How to make frozen coffee in a blender

What is frozen coffee?

On the spectrum of summer coffee recipes, frozen coffee falls somewhere between iced coffee and frappes. Frozen coffee is typically made by blending drip or cold brew coffee, milk and your choice of sweetener with ice to create a frosty, slushy result.

What is the difference between frozen coffee and frappes?

The main difference between these blended coffee drinks is the type of coffee used and the amount of milk or creamer you add. Frappes are made using one or two shots of espresso, while frozen coffees use drip, French press or cold brew coffee.

Frappes are also made using more milk than frozen coffee, as they more closely resemble lattes than iced coffee.

Frozen coffee blender recipe

Whether you’re hosting brunch or want to elevate your morning routine, making frozen coffee in your blender is simple with the right tools.

Yields

2 servings

Ingredients

• Coffee grounds of choice

• Milk or creamer of choice, like oat milk, whole milk or half and half

• Sweetener, like simple syrup or brown sugar

• Ice

Tools

• Coffee maker, like the KitchenAid^® 12 Cup Coffee Maker or the KitchenAid^® 38 oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker

• Blender, like the KitchenAid^® K400 Variable Speed Blender

Prep time

• 10 minutes

Total time

• Total time may vary, depending on the brewing method you choose. Cold brew typically takes 12–24 hours to brew, while drip coffee brews in about 10 minutes but needs to cool completely for this recipe.

Step 1: Brew coffee

There are a few ways you can brew the java for your frozen coffee. If you’re using the cold brew method, add filtered water and your coffee grounds to your cold brew maker and let it steep for 12–24 hours, then strain it through a filter or cheesecloth and dilute the concentrate with water.

For traditional drip coffee, add your grounds to a filter and place it in the coffee maker. Add water to the coffee maker and activate the brewer. Once your coffee is brewed, let it chill for up to two hours.

Step 2: Add ingredients to blender

Once you’ve brewed your coffee and allowed it to cool completely, you can add your frozen coffee ingredients to your blender. Pour your coffee, milk of choice and sugar or simple syrup into the blender jar and top with ice. Secure the lid on the jar and place it on the blender base.

TIP:

If you want a stronger coffee flavor in your beverage, you can freeze brewed coffee in an ice cube tray and replace the regular ice with frozen coffee ice cubes. You can also use undiluted cold brew concentrate to achieve a stronger flavor that more closely resembles a frappe.

Step 3: blend your frozen coffee

Start blending your ingredients on a low setting, then slowly increase the speed to high and let the blender mix for at least 30 seconds or until a frosty texture is reached.

Select KitchenAid^® blenders offer an Icy Drinks Preset Recipe Program that takes the guesswork out of blending frozen beverages and achieving your desired texture.

How long does frozen coffee last?

You can pour any leftover frozen coffee mixture into an ice cube tray, cover and keep in the freezer for up to about two weeks. When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply add the ice cubes and a little extra liquid to your blender and recreate your frozen coffee in seconds.

Make sure to cover the ice cube tray with an airtight top or put it in a freezer bag. Coffee can quickly absorb smells and flavors from other items in your freezer.

Frozen coffee drink ideas and recipes

When you make frozen coffee at home, the recipe possibilities are endless. Add fruity yet rich flavor to your drink by drizzling pear caramel sauce around the glass before you pour in your blended coffee, or top with homemade whipped cream fresh from your stand mixer.

Frozen Irish coffee recipe

Make this boozy, frosty coffee beverage for your next brunch to pair with asparagus red pepper quiche or fried green tomato eggs benedict. All you need to do to turn this classic coffee recipe into a frozen treat is allow the brew to cool for a few hours, then blend up your ingredients with ice.

VIEW RECIPE

Frozen frappe recipe

If you prefer the deep, rich flavor of espresso over standard coffee, try making a frozen frappe instead! This java treat combines espresso, milk, sweetener and ice in a blender, but you can make it extra decadent by adding in a scoop of ice cream.

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Frozen cappuccino recipe

Frozen cappuccino is just another name for a frappe, and the recipe is usually the same.

Vanilla almond frozen coffee recipe

You can upgrade your standard frozen coffee recipe by incorporating the smooth flavors of vanilla, almond and agave to create a sweet treat to enjoy at the start of your day.

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Snickerdoodle frozen coffee recipe

Enjoy dessert at any time of the day with this snickerdoodle frozen coffee recipe that combines classic flavors like cinnamon and brown sugar with coffee concentrate, creamer and milk.

VIEW RECIPE