Best Iced Coffee Punch Recipe | Instant Coffee, Yummy Ice Cream & More (2024)

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I’ve had many, many requests for the easy, delicious, and creamycoffee punchrecipe served at the shabby vintage style baby shower yesterday and I’m happy to share the recipewith you today. This cold and creamy punchis as delicious as it sounds and gets requested for every shower or party I host. It’s trulythe best coffee punch ever! {Looking for an adult version instead? Be sure to check out the spiked coffee punch recipe I made recently!}

Made with chocolate and vanilla ice cream and just a few other easy-to-find ingredients, this punch is easy to make, can be prepped ahead of party time, thrown together at the last minute, and it will always delight your guests!

I’ve never served this recipe at a party when the bowl hasn’t been completely emptied and it always gets rave reviews and many requests for the recipe! It’s a fun change from the standard soda and juice based punch recipes, especially for an adult party!

This coffee punch recipe made its rounds for years at every bridal and baby shower that was hosted in my group of friends. It’s a legend … and when you try it, you’ll understand why! It’ll quickly become a legend in your group too!

To make this punch, you’ll need the following ingredients. {You can find a printable recipe card and frequently asked questions further down in this post.}

Cold Coffee Punch Recipe

1 gallon of whole milk {whole milk makes it creamier and thicker but you could also substitute a leaner variety}

1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream

1/2 gallon of chocolate ice cream

1/4 cuppowdered instant coffee

2 cups of white sugar

1 cup of water

Best Iced Coffee Punch Recipe | Instant Coffee, Yummy Ice Cream & More (2)

In a small saucepan, mix the coffee powder, sugar, and water, and heat the mixture until the sugar has melted and all the ingredients are dissolved and well mixed. Don’t allow it to boil.

Refrigerate the mixture in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it. The liquid will get kind of syrupy and become thicker as it cools.

If you want to prep ahead for a party, you can make the syrup ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.

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Before the party guests arrive for the big shindig, pour the chilled syrup into a large punch bowl.{I often use a large apothecary jar to hold the punch instead of a standard punch bowl because I love the look of it.}

Add the entire gallon of milk and stir well.

Add all the ice cream {by scoops} into the punch. Stir gently to mix.

The ice cream doesn’t have to melt all the way prior to the party … it serves as the ice, keeping the punch nice and cold, and will slowly melt throughout the party. Just give it a quick stir before serving a glass.

Enjoy! This rich and creamy coffee punch will quickly become a requested recipe that’s handed down through friends and served at every party, shower, or special occasion.

Best Iced Coffee Punch Recipe | Instant Coffee, Yummy Ice Cream & More (4)

Can the coffee punch be made ahead of time?

If I’m hosting a large gathering, I like to make two or three batches of the syrup and store them separately in mason jars so I can quickly make another batch of punch without any extra measuring.

The syrup can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for about a week. For best results, the punch shouldn’t be mixed up in advance, however, if it has to be done, it will still taste good but will have a fully melted consistency.

What is instant coffee?

Instant coffee is the granular, fully dissolvable coffee found in the coffee aisle. It doesn’t require brewing.

Can brewed coffee be used instead of instant coffee?

I haven’t tried using brewed coffee but there’s no reason you couldn’t do that. Brew it very strongly and you may want to eliminate a bit of the milk to replace that liquid with the coffee.

Can decaf instant coffee be used?

Definitely.

How many servings will this recipe make?

One batch of this recipe will fill a large punch bowl, serving about 20 cups, depending on the size of the glass used. If you want a smaller amount, cut the amounts in half.

Can alcohol be added to this punch for a grown-up version?

Definitely! You can add any of your favorite liqueurs or check out my spiked coffee punch recipe for a tried and true version of the classic.

Can this punch be made with different ice cream flavors?

For a chocolate, mocha style flavor I would recommend using at least one container of chocolate ice cream but you could definitely substitute the vanilla ice cream for another flavor. Coffee ice cream would probably be delicious!

Can the amount of sugar be decreased or can it be completely eliminated?

I haven’t tried decreasing or removing the sugar but I would say you could easily cut it in half and still have a really palatable punch. You could probably eliminate it altogether if you wanted but I haven’t tried it like that.

Can the punch be served in a beverage dispenser instead of a punch bowl?

Because the punch gets served before the ice cream has fully melted, it would be difficult to serve it in a dispenser. However, if you allow the ice cream to fully melt, a beverage dispenser would work.

