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.

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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.

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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 good? ›

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 you make iced coffee thicker? ›

So here it is: the secret to slushy iced coffee is instant pudding mix! Yes, for real. Mixing the instant pudding mix into the coffee and milk mixture gives it a thick, gelled consistency. Once you add the ice and blend it up, the texture is the most perfect, creamy, delicious and refreshing iced coffee.

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.

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 iced coffee? ›

Let the brewed coffee sit out until it's cooled to room temperature. Or, to speed up the chilling process, stash the coffee in the fridge. A third smart make-ahead option? Pour the coffee into ice cube trays and freeze it.

Why doesn't my iced coffee taste good? ›

Stale or low-quality beans can produce a watery or bland taste, regardless of the coffee-to-water ratio and grind size. To ensure a flavorful iced coffee, use freshly roasted beans and grind them right before brewing.

Why does my homemade iced coffee taste watery? ›

It's too weak

This is probably the most common iced coffee mistake. You need a lot of ice to cool off your drink, but that tends to water it down. The best tip is to brew extra strong coffee to offset the ice.

What ice cream 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.

What is a coffee with cream instead of milk called? ›

Cappuccino. This creamy coffee drink is usually consumed at breakfast time in Italy and is loved in the United States as well. It is usually associated with indulgence and comfort because of its thick foam layer and additional flavorings that can be added to it.

Why does coffee ice cream taste so good? ›

Many long for coffee's deep flavor — the bitterness, the earthy profile, the chocolate undertones, and the interplay of acidity and sweetness. This is why coffee ice cream is such a treasured pairing. It blends our love for a strong caffeine buzz with the comfort and nourishment of a rich and creamy bowl of ice cream.

How to add coffee to vanilla ice cream? ›

Simply pour bold-tasting Café GOYA® over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The hot coffee slowly melts the cold ice cream, creating a creamy, sweet coffee float. For extra flavor, top the ice cream with chocolate or caramel sauce before adding the coffee.

Is coffee with vanilla ice cream good? ›

"I love Vanilla ice-cream and I love coffee.. Have you ever tried combining the two! For all dark chocolate lovers,like me, this combination is definitely a thumbs up!"

What is a affogato coffee? ›

An affogato (/ˌɑːfəˈɡɑːtoʊ, ˌæf-/), more traditionally known as "affogato al caffè" (Italian for "drowned in coffee"), is an Italian coffee-based dessert. It usually takes the form of a scoop of plain milk-flavored (fior di latte) or vanilla gelato or ice cream topped or "drowned" with a shot of hot espresso.

How do you make iced coffee not taste bad? ›

By adjusting the coffee-to-water ratio, choosing the right grind size, using fresh and high-quality beans, and utilizing coffee ice cubes, you can significantly improve the flavor of your iced coffee and eliminate any watery taste.

How to make an iced coffee for someone who doesn t like coffee? ›

Adding creamer, half and half, or milk to your coffee can mellow out the flavor. There are more options than ever these days, like almond milk and oat milk for those avoiding dairy. Try a cold brew. Cold brewing is a way of making coffee that can lend itself to a slightly sweeter, milder, and less acidic taste.

Why doesn't my iced coffee taste good at home? ›

The likely causer bitterness is over-extraction. Over-extraction can happen when the brewing time is too long or the coffee grounds are too fine. Try again with a fairly coarse grind and don't exceed 24 hours of immersion. Cold brew is also closer to a coffee concentrate than to a regular coffee.

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