✔ Updated · brewed double strength (not espresso), real measurements + homemade liquid sugar
My Dunkin Donuts iced coffee recipe is a copycat-style take on the chain's classic iced coffee: smooth medium-roast coffee brewed at double strength, chilled, then poured over a full glass of ice with cream and liquid sugar.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Brew the coffee at double strength (20 g of grounds to 1 cup of water) and chill it before it meets the ice, so the drink stays bold instead of watery.
Brewing it strong is what keeps it from tasting watered down, and the liquid sugar (a simple syrup) mixes straight into cold coffee instead of sinking to the bottom like granulated sugar. It takes about 10 minutes of hands-on time, the coffee keeps in the fridge for days, and you can add any flavor swirl you like.
Why You'll Love This Iced Coffee
- Bold, not watery, because the coffee is brewed extra strong before it goes over ice.
- Sweetened the smooth way, with homemade liquid sugar that dissolves instantly in cold coffee.
- Make-ahead friendly: brew a batch, keep it in the fridge and pour a glass in seconds.
What Makes a Dunkin-Style Iced Coffee Different?
A Dunkin-style iced coffee is not an iced latte. It starts with brewed coffee rather than espresso, and the coffee is brewed at roughly double strength so it holds its flavor once it is poured over a full glass of ice. Cream or milk and liquid sugar are added at the end, along with any flavor you like.
The other secret is the sweetener. Liquid sugar is just simple syrup, equal parts sugar and water warmed until clear, and it dissolves into cold coffee in seconds. If you want to compare styles, try our Starbucks iced coffee and McDonald's iced coffee copycats, or read the difference between black coffee and espresso.
What You Need
Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Medium-roast ground coffee: smooth and mild. A very dark roast tastes harsh once chilled.
- Cold filtered water: coffee is mostly water, so good-tasting water makes a better cup.
- Ice: a full glass. Coffee ice cubes are even better.
- Half-and-half or milk: whole milk, skim, oat or almond milk all work. Oat milk is the creamiest dairy-free choice.
- Liquid sugar: homemade simple syrup, or swap in a flavored syrup such as our vanilla syrup.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Brew it strong. Use about 20 g of coffee for every cup of water. Regular-strength coffee tastes thin once a glass of ice starts to melt into it. I weigh it, because scoops vary a lot.
- Chill before pouring. Hot coffee melts the ice almost instantly. Cooling it first keeps the drink cold and full-flavored.
- Sweeten with liquid sugar. Granulated sugar barely dissolves in cold coffee. A simple syrup of equal parts sugar and water blends in with one stir.
- Use coffee ice cubes. Freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray and use those cubes, so the drink never waters down.
- Keep it fresh. Store plain brewed coffee in a covered jar in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Once milk or cream is added, drink it within 2 hours if it sits out.
Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee (Copycat)
1
16-oz glass5
minutes5
minutes160
kcal40
minutesA copycat-style Dunkin Donuts iced coffee: medium-roast coffee brewed at double strength so it stays bold over ice, chilled, then poured over a full glass of ice with half-and-half and homemade liquid sugar.
Ingredients
- For the Coffee
20 g medium-roast ground coffee (about 4 tablespoons)
1 cup cold filtered water
1 1/2 cups ice cubes
- To Finish
1/4 cup half-and-half, or whole milk
1 to 2 tablespoons liquid sugar (simple syrup), to taste
- For the Liquid Sugar (makes about 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
Directions
- Make the Liquid Sugar
- Heat 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring, just until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is clear. Cool, then store in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 1 month.
- Brew and Chill
- Brew 20 g (about 4 tablespoons) of medium-roast ground coffee with 1 cup of water in a drip machine, pour-over or French press. That is about twice the usual strength, so the coffee still tastes bold once the ice melts.
- Pour the hot coffee into a heatproof jar, let it cool for 10 minutes, then refrigerate for about 30 minutes, until cold. Brewed coffee keeps in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, so you can make a batch ahead.
- Assemble
- Fill a 16-ounce glass to the top with ice.
- Pour the chilled coffee over the ice.
- Add 1/4 cup half-and-half and 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid sugar, stir well, taste and adjust. Add a flavor syrup now if you are using one.
Recipe Video
Notes
- For the ultimate presentation, put your glass in the freezer about an hour before you make this drink. When you come to serve it you’ll get beaded drops of freezing moisture and frost on the side of the glass. Pure luxury.
- Provided your ingredients are cold, you don’t have to use ice cubes. We just thing it looks better and we enjoy slurping around them with a straw when we get near the end.
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Flavor Ideas to Try
Add flavors with the cream and sugar in the last step. For a 16-ounce glass, start with about 1 tablespoon of syrup and adjust. Caramel is my pick.
| Flavor | Add to the glass |
|---|---|
| French vanilla | 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup in place of some of the liquid sugar, with half-and-half |
| Caramel | 1 tablespoon caramel sauce stirred in, plus a drizzle on top |
| Mocha | 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup with whole milk |
| Hazelnut | 1 tablespoon hazelnut syrup, no extra sugar needed |
| Cinnamon | a pinch of ground cinnamon shaken into the liquid sugar |
| Coconut | coconut milk in place of half-and-half and a little coconut syrup |
Make It Ahead and Store It
- Batch the coffee: I do this on Sundays for the week ahead. Brew 4 cups of water with 80 g of ground coffee, cool it and keep it in a covered jar in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Liquid sugar: keeps in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 1 month.
- Once mixed: drink an iced coffee with milk the same day, and do not leave it out for more than 2 hours.
- More coffee drinks: try our dalgona coffee, caramel Frappuccino and vanilla latte, and pair your iced coffee with homemade glazed doughnuts. For storage details, see how long iced coffee lasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make iced coffee taste like Dunkin?
Start with a smooth medium-roast coffee and brew it hot at about double strength, then cool it and pour it over a full glass of ice. Finish with cream or milk and liquid sugar rather than granulated sugar. Brewing strong keeps the flavor bold as the ice melts.
What coffee should I use for copycat Dunkin iced coffee?
A medium-roast ground coffee with a smooth, mild flavor works best, whether that is a Dunkin-branded bag or any other medium roast you enjoy. Avoid very dark roasts, which can taste bitter and harsh once the coffee is chilled.
What does 'regular' mean for an iced coffee?
In New England coffee shop slang, ordering a coffee 'regular' means with cream and sugar. To make it that way at home, add about 1/4 cup of cream or half-and-half and 2 tablespoons of liquid sugar to a 16-ounce glass, then adjust to taste.
Can I use espresso instead of brewed coffee?
Yes, but it makes a different drink. Two shots of espresso with milk over ice is an iced latte, which is creamier and less coffee-forward. For a classic iced coffee, use brewed coffee at double strength. A strong cold brew concentrate, diluted about half and half with water, also works.
How long does iced coffee last in the fridge?
Plain brewed coffee keeps in a covered jar in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, though it tastes best in the first 2. Once milk or cream is added, keep it chilled and drink it the same day, and do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
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