Best Iced Coffee Punch Recipe | Instant Coffee, Yummy Ice Cream & More (5)

Yield: 20 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

A cold, ice-cream based coffee punch.

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon whole milk
  • 1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
  • 1/2 gallon chocolate ice cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered instant coffee
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, mix the coffee powder, sugar, and water and heat until the sugar has melted and all the ingredients are dissolved and well mixed.Don’t boil.
  2. Refrigerate the mixture in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it, at least 30 minutes.The liquid will get kind of syrupy.
  3. When ready to serve, pour the syrup into a large punch bowl.
  4. Add the entire gallon of milk and stir.
  5. Add all the ice cream, by scoops, into the punch.Stir gently to mix.The ice cream doesn’t have to melt all the way prior to the party … it serves as the ice, keeping the punch cold.

Best Iced Coffee Punch Recipe | Instant Coffee, Yummy Ice Cream & More (2024)

FAQs

How do you make iced coffee taste like coffee shop? ›

The trick to making the iced coffee to taste like it's from a coffee shop is to cold press it or use a French press, and then serve it with a simple syrup and cream.

Does coffee and ice cream go together? ›

By swapping ice cubes with scoops of the sugary treat, you can keep your coffee cool without watering it down. It will also make it extra sweet, so you can either skip the cream and sugar, or just pile it on top and consider it your dessert. Try mixing espresso with your ice cream.

Is there a trick to making iced coffee? ›

How do you make a good iced coffee? The key is to brew a strong coffee concentrate: I let mine steep overnight, then I strain it, and chill it. I don't add ice until I'm ready to drink my iced coffee; I don't want the ice cubes to melt and dilute it!

How do coffee shops make their coffee taste so good? ›

The Core Ingredient: Quality Coffee Beans

Many coffee shops focus on sourcing high-quality Arabica beans to ensure a superior flavor for their customers. Sustainability also plays a role in the quality of coffee beans.

Why does McDonald's iced coffee taste so good? ›

What makes McDonald's iced coffee taste so good? The secret behind the signature taste of McDonald's iced coffee isn't just the chain's proprietary Arabica beans—it's the ratio of bitter coffee to sweet simple syrup and luscious light cream.

Why does my homemade iced coffee taste bad? ›

The coffee grind size can impact the extraction process and the taste of the final iced coffee. If the coffee grounds are too coarse, it can lead to under-extraction and a watery taste in the iced coffee. On the other hand, if the coffee grounds are too fine, it can cause over-extraction and a bitter, astringent taste.

How do you make iced coffee taste sweeter? ›

Sweeten Your Iced Coffee with Honey, Agave Syrup, Maple Syrup, or Molasses. These natural sweeteners aren't just good for pancakes and homemade granola. They add fabulous flavor and sweetness to iced coffee, too.

What is it called when you mix coffee and ice cream? ›

Affogato – coffee, dessert and your after dinner drink, all rolled into one. This is what you have when you're “too full for dessert”! Just pour espresso coffee over vanilla gelato or ice cream, enjoy the melty swirls and dig in. The Italians are genius.

What ice cream flavor goes well with coffee? ›

Coffee Ice Cream - Coffee ice cream is delicious when paired with a dark coffee like our French Roast, Fog Chaser, or Extra Dark Italian Roast. Biscotti is the best dessert for dunking into a hot coffee drink.

Can I put ice cream in my iced coffee? ›

Blend espresso, milk, sugar, and vanilla ice cream until smooth. Start the blender on low, then turn it up high. Fill the glass with one scoop of vanilla ice cream and pour the iced coffee in it. Optional: add some toppings like whipped cream, chocolate sauce, or liquor.

Can you just add ice to coffee to make iced coffee? ›

Cool the coffee

Or, if you're really short on time, pour the brewed coffee over ice and stir well. Note that pouring hot coffee directly over ice can result in a diluted and watered-down taste. It's recommended to allow the hot coffee to cool down first, which helps maintain the full flavor of the coffee.

Is iced coffee just hot coffee poured over ice? ›

An iced coffee is a cold version of your favourite coffee, but it's not simply a coffee that has been left to cool. Like a regular coffee, it's usually a combination of hot espresso and milk. However, ice is added too.

Is iced coffee just ice and coffee? ›

Simply put, iced coffee is coffee, in any form, served over ice. Technically, cold brew, flash brew, or even a pour-over on ice can be considered ice coffee. In many coffee shops, iced coffee means drip coffee that has been refrigerated or poured over ice.

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