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 to make your iced coffee better? ›

Five Ways to Make Iced Coffee Better
  1. Don't brew drip coffee as you normally would and then pour it over ice. It will taste watery and bitter, and you'll lose clarity and sweetness. ...
  2. Use an Aeropress! ...
  3. Float it. ...
  4. Take it outside. ...
  5. Just add booze.
May 19, 2015

What happens if you mix ice cream and coffee? ›

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.

What is it called when you put ice cream in coffee? ›

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 should I add to my iced coffee to make it taste better? ›

Adults might enjoy adding a little extra boost into their iced coffee recipe. Cointreau, Bailey's Irish cream and Kahlua are the best choices to add into iced coffee. If you're using regular espresso (not decaf) in your iced coffee recipe, then it will have the same effect on your body as any other coffee drink.

What makes iced coffee taste better? ›

Sweeten it up with syrup

One of the easiest ways to add extra flavor to your iced coffee is to add flavored syrup, and there are so many excellent coffee syrup brands to choose from.

How does Gordon Ramsay make iced coffee? ›

Preparation
  1. Combine the espresso, maple syrup, milk and ice cubes in a blender.
  2. Blend until the ingredients are completely mixed.
  3. Pour into a tall glass, sprinkle with cinnamon and serve.

Do you let coffee cool before making iced coffee? ›

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. Fill your cup, mug, or tumbler at least ¾ of the way with ice, then pour coffee over the ice and stir.

How do you keep iced coffee from getting watery? ›

An excellent solution to prevent iced coffee from becoming watery is to use coffee ice cubes instead of regular ice cubes. As they melt, they will maintain the integrity of your iced coffee's flavor instead of diluting it with water.

How to combine coffee and ice cream? ›

Put one scoop of ice cream into a small glass or bowl, and pour ½ cup hot coffee over it. Serve immediately, stirring the ice cream into the hot coffee, so that it melts slightly.

What ice cream flavor goes well with coffee? ›

Ice Cream: There are a few ways you can go when eating ice cream and sipping coffee. Think complementary flavors and like flavors. Pair a fruity coffee with a chocolate or nutty ice cream. Or if you like fruit-flavored ice cream, pair it with a chocolatey coffee.

Can I use vanilla ice cream as coffee creamer? ›

At the end of the day, ice cream is basically frozen milk and sugar—which is what you'd be putting into your coffee anyway. Plop a spoonful of it in your coffee and stir, and if it's chocolate, even better! You're basically making yourself a mocha.

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 coffee with ice cubes? ›

Iced coffee is brewed hot coffee, that's cooled then simply poured over ice. You can brew it any way you like (and make it as strong as you like), but you'll have to plan in advance.

Do you just put ice in coffee to make iced coffee? ›

Pour the hot coffee into a pitcher or glass that's filled to the top with ice. As soon as the iced coffee reaches room temperature (test it by sticking a clean finger into it; the ice will look mostly melted at this point), transfer the coffee to a new cup of ice.

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