9 Refreshing Christmas Iced Coffee Recipes to Make 2025

When the air turns crisp and holiday decorations appear, does the thought of giving up your daily iced coffee for a steaming mug feel like a sacrifice? You’re not alone. For the devoted iced coffee enthusiast, the holiday season can present a caffeinated dilemma: how to indulge in the festive flavors of gingerbread, peppermint, and sugar cookies without ditching the refreshing chill you love. You crave that holiday buzz, but you want it served over ice, delivering both seasonal cheer and cool refreshment in every sip.

As a year-round iced coffee devotee, I’ve spent years perfecting ways to blend holiday cheer into my favorite chilled drink. The desire for a festive yet refreshing caffeine fix during the busy holiday season is real. It’s about capturing the cozy essence of Christmas in a format that’s light, energizing, and perfectly suited to your taste. You don’t have to choose between your preferred drink and the flavors of the season.

The best way to make coffee Christmassy is by infusing it with holiday-themed syrups and spices. Flavors like peppermint, gingerbread, sugar cookie, and eggnog can be easily added to cold brew or iced lattes for a festive, refreshing drink perfect for the holiday season. These are my go-to recipes for a festive pick-me-up that will keep you cool, caffeinated, and full of cheer.

9 Refreshing Christmas Iced Coffee Recipes to Make in 2025

You can easily create delicious, festive iced drinks at home by combining classic Christmas flavors with cold brew or espresso. Each recipe has been selected for its unique holiday flavor profile and ease of preparation, ensuring you can create a café-quality festive drink right in your own kitchen. From the minty chill of a Peppermint Mocha to the warm spice of a Gingerbread Latte, there’s a refreshing recipe here for every holiday craving.

These nine distinct recipes are simple enough for any home barista to master. Get ready to impress your guests—and yourself—with these delightful DIY Christmas lattes and easy holiday iced coffee creations.

1. Peppermint Mocha Cold Brew

Save this idea to your “Holiday Drinks” board!

This recipe offers a simple way to enjoy a classic Christmas flavor by combining smooth cold brew with rich chocolate and cool peppermint. It’s the perfect festive drink for a crisp winter morning or a relaxing afternoon treat.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup cold brew coffee
  • 1/4 cup milk of choice
  • 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
  • 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
  • Whipped cream (optional)
  • Crushed candy canes for garnish (optional)
• Instructions:
  1. In a tall glass, combine the cold brew coffee, your milk of choice, rich chocolate syrup, and pure peppermint extract.
  2. Stir the mixture well to ensure the syrup is fully dissolved. For a frothier texture, you can use a cocktail shaker to mix thoroughly.
  3. Add ice to fill the glass to the brim.
  4. If desired, top with a generous swirl of whipped cream and sprinkle with festive crushed candy canes for a beautiful finish.

Pro-Tip: A little peppermint extract goes a long way. I’ve learned to start with just 1/4 teaspoon and add more to taste. This prevents the mint from overpowering the delicate chocolate and coffee notes.

2. Gingerbread Spice Cold Brew Latte

Save this cozy recipe to your “Winter Coffee” board!

You can create a warm-spiced latte at home by infusing milk with molasses and classic gingerbread spices before combining it with cold brew. This recipe tastes like a gingerbread cookie in a cup, delivering cozy holiday vibes with a refreshing twist.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup cold brew coffee
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice
  • 1 tbsp molasses
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg and cloves
  • Whipped cream (optional)
  • Gingersnap cookie for garnish (optional)
• Instructions:
  1. In a small saucepan, gently warm the milk with the molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Stir constantly until everything is fragrant and well-combined, then remove from heat and let it cool slightly. Using a good quality blackstrap molasses will give the richest, most authentic gingerbread flavor.
  2. Fill a large glass mug or tumbler with ice.
  3. Pour the smooth cold brew coffee into the glass.
  4. Top with the cooled, spiced milk mixture and stir to combine the layers.
  5. For an extra treat, garnish with whipped cream and a crunchy gingersnap cookie on the rim.

