Creamy Sweet Coffee Ice Cubes

Coffee ice cubes will make any cold coffee drink even better. And these will add a creamy and rich sweetness that's undeniably dreamy.

Ever had an iced coffee that starts to taste watery about halfway thorough, as the ice melts?

As coffee lovers, we don't like it when that happens. 😉 

When you add coffee ice cubes to your coffee, the flavor will never become weaker. And when you add sweet and creamy coffee ice cubes, it becomes an iced latte of sorts. A sweet one, that's almost like dessert.

In a way an ice coffee with these cubes is similar to Red Eye coffee drink (sometimes called Hammerhead), which is brewed coffee with a shot or two of espresso poured on top. A Red Eye made with these coffee or espresso ice cubes is in the same vein, but different because it's served cold, and that you're also adding milk and sugar.

Jump to:

• Three Key Ingredients
• How to Make Them
• Variations
• Recipe Tips
• How long will they last in the freezer?
• Must-Try Dessert Recipes with Coffee
• Creamy Sweet Coffee Ice Cube Recipe

Three Key Ingredients

(The ingredients are the same for my Creamy Coffee Popsicles, which are also a delectable treat.)

• instant espresso powder - Espresso powder is made from darkly roasted coffee beans. I use Medaglia D'Oro Instant Espresso. You can almost always find this (or other brands) at a large grocery store. So technically, this recipe is for espresso ice cubes. If you can’t find the instant espresso powder, you can substitute it with instant coffee, but use about 50% more so the flavor is as strong as the espresso powder.
• sweetened condensed milk - Sweetened condensed milk is cow's milk that has had at least 60% of its water content evaporated, and has sugar added to it. You can substitute it with Cream of Coconut (not coconut cream -- it's different!). You can also add about ¾ cup of granulated sugar to 14 ounces of evaporated milk or full-fat coconut milk. For both, bring the mixture to a strong simmer, then turn the heat to the lowest setting and gently simmer until it's thick, whisking on and off.
• milk - Whole, low-fat or non-fat.

(See recipe card below for quantities.)

How to Make Them

- In a large pitcher (or bowl), combine espresso powder with sweetened condensed milk and milk. Whisk until smooth.

- Fill about about 1 ¾ standard silicone ice cube trays with the coffee mixture. The standard silicone trays usually make 14 (1-ounce) cubes, so this recipe should yield about 2 dozen cubes.

- Freeze them for at least 6 hours, and ideally overnight. 

Variations

• I always pour coffee over my coffee ice cubes (never too much coffee!), but you can play around with other drinks. You can make a coffee soda by adding club soda to them. Or really, a coffee cream soda. (Even better!)
• These ice cubes are fantastic with regular coffee, espresso or cold brew poured over them.
• I also like experimenting with spices -- a sprinkle of cinnamon and/or nutmeg is delicious!
• If you want to add vanilla syrup to your drink for a vanilla iced coffee, or caramel for a caramel latte, use less of the sweetened condensed milk when you make the ice so it's not too sweet.
• Dairy free or vegan option. Use cream of coconut (again, not coconut cream!) with almond or oat milk.

Recipe Tips

• These coffee ice cubes are on the softer side. Use a silicone ice cube tray for easy removal. It will work in a plastic one, but they might be difficult to release.
• Also, since they're on the soft side, it's best to cool your coffee completely before pouring it over the ice, at least to room temperature.
• You will notice lots of tiny bubbles in the creamy coffee mixture, both as you whisk and once it's poured into the ice cube trays. This is okay and most of them will dissipate.

How long will they last in the freezer?

Most frozen coffee ice cubes will last for many months in the freezer -- however, they will be best for up to a month, especially with the addition of milk and sugar.

Must-Try Dessert Recipes with Coffee

• Espresso Chocolate Sauce
• Kahlúa Espresso Gelato
• Kona Coffee Kahlúa Brownies
• Upside Down Fresh Fig Coffee Cake
• No-Bake Espresso Ganache Cheesecake

I love having these sweet and creamy coffee cubes at the ready for a hot day when I want a perfect iced coffee. It's my favorite!

I hope you love them as much as I do!