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

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.

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.

How to make the best coffee with instant coffee? ›

Use filtered water

No matter what, do not microwave your water. We recommend heating between 190 F and 205 F, which is hot—but not boiling. Adding instant to boiling water will make your instant coffee taste bitter or even burnt, so have your kettles on standby to add that fresh water every time.

How do you make instant coffee with cold water? ›

Making instant coffee with cold water

If you change things up and mix the coffee powder with a cup of cold water or milk, you'll still get instant coffee – though it might take five minutes for the coffee powder to completely dissolve. To make it extra frosty and refreshing, you can add some ice cubes to the drink.

What ice cream flavor goes well with coffee? ›

1. Affogato An affogato is an Italian coffee-based dessert. It traditionally starts with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or vanilla gelato and is then drowned with a shot of hot espresso.

Does coffee ice cream taste like iced coffee? ›

Coffee ice cream typically has a rich and robust flavor with a pronounced coffee taste. It combines the creaminess of ice cream with the boldness of coffee, creating a delightful balance of sweetness and a hint of bitterness.

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.

What can I add to coffee to make it taste better? ›

Coffee sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg gives you the smell and taste of sweetness, coupled with health benefits. Cinnamon and nutmeg are attributed to have anti-inflammatory properties. The ancient Asian spices are a prime choice for flavour and taste.

How do you make the best tasting coffee? ›

  1. STEP 1: KNOW YOUR COFFEE BEAN. Knowing where your coffee comes from is important. ...
  2. STEP 2: BUY WHOLE BEAN COFFEE. ...
  3. STEP 3: INVEST IN A SCALE. ...
  4. STEP 4: GRIND ONLY WHAT YOU NEED. ...
  5. STEP 5: STORE COFFEE IN A CERAMIC CANISTER. ...
  6. STEP 6: USE FILTERED WATER. ...
  7. STEP 7: CHOOSE A BREWING METHOD. ...
  8. STEP 8: CLEAN YOUR COFFEEMAKER OFTEN.

How to make delicious coffee? ›

For the best results, use a coarser grind (Yaguchi loves her Porlex Mini Stainless-Steel Coffee Grinder) and make sure your water isn't too hot. These factors play a big role in brewing coffee that isn't under- or over-extracted.

How to make Starbucks via Instant Iced Coffee? ›

Scoop instant coffee into your favorite mug. Add cool or room temperature water. Grab a spoon and stir until the microgrounds have dissolved. Add ice.

Is it OK to drink instant coffee with cold water? ›

Here are some of the benefits of using cold water in an instant coffee. Cold water gently softens the amylum, which gives the coffee a smooth flavor. It will give you an experience of having fresh coffee beans brewed recently. Cold water retains all the flavors intake, providing you with a great coffee experience.

Can cold brew coffee be made with instant coffee? ›

Yes, you can make instant coffee in cold water. It may take a little longer to dissolve completely, but it will dissolve. Because instant coffee is dehydrated regular coffee , it will easily dissolve in any temperature water, provided there's enough of it (which there will be if you follow the directions).

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!"

Does coffee ice cream taste 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.

Can I put ice cream in black coffee? ›

Sure. It's done all the time. Personally, I don't particularly like the taste, but have used vanilla ice cream when I was out of milk or sugar. It'll do in a pinch, but you wind up with vanilla flavored coffee.

What happens when you mix coffee and cream? ›

Yes, adding heavy cream can make your coffee taste richer and more luxurious. It also helps to balance out the acidity of some coffees and adds a creamy texture that can be quite enjoyable. However, too much can take away from the flavor and make it overly thick or rich tasting - so moderation is key.

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