Pro-Tip: From my experience, warming the milk with the spices first is a crucial step. This process helps to “bloom” their flavors, resulting in a much more aromatic and tasty drink than you’d get from just stirring them in cold.

3. Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte

Pin this Starbucks-inspired recipe for later!

Replicate the popular Starbucks holiday drink by making a simple homemade sugar cookie syrup with vanilla, almond, and butter extracts. This budget-friendly copycat recipe delivers the sweet, buttery flavor of a classic sugar cookie in a refreshing iced latte.

• Ingredients for Sugar Cookie Syrup:
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Ingredients for Latte:
  • 2 espresso shots (or 1/3 cup strongly brewed coffee)
  • 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons Sugar Cookie Syrup
  • Whipped cream & Christmas sprinkles
• Instructions:
  1. First, make the syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium heat. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla, almond, and butter extracts. I’ve found that using a good quality butter extract is the secret to getting that authentic cookie flavor. Allow the syrup to cool completely.
  2. Fill your favorite glass with ice.
  3. Pour in 2 1/2 tablespoons of the homemade sugar cookie syrup, followed by the two shots of espresso or strongly brewed coffee.
  4. Top with creamy almond milk.
  5. Finish with a beautiful swirl of whipped cream and a generous amount of festive red and green Christmas sprinkles.

Lesson Learned: Don’t let the syrup come to a rolling boil, as it can cause the sugar to crystallize. You only need to heat it gently until the sugar dissolves to achieve a perfect, smooth consistency for your latte.

4. Gingerbread Iced Mocha

Add this blended treat to your “Holiday Recipes” board!

You can find a quick, blended Christmas coffee recipe by combining instant coffee with gingerbread spices and molasses in a blender. This method creates a perfectly chilled beverage with the cozy holiday vibes of a gingerbread mocha in seconds.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 tbsp + 1 tsp instant coffee
  • 1.5 tsp of molasses
  • 2 tsp raw sugar
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • Sprinkle of ground cloves
  • 2-3 tsp half and half (or milk alternative)
  • 1 cup ice water
• Instructions:
  1. This recipe couldn’t be simpler. Combine all the ingredients—the instant coffee, molasses, raw sugar, spices, half and half, and ice water—into a blender. From my own tests, using high-quality instant coffee granules makes a noticeable difference in the final taste.
  2. Blend on a high setting for about 15 seconds, or until the mixture is smooth and slightly frothy.
  3. Pour over a few fresh ice cubes in a glass and enjoy immediately for a quick and festive treat.

Pro-Tip: For a thicker, more frappe-like consistency that feels even more indulgent, add a handful of ice cubes directly into the blender with the rest of the ingredients before blending.

5. Minty Mocha with Coffee Ice Cubes

Never have watered-down iced coffee again! Save this hack!

You can easily prevent diluted iced coffee by making flavored coffee ice cubes with coffee, chocolate syrup, and peppermint extract. This unique twist on the classic peppermint mocha ensures your drink stays cold and flavorful without becoming watery.

• Ingredients for Minty Mocha Ice Cubes:
  • 1 cup cold brewed Peppermint Mocha flavored coffee
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
• Ingredients for Iced Coffee:
  • 3/4 cup cold brewed Peppermint Mocha flavored coffee
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate almond milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 6-8 Minty Mocha coffee ice cubes
  • Whipped topping (optional)
• Instructions:
  1. First, prepare the ice cubes. In a pitcher or large measuring cup, combine the cold brewed coffee, chocolate syrup, and peppermint extract. Stir well until the syrup is fully incorporated.
  2. Pour the mixture into silicone ice cube trays. I find these make removing the frozen cubes much easier than traditional plastic trays. Freeze for at least 3-4 hours, or until completely solid.
  3. To assemble the drink, pour the cold coffee, dark chocolate almond milk, and the remaining peppermint extract into a glass and stir.
  4. Add 6-8 of your frozen Minty Mocha coffee ice cubes and top with whipped cream if you desire.

Pro-Tip: I always make a large batch of these coffee ice cubes and store them in a freezer-safe bag. This way, I always have them on hand for a quick and flavorful iced coffee that never gets watery, even on the busiest days.

