew coffee!
Whole Milk is the most common milk used in cafe classics like iced coffee. It has a lovely, mildly sweet, creamy flavor that brings out the best in any cup of joe! Milk in coffee balances the sometimes bitter notes of the beans and brings a lovely dairy flavor to your drink.
The recipe calls for whole milk; however, this recipe works with any variety of milk. You can use skim, coconut milk, or even oat milk.
Whatever type of milk you choose, it’s best to use fresh. Fresh milk of any variety has the most rich and natural taste. It also ensures you get the best-frozen flavor!
Iced Coffe with Milk Step-by-step
![View from above: Glass filled with frozen milk ice cubes.](https://coffeewithnora.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/iced-coffee-with-milkIMG_7680-1-768x1024.jpg)
![Glass filled with frozen milk ice cubes.](https://coffeewithnora.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/iced-coffee-with-milkIMG_9702-1-768x1024.jpg)
![View from above: Fill the glass filled with frozen milk ice cubes with coffee.](https://coffeewithnora.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/iced-coffee-with-milkIMG_7680-2-768x1024.jpg)
![Fill the glass filled with frozen milk ice cubes with coffee.](https://coffeewithnora.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/iced-coffee-with-milkIMG_9702-3-768x1024.jpg)
![Gorgeous image of a high coffee glass, filled with iced coffee. The beautiful snowflake shaped milk ice cubes make this treat even more appealing.](https://coffeewithnora.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/iced-coffee-with-milkD75_1591-683x1024.jpg)
How To Make Iced Coffee with Milk From Scratch
- Step One: Pour the milk into the ice cube trays and freeze.
- Step Two: Brew your chosen coffee and allow it to cool.
- Step Three: Fill your glass with frozen milk cubes.
- Step Four: Pour the coffee over the ice cubes and enjoy!
Barista Tips
- You can add a pump or two of your favorite flavor syrup or a little sugar to add a sweet flavor to this cold drink.
- Don’t forget to cover and label the ice cubes in the freezer. This keeps them clean, and fresh, and it makes telling how old the cubes are much easier!
- Fresh milk or non-dairy milk will last about 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
Variations
Reverse it: If you like, you can flip it around for fun. Pour the coffee into the ice cube tray and freeze it. This way, you can fill the glass with coffee ice cubes and fill it afterward up with cold milk. Another very chic alternative!
Products
Ice Cube Tray – The trick to always having the perfect iced coffee is freezing the milk! An ice tray gives you the perfect pre-portioned doses of milk ready when you are!
Choose a silicone ice tray to make popping the cubes out easy. If possible, choose an ice tray with a lid or plan to transfer the cubes to a covered container once they’re fully frozen. Keeping the cubes covered in the freezer keeps them fresh and free of debris.
Remember that smaller cubes will melt faster and vice versa, so if you sip slowly choose larger cubes for a more gradual milk infusion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Iced Coffee with Milk
Depending on the size of the ice cube molds you are using, milk freezes in about 4 to 6 hours. Smaller cubes will freeze more rapidly than large cubes.
Once frozen, the milk cubes last up to 3 months. Milk cubes may develop a little freezer burn, and that’s okay! Freezer burn is just excess ice crystals, so if there is only a small amount, your cubes should be good to go. However, if there is a ton of ice crystals on the cubes, you can toss them out.
Yes! You can use it in tea or to cool cocoa, milkshakes, and much more. Anywhere you would need cool milk, these cubes will get it done! Use the cubes while they’re still frozen, or pop them into a glass and allow them to thaw in the fridge for a few hours.
Yes! There is no added sugar or flavorings in this simple recipe, making it naturally light. Use your favorite low-calorie non-dairy milk or skim milk in this recipe to keep the calories scant.
More Recipes and Tips You Might Enjoy:
- Iced Eggnog Latte
- Iced Lavender Latte
- Iced Honey Latte
- French Press Cold Brew
- Oat Milk Coffee
- Coffee con Leche
- Coffee Gift Basket
- Gifts for Cold Brew Coffee Lovers
- How much Syrup to Put into Coffee?
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @coffeewithnora and hashtag #coffeewithnora_recipes, so I don’t miss it.
![Gorgeous image of a high coffee glass, filled with iced coffee. The beautiful snowflake shaped milk ice cubes make this treat even more appealing.](https://coffeewithnora.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/iced-coffeeD75_1555-285x285.jpg)
Iced Coffee with Milk Ice Cubes
Equipment
- Ice cube tray I used snowflake ice cube molds.
- Serving glass
Ingredients
- 1 cup Milk can be substituted with a plant-based version or lactose-free milk.
- ½ cup Coffee strong
Instructions
- Fill 1 cup Milk into the ice cube molds and freeze for about four hours.1 cup Milk
- Brew ½ cup Coffee of your choice using a French press, Aeropress, Pour over or espresso machine, or cold brew coffee.½ cup Coffee
- Allow the hot coffee to cool slightly.
- Once the milk ice cubes are ready, fill your serving glass with them.
- Pour in the coffee, and your delicious ice-cold coffee with milk ice cubes is ready.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food and beverages unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Thanks for the great recipe! I love your idea for frozen milk ice cubes!
Thank you, Ashley!
Just made an Iced Coffee with Milk – super refreshing and easy! The perfect pick-me-up for a hot day.
Thank you, Claudia! I am happy you liked it!
Frozen milk cubes are such a genius idea to make an instant iced coffee without watering it down. I used my beloved oatmilk, which worked perfectly. Thanks for this!
Thank you, Sonja! Yeah oat milk cubes work great as well!
this makes a perfect mug of iced coffee. I never would have made ice cubes with milk – what a great idea!
Thank you so much, Helen!