Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Aug 06, 2021, Updated Feb 24, 2024

5 from 45 votes

49 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Rich, ultra-creamy, with a bold coffee flavor — this is the best homemade coffee ice cream recipe! It’s easy to make with only 7 ingredients and is better than store-bought or ice cream parlor varieties.

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (2)

We love using our ice cream maker to create the best versions of our favorite flavors in the comfort of our own home.

I created this coffee ice cream for my son! He has always been my coffee kid, the first time I gave him a sip of my black coffee he loved it. Well, on vacation a few years ago he tried coffee ice cream and declared it was his all-time favorite flavor. So naturally, we had to create the best coffee ice cream recipe so we could make it and enjoy it whenever the craving strikes.

This recipe is rich, ultra-creamy, and has a bold coffee flavor. It’s easy to make with only 7 ingredients and is better than any store-bought variety! Plus, you can use decaf instant coffee to make it caffeine-free if you’re making it for coffee-loving kids like my son!

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (3)

Coffee Ice Cream: Ingredients

Here are a few notes about the ingredients and possible substitutions in this coffee ice cream recipe.

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (4)
  • Half and half/heavy cream. This recipe calls for 3 cups of liquid dairy. You can change the ratios of half and half : cream if desired, as long as the total amount equals 3 cups. You could also substitute some of the liquid with whole milk.
  • Granulated sugar.Organic cane sugar works well in place of white granulated sugar.
  • Fine sea salt.if using iodized salt, reduce the amount by half.
  • Pure vanilla extract.I don’t recommend using imitation vanilla. However vanilla bean paste is a good substitute.
  • Instant Coffee. High quality instant coffee is worth purchasing to make this recipe. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated work well.
Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (5)

How to Make Coffee Ice Cream

This coffee ice cream involves making a custard, straining it and then chilling the mixture for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight). So make sure to begin the process the day before you want to enjoy it!

Make the Custard

To begin, warm the half and half, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking to dissolve sugar.

Then, in a separate bowl beat the egg yolks. Add ½ cup of the warm mixture to the egg yolks and whisk to combine.

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (6)

Next, add the warm egg mixture to the half and half on the stovetop and whisk in the coffee granulates until dissolved.

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (7)

Cook the custard over medium-low heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens slightly – just barely sticking to the back of a spatula or until it reaches 170 degrees F.

Once thickened, put the heavy cream into a bowl with a fine mesh strainer on top of the bowl. Strain the custard into the heavy cream and discard what is left on the strainer. Add vanilla extract, stir to combine.

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (8)

Chill

Transfer the coffee ice cream mixture into an airtight container and cool completely in the fridge (preferably overnight).

Churn

Pour the coffee ice cream mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until frozen (about 30-40 minutes).

If desired, add mix-ins like chocolate chunks, a chocolates swirl, or even crumbled coffee cookies (YUM)!

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (9)

Freeze

Transfer the homemade coffee ice cream to an airtight container and freeze completely, about 4 hours.

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (10)

Serve

Enjoy this coffee ice cream with a dollop of homemade whipped cream for an extra special treat! Or, serve on top of coffee brownies.

I have also made ice cream cookie sandwiches using coffee cookies and coffee ice cream – to die for!

Store

This homemade coffee ice cream can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (11)
Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (12)

Coffee Ice Cream Recipe FAQs

How do you make coffee ice cream from scratch?

Follow this recipe! It’s so easy!

Can you put coffee grounds in ice cream?

I do not recommend doing this. Use brewed coffee or instant coffee granules (as called for in this recipe) to make the best coffee ice cream.

What can I substitute for instant coffee in a recipe?

You can use espresso powder in place of instant coffee.

Does coffee ice cream keep you awake?

If you use caffeinated coffee you definitely run the risk of it effecting your ability to fall asleep. To avoid this, use decaffeinated instant coffee.

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (13)

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (14)

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (15)

SavePinPrint

Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe

Laura

Rich, ultra-creamy, with a bold coffee flavor — this is the best homemade coffee ice cream recipe! It’s easy to make with only 7 ingredients and is better than store-bought or ice cream parlor varieties.

5 from 45 votes

Course Dessert, ice cream

Cuisine American

Servings 12 Servings

Calories 208

Prep Time20 minutes minutes

Cook Time10 minutes minutes

Churning & freezing6 hours hours

Total Time6 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Warm half and half, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking to dissolve sugar.

  • Beat egg yolks in a small mixing bowl, add ½ cup of the warm mixture to the egg yolks and whisk to combine. Then add that mixture to the half and half on the stovetop.

  • Whisk in coffee granulates until dissolved.

  • Cook over medium-low heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens slightly – just barely sticking to the back of a spatula or until it reaches 170 degrees F.

  • Place the heavy cream into a bowl with a fine mesh strainer on top of the bowl.

  • Strain the custard into the heavy cream. Discard what is left on the strainer.

  • Add vanilla extract, stir to combine.

  • Transfer to an airtight container and cool completely in the fridge (preferably overnight).

  • Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until frozen (about 30-40 minutes).