6. Iced Gingerbread Coffee with Spice Ice Cubes

Save this genius idea for a perfectly spiced iced coffee!

To achieve maximum gingerbread flavor, create matching spiced ice cubes using gingerbread-flavored coffee and spices. This holiday iced coffee hack ensures every sip is packed with subtly sweet and spiced flavor, from beginning to end.

• Ingredients for Gingerbread Spice Mix:
  • 1/4 cup ground cinnamon, 1/4 cup ground ginger, 2 tbsp ground nutmeg, 2 tbsp ground cloves
• Ingredients for Icy Ginger Spice Ice Cubes:
  • 1 cup cold brewed Gingerbread flavored coffee
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon gingerbread spice mix
• Ingredients for Iced Coffee:
  • 3/4 cup cold brewed Gingerbread flavored coffee
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 1/4 teaspoon gingerbread spice mix
  • 6-8 Icy Ginger Spice coffee ice cubes
  • Whipped cream and a dash of spice (optional)
• Instructions:
  1. First, make the ice cubes. In a pitcher, stir together the cold gingerbread flavored coffee, molasses, brown sugar, and gingerbread spice mix until the sugar is fully dissolved. Pour this mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.
  2. To prepare the drink, pour the cold coffee, milk, molasses, and spice mix into your serving glass.
  3. Stir vigorously until the molasses is fully combined with the coffee and milk.
  4. Add your pre-made Icy Ginger Spice coffee ice cubes and top with whipped cream and an extra dash of spice if desired.

Pro-Tip: I like to make the gingerbread spice mix in a larger batch and store it in an airtight container like a small spice jar. You can use it all season long for your coffee, in holiday baking, and even for sprinkling on oatmeal for a festive breakfast.

7. Eggnog Frappe

Pin this festive frappe for your next holiday gathering!

This recipe combines a classic holiday flavor with coffee by blending rich eggnog with cooled espresso and ice. The result is a sweet, creamy, and festive frappe that offers a delightful twist on a traditional Christmas beverage.

• Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup eggnog
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon stevia (or 1 tbsp sugar)
  • 1/2 cup brewed espresso or strong coffee, cooled
  • 5 ice cubes
  • Whipped cream and sprinkled nutmeg for garnish
• Instructions:
  1. Brew a half-cup of strong coffee or espresso and allow it to cool completely to room temperature. This prevents the ice from melting too quickly.
  2. In a high-powered blender, combine the cooled coffee, creamy eggnog, milk, your choice of sweetener, and the ice cubes. Through experience, I know a powerful blender is key to getting a smooth, creamy texture without any ice chunks.
  3. Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and has a thick, drinkable consistency.
  4. Pour into a tall, elegant glass and garnish with a generous amount of whipped cream and a fresh sprinkle of nutmeg.

Pro-Tip: For an extra coffee kick without adding more liquid and thinning out the frappe, I sometimes use a couple of frozen coffee ice cubes in place of the regular ice cubes.

8. Iced Salted Caramel Mocha

Save this sweet and salty treat for your holiday coffee bar!

You can make a decadent iced mocha at home by combining cooled strong coffee with cocoa, caramel sauce, and a pinch of salt. This perfect balance of sweet and salty creates an indulgent drink perfect for satisfying a holiday sweet tooth.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup of hot, strong coffee (cooled)
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar (optional, to taste)
  • 1/8 tsp of salt
  • Whipped cream and caramel drizzle for topping
• Instructions:
  1. Brew one cup of strong coffee and let it cool completely. You can speed this up by placing it in the fridge.
  2. In a separate jug or a shaker bottle, combine the cooled coffee, a high-quality salted caramel sauce, cocoa powder, sugar (if using), and salt. Whisk or shake vigorously until the cocoa powder is fully dissolved and no clumps remain.
  3. Fill your favorite glass mug with ice.
  4. Pour the rich coffee mixture over the ice.
  5. Top with cold milk and give it a gentle stir to combine.
  6. Finish your creation with a generous topping of whipped cream and an extra drizzle of caramel sauce.

Pro-Tip: For a beautiful, professional-looking presentation that looks like it came from a coffee shop, drizzle the caramel sauce on the inside walls of the empty glass before you add the ice.

