Iced coffee is delicious and refreshing, but it can also be expensive. If you’re a fan of iced coffee, you know what I mean: Even something as simple as a no-frills cup of joe from a gas station will run you somewhere around $2 to $4!
So what’s the solution for those of us who want our iced coffee without paying premium prices? It turns out that making McDonald’s iced coffee at home is easy, cheap, and takes very little time. And once you’ve made it, you’ll find that the iconic chain’s signature McCafe drink tastes just like (if not better than) your local java joint’s offering.
McDonald’s Iced Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
To make McDonald’s iced coffee, you’ll need:
- Ground Coffee
For this recipe, you can use any brand and roast of coffee; however, I prefer Folgers Classic Roast.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
Sweetened condensed milk, not just sugar and coffee, is what makes this beverage from bland to bold.
This ingredient can be used in place of sugar and creamer to flavor coffee.
- Ice Cubes
Instructions
- Place the coffee grounds in the filter basket and adjust the basket for use in your coffee maker.
- Pour cold water into your coffee maker and start brewing.
- Turn off your coffee maker and let the coffee inside turn somewhat cool.
- Grab a large pitcher and combine sweetened condensed milk and freshly brewed coffee. Once combined, stir thoroughly.
- Refrigerate your coffee after the condensed milk and coffee are blended together.
- Once chilled, it is time to serve! Pour the chilled iced coffee into glasses and top them up with ice cubes.
Tips to Make Perfect Iced Coffee
- Use the right kind of coffee. The best way to make McDonald’s Iced Coffee is with a K-cup machine or espresso machine that uses pods. These machines are easy to use and make great drinks!
- Add your favorite flavorings! For this recipe, we recommend adding two teaspoons of vanilla extract or hazelnut syrup so that the flavor isn’t too overpowering but still packs a punch.
- Make sure you have all the ingredients before you start making your drink. You don’t want to have a half-finished cup of coffee sitting on a counter while you’re driving home!
- Use filtered water – Filtered water is better than tap water because it doesn’t have as many minerals, which can make your iced coffee taste bitter or sour.
- Use ice cubes instead of crushed ice – Crushed ice melts faster than cubes and dilutes your coffee faster, affecting its taste.
- If you want to get crazy with it, add chocolate syrup or caramel syrup!
Things you can add to Your McDonald’s Iced Coffee
Flavor this iced coffee any way you like, just like any other specialty coffee drink.
- You could add caramel syrup to an iced caramel macchiato to create a more intense caramel flavor.
- Flavored extracts are a great way to add interest to your recipes. A common variety is a vanilla, which has a classic flavor, or mint extract, which offers a refreshing taste.
- You can even combine chocolate syrup and mint extract to produce a beverage that tastes like a Girl Scout Cookie.
- In place of sweetened condensed milk, non-dairy milk makes a great substitute in recipes for iced coffee. If you prefer yours sweeter, simply add some simple syrup!
- McDonald’s iced coffee goes well with vanilla ice cream, providing a caffeine boost and an additional creamy element.
Conclusion
And there you have it—that is my super easy recipe for McDonald’s iced coffee. As I mentioned before, the best thing about this recipe is that you can use any type of milk you like. So, go ahead and grab your bag of delicious coffee beans, brew them up in your favorite coffeepot or French press, and then follow our instructions to make a tasty afternoon pick-me-up.
And if you’re feeling extra motivated after reading this recipe blog, why not try my other recipes for some more breakfast ideas?
