Frosted coffee is a caffeinated milkshake-like beverage that combines vanilla ice cream and salted caramel with a strong, dark, bold shot of espresso coffee.
The creaminess of the ice cream and sweetness of the caramel complement the bold flavors of dark roast arabica or robusta beans beautifully.
Invented by Chick-fil-A, this beverage has been a popular choice among customers at the restaurant chain for years.
However, you can make a similar drink at home that’s just as good, if not better than the original.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to make the perfect frosted coffee at home.
We also have four alternative recipes — one vegan, one with alcohol, and two that’ll save you if you don’t have the right equipment…
What You’ll Need to Make Frosted Coffee
Frosted coffee is pretty simple to make and requires only a few ingredients. However, you'll need a couple of kitchen appliances, a blender being one of them.
Here’s what you’ll need to make frosted coffee:
Ingredients Needed
- Dark arabica coffee
- Vanilla ice cream
- Salted caramel sauce
- Ice cubes
Equipment Needed
- Coffee grinder
- Espresso machine
- Blender
- Large serving glass
- Drinking straw (optional)
Coffee Recommendations
Frosted coffee is a sweet, creamy beverage that requires a single shot of espresso. If you want the taste of the coffee to shine through all the sugar cream, you need to pick a rich, dark blend.
The best coffee for a frosted coffee should be dark roasted and strong. We recommend using a dark roast arabica coffee such as our DaLat (100% Arabica). Or, for a stronger coffee taste and harder caffeine hit, a robusta and arabica blend such as our DaNang blend.
How to Make Frosted Coffee: Step-By-Step Guide
Here’s how to make frosted coffee in five simple steps:
1. Grind the Coffee
First, grind a dark roast arabica or robusta and arabica blend finely. Aim for the consistency of table salt and grind enough to fill the portafilter for your espresso machine.
Freshly ground coffee makes the best frosted coffee. However, if you don’t like the idea of grinding your own or don't own a coffee grinder, high-quality pre-ground coffee will work.
2. Make an Espresso
Fill the portafilter of your espresso machine with the finely ground coffee. Lightly tamp and brew a strong shot of espresso. Aim for a bold, dark brew with a light crema.
3. Blend the Ingredients
In a blender, add one and a half cups of vanilla ice cream, five cubes of ice, the espresso, and a tablespoon or two of salted caramel sauce.
Blend on high until a smooth, thick milkshake-like beverage is formed.
4. Pour the Frosted Coffee
Squirt some salted caramel sauce around the inside of a large glass. Then, gently pour in the frosted coffee.
5. Garnish and Serve
Garnish with extra salted caramel on top and a few coffee beans (optional). Serve with an extra-wide straw and enjoy immediately.
Alternative Ways to Make Frosted Coffee
Don’t have a blender or espresso machine? Want to make a vegan or lightly alcoholic frosted coffee?
Check out the alternative frosted coffee recipes below:
1. Frosted Coffee Without a Blender
If you don't use a blender, you can still make a sweet, indulgent frosted coffee. Here’s how to do it:
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso
- Two cups of vanilla ice cream
- A splash of milk or cream
- Salted caramel sauce
How to make a frosted coffee without a blender, step-by-step:
- Brew an espresso shot — Grind your coffee, fill the portafilter, and brew a strong shot of espresso. Allow the shot to cool to room temperature — this is important as the lack of ice in the recipe will melt the ice cream faster.
- Whip the ice cream — In a large mixing bowl, add two cups of vanilla ice cream and a splash of milk or cream. Work the mixture with a fork and whip it until a thick, creamy, pourable liquid is created. Add more milk or cream if the mixture needs thinning, but remember the espresso will thin the mixture slightly.
- Add the coffee and caramel — To the mixing bowl, add the shot of cooled espresso and one or two tablespoons of salted caramel. Stir to combine.
- Pour the frosted coffee — Squirt some salted caramel around the inside of a large glass. Pour the frosted coffee.
- Garnish and serve — Garnish with a squirt of salted caramel and a few unground coffee beans. Serve with a large straw, and enjoy.
2. Frosted Coffee Without Espresso
If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can make frosted coffee with an alternative brew. Combine the recipe above with an alternative brew mentioned in this recipe if you also don’t have a blender. Here’s how to make a frosted coffee without espresso:
Ingredients:
- Coffee (instant or ground)
- Vanilla ice cream
- Salted caramel sauce
- Ice
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Brew a strong coffee — Using a French press, moka pot, pour-over, or drip coffee maker, brew a strong coffee. Use the same amount of coffee you would for a regular cup, but reduce the amount of water to create an espresso-like brew. Alternatively, use our Instant Vietnamese Espresso for a quick, easy way to make a strong shot of coffee.
- Blend the ingredients — In a blender, add one and a half cups of vanilla ice cream, one to two tablespoons of salted caramel, five cubes of ice, and a shot of strong coffee. Blend until smooth, thick, and creamy.