9. Iced Pumpkin Caramel Latte

Keep the fall vibes going! Pin this Iced Pumpkin Caramel Latte!

You can enjoy this popular autumn flavor during the holidays by creating a simple pumpkin sauce with puree and spices. This beloved treat transitions perfectly from fall to early Christmas, offering a creamy, spiced, and refreshing cold latte.

• Ingredients for Pumpkin Sauce:
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice seasoning
  • 3/4 cup brewed coffee
  • 3/4 cup sugar
• Ingredients for Latte:
  • Caramel sauce
  • Ice
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups milk or almond milk
  • 2 shots of espresso
• Instructions:
  1. First, make the pumpkin sauce. In a small saucepan, combine 100% pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling), pumpkin spice seasoning, brewed coffee, and sugar. Place over low heat and stir continuously until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce is well combined and smooth. Let it cool.
  2. Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of a tall glass for flavor and a beautiful look.
  3. Fill the glass with ice, then add 1/4 cup of your cooled pumpkin sauce and top with milk or a non-dairy alternative like almond milk.
  4. Finally, pour two fresh shots of hot espresso directly over the top to create a stunning layered effect.
  5. Stir to combine all the delicious flavors and enjoy.

Lesson Learned: I always store the leftover pumpkin sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. It lasts for up to a week and is perfect for making quick, delicious lattes on busy mornings.

@yourcoffeedude

Christmas Iced Latte 🤎☕️ Recipe👇🏽 . Recipe: – add ice (if you want it hot just cut it off) – pour in a double shot of espresso – add 20 mo if chestnut syrup – foam up some vanilla milk (I used Oatly Vanilla) and pour it onto your drink – top it with some whipped cream and cinnamon . That’s it. Enjoy! . . . . #christmascoffee #chestnut #icedlatte

♬ The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) – Nat King Cole Trio

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Christmas Iced Coffee

To quickly review and remember the most important information, here is a scannable guide to making the best festive iced coffee this season.

• Embrace Holiday Syrups: The easiest way to make iced coffee festive is with syrups. A homemade sugar cookie or gingerbread syrup can instantly transform your daily drink into a holiday treat.
• Don’t Fear the Spices: Warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves add incredible aroma and flavor. For the best results, bloom them in warm milk before cooling and adding them to your coffee.
• Beat Dilution with Coffee Ice Cubes: For the ultimate iced coffee experience, freeze leftover coffee (plain or flavored) in ice cube trays. Your drink will stay strong and flavorful to the very last sip.
• Garnish Generously: Whipped cream, festive sprinkles, crushed candy canes, and caramel drizzles make your homemade drink feel like a special indulgence from a high-end coffee shop.

People Also Ask About Christmas Iced Coffee

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about creating the perfect festive iced coffee at home.

How do I make my coffee Christmassy?

You can make your coffee Christmassy by incorporating classic holiday flavors. Use syrups like peppermint, gingerbread, or caramel. Add warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. You can also use festive garnishes like whipped cream, crushed candy canes, or red and green sprinkles for a visually appealing holiday touch.

What is the secret to making good iced coffee?

The secret to making good iced coffee is to start with a strong coffee concentrate to prevent it from tasting watered down. Brewing coffee at double strength or using a quality cold brew concentrate is ideal. Additionally, using coffee ice cubes instead of regular ice cubes ensures your drink stays flavorful as the ice melts.

What are Starbucks Christmas coffees?

Starbucks’ Christmas coffee lineup typically features a variety of festive flavors available both hot and iced. Popular drinks often include the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, and the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. They also release seasonal blends like the Christmas Blend coffee beans for brewing at home.

Final Thoughts

This holiday season, you don’t have to give up your favorite iced coffee to get in the festive spirit. With these simple recipes, you can enjoy the classic tastes of Christmas in a cool, refreshing drink that’s perfect for any time of day, from opening presents on Christmas morning to a quiet afternoon escape from the holiday hustle.

Which one of these festive iced coffees are you most excited to try first? Let me know in the comments below

Last update on 2025-10-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API