  • Transfer to an airtight container and freeze completely, about 4 hours.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Half and half/heavy cream. This recipe calls for 3 cups of liquid dairy. You can change the ratios of half and half : cream if desired, as long as the total amount equals 3 cups. You could also substitute some of the liquid with whole milk.
  • Granulated sugar.Organic cane sugar works well in place of white granulated sugar.
  • Fine sea salt.if using iodized salt, reduce the amount by half.
  • Pure vanilla extract.I don’t recommend using imitation vanilla. However vanilla bean paste is a good substitute.
  • Instant Coffee. High quality instant coffee is worth purchasing to make this recipe. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated work well.

Store

Store this coffee ice cream in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. Here are some of our favorites:

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.25cups | Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 97mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 521IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

    Try these recipes

    Coffee Brownies

    Best Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

    Coffee Cookies

    Cookies and Cream Ice Cream (Oreo Ice Cream)

    Best Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Recipe

    Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    Can I add coffee to vanilla ice cream? ›

    directions. Put a scope (or 2) of Vanilla ice-cream into the bowl. Sprikle instant coffee powder on the scoops (As per your taste, more coffee gives a little bitter taste). Enjoy!

    Can you make ice cream with coffee cream? ›

    While any coffee creamer can be used to make coffee creamer ice cream, we recommend selecting a healthy coffee creamer made with all-natural ingredients. By selecting a creamer made without water or processed vegetable oil, you'll make a richer, creamier ice cream treat!

    Can you put coffee grounds in ice cream? ›

    The strong flavor of the unbrewed beans—even a small, experimental amount—infused the vanilla with the essence of coffee ice cream. It's not quite the same as having a pint of the good stuff on hand, but it does the trick, and it worked well enough that I've made it my standard ice cream operating procedure.

    How do you make coffee ice cream less bitter? ›

    Balancing Sweetness and Bitterness

    After you've infused the coffee flavor into the cream and milk, you'll need to strain out the coffee grounds and add the sugar and eggs. The sugar and eggs will not only sweeten and thicken the base, but also balance out the bitterness of the coffee.

    Do Ben and Jerry's have coffee ice cream? ›

    Somewhere between the creamy coffee coffee ice cream & the buzzbuzzbuzz of espresso fudge, it hits you: you're wide awake & in lovelovelove. CREAM, CONDENSED SKIM MILK, SUGAR, COCONUT OIL, COFFEE EXTRACT, FROZEN EGG YOLK, COCOA, INSTANT COFFEE, VANILLA EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVOUR, SOY LECITHIN, GUAR GUM, CARRAGEENAN.

    What is it called when you mix coffee and ice cream? ›

    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 do you pimp up vanilla ice cream? ›

    Raw cookie dough is another favourite addition — chocolate chip is particularly good. Also look at stirring in crunchy additions such as praline-coated nuts or toffee popcorn or just add nuts on their own — peanuts stirred in when you are rippling vanilla ice-cream with a salty caramel sauce are particularly good.

    Does coffee ice cream taste good? ›

    It's creamy, balanced, and just really delicious. Turkey Hill's tub actually tastes like the last bits of a quickly consumed affogato — there's that last little bit of ice cream left that hasn't melted yet, combined with the last few drops of espresso in perfect, creamy synergy.

    Can you freeze coffee creamer to make ice cream? ›

    Start by pouring the coffee creamer into a clean ice cube tray. Place it in the freezer until frozen solid. When frozen, remove the ice cube tray from the freezer and pop out each cube of frozen creamer. Place the cubes in an airtight container, such as a plastic bag, and seal.

    Does Starbucks make coffee ice cream? ›

    One Reddit user remembers Starbucks' Java Chip as "the single best coffee flavor ice cream ever made."

    What does coffee ice cream have in it? ›

    Ingredients. Milk, cream, skim milk, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, natural coffee, cellulose gum, vegetable gums (guar, carrageenan, carob bean), annatto color, caramel color.

    Can you ice drip coffee? ›

    Brewing hot drip coffee directly onto ice is one of the best ways to make iced coffee, and it couldn't be easier.

    Why make coffee ice cubes? ›

    Here's a simple tip to get the most out of your brew—make your ice cubes out of coffee. When you pour hot coffee over regular ice cubes, they water it down and dilute the taste as they melt. But with coffee cubes, you get full flavor down to the last drop.

    What happens if you put ice cream in hot coffee? ›

    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.

    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.

    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.

    How do you make coffee taste creamy? ›

    Add Creamer To Your Coffee Grounds Before Brewing

    Adding creamer to your coffee grounds before brewing is a great way to add flavour and sweetness to your coffee. It will also help to create a creamy texture, making for a smooth and decadent cup of joe.

    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.

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6744

    Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

    Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

    Birthday: 1999-09-15

    Address: 8416 Beatty Center, Derekfort, VA 72092-0500

    Phone: +6838967160603

    Job: Mining Executive

    Hobby: Woodworking, Knitting, Fishing, Coffee roasting, Kayaking, Horseback riding, Kite flying

    Introduction: My name is Msgr. Refugio Daniel, I am a fine, precious, encouraging, calm, glamorous, vivacious, friendly person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.