- Pour the frosted coffee — Squirt a dash of salted caramel around the inside of a large glass. Pour in the frosted coffee.
- Garnish and serve — Add another dash of salted caramel on top, serve with a straw, and enjoy.
3. Frosted Coffee With Baileys Irish Cream
Love the indulgent, thick, sweet creaminess of a frosted coffee but want to add an alcoholic kick? Try this Bailey's frosted coffee recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso
- Vanilla ice cream
- Salted caramel
- Ice
- Baileys Irish Cream
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Brew an espresso shot — Finely grind dark roast coffee, fill the portafilter, and brew a strong shot of espresso.
- Make the Frosted coffee — In a blender, add the espresso shot, one and a half cups of vanilla ice cream, two tablespoons of salted caramel, and five cubes of ice. Blend until thick and smooth.
- Add the Baileys — To the blender, add two shots of Baileys Irish Cream. Give the mixture a quick blend to combine.
- Pour the drink — Prepare the glass with a dash of salted caramel and pour up the frosted Baileys coffee.
- Serve and enjoy — Garnish with more caramel sauce and a few whole coffee beans. Serve with a straw and enjoy responsibly.
4. Vegan Frosted Coffee
If you’re vegan, you can still enjoy the delights of a frosted coffee if you prepare it with plant-based ice cream. Use a quality plant-based ice cream such as McConnell Dairy-Free Vanilla or Häagen-Dazs Plant-Based Caramel Fudge Chip.
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso or strong, concentrated coffee
- Vegan ice cream
- Salted caramel
- Ice
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Brew an espresso — Brew a strong cup of espresso or a shot of concentrated coffee.
- Blend the ingredients — Add a cup and a half of vegan ice cream, two tablespoons of salted caramel, the espresso shot, and five cubes of ice to a blender. Blitz until smooth and thick.
- Pour the frosted coffee — Prepare the glass by squirting some salted caramel inside. Pour the vegan frosted coffee.
- Garnish and serve — Garnish with a dash of salted caramel, add a straw, and serve. Enjoy while cold — dairy-free ice cream tends to melt faster than dairy, so drink it quickly.
FAQs: Frosted Coffee
Want to learn more about frosted coffee and other icy caffeinated beverages?
Read through the answers to the frequently asked questions below:
1. How Do You Make a Vegan Frosted Coffee?
Making a vegan frosted coffee is simple. Instead of dairy ice cream, swap it out for a vegan alternative. Coconut-based dairy-free ice creams work well for this, just make sure it contains vanilla for that classic flavor.
2. What Is the Difference Between Iced Coffee and Cold Brew?
Iced coffee is made using freshly hot brewed coffee that’s cooled and put over ice. It’s often combined with milk. Cold brew is brewed with cold water over a long period. It’s usually served black with or without ice.
3. What Are the Best Toppings for Frosted Coffee?
You can top frosted coffee with anything sweet, dark, or nutty. A dash of salted caramel always works well. Chocolate flakes, chocolate sauce, and crushed coffee beans also work well.
4. What Is the Difference Between Frosted Coffee and Iced Coffee?
Frosted coffee is a cold drink made with espresso, ice cream, and crushed ice. Iced coffee is a beverage made from cold coffee and ice, it can be served with milk or black.
5. How Does Frosted Coffee Differ From Coffee Milkshakes?
Frosted coffee and coffee milkshakes are essentially the same. Both contain coffee, ice, and ice cream. The "frosted coffee" is one recipe stemming from the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain.
6. Can You Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee?
Cold brew coffee can be heated up to enjoy a highly caffeinated, smooth hot brew. If you want to heat a concentrated cold brew, boil water and add it to the cold brew to heat and dilute. When heating up a regular cold brew, add it to a pan and heat on the stove slowly.
7. Can You Make Iced Coffee with a French Press?
Yes. You can make excellent iced coffee with a French press. Simply make a concentrated hot brew, allow it to cool, pour over ice, and add milk or ice-cold water. Sweeten with sugar, stevia, honey, or caramel if desired.
8. Can You Make Iced Coffee With Instant Coffee?
Yes. You can make surprisingly good iced coffee with instant coffee. Simply take one sachet of Cafely Vietnamese Instant Espresso and brew hot. Allow to cool before adding ice, sugar (optional), and milk.
9. What Is the Best Way to Sweeten Frosted Coffee?
Frosted coffee is naturally sweet because of the sugar in the ice cream and salted caramel. If it’s not sweet enough for you, add more salted caramel or a spoonful of refined white sugar before blending.
10. How Do You Make a Low-Calorie Frosted Coffee?
You can make a low-calorie frosted coffee by swapping out regular dairy ice cream for a low-calorie dairy or vegan alternative. Instead of using salted caramel, sweeten it with honey or stevia, or leave it unsweetened.
