This vanilla iced coffee made from Stok Cold Brew is my favorite way to get my caffeine kick on hot summer days. I don't know about you, but in the warmer months of the year when it ranges from about 90°-100°F, I crave cool, refreshing drinks instead of super hot coffee. Aside from the caffeine, this homemade cold brew coffee drink also has another perk (pun intended). It's also a great trick for saving money--no Starbucks run needed for this girl when I've got this recipe!
Thanks to an easy homemade vanilla simple syrup and refrigerated cold brew from the grocery store, I can make a delicious iced coffee on the regular, sans barista! For this recipe, I tested with un-sweet black cold brew coffee since I'm a strong coffee lover. (I tend to go for dark roasts.) If you don't like it as robust, use extra simple syrup or pick another of Stok's cold-brewed coffee flavors.
The only "involved" part of this recipe is to make the vanilla simple syrup using equal parts water and sugar. I love to make a batch of the syrup and keep it in the fridge. That way whenever I have a craving for iced coffee, everything's ready to go.
Why Stok cold brew? I may have been influenced after watching We are Wrexham (Stok is a sponsor of the team). It really is delicious though, it has a smooth taste and is so much easier than making cold brew yourself. Give this recipe a try and I bet you'll love it too and won't miss that visit to the coffee shop either!
While you're at it, this cold brew iced coffee goes really well with several of my favorite breakfast recipes. Try it with my Blueberry Lemon Muffins with Streusel Topping, Double-Dipped Chocolate Brioche French Toast, or Bananas Foster Banana Bread recipes. With any that you choose, you're in for a treat!
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Ingredients
Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:
- granulated sugar
- water
- vanilla extract
- ice
- Stok cold brew coffee (I like Stok unsweetened extra bold black cold brew coffee)
- whole milk for serving (optional)
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to make our iced coffee!
- First, make the vanilla simple syrup: Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook just until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Stir in the vanilla.
- Next, fill a tall glass with ice. Add the cold brew and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the simple syrup. Add desired amount of milk and stir to combine.
Hint: Make sure the simple syrup is completely cooled to room temperature before stirring in the vanilla extract. Since vanilla extract has a high alcohol content, waiting for it to cool first prevents all the flavor from evaporating out.
Hint #2: This recipe calls for cold brew coffee, not cold brew concentrate. Make sure you're using coffee that doesn't require dilution.
Substitutions
Need to make some ingredient swaps? Here are some ideas:
- Milk - Instead of whole milk, use reduced-fat or skim milk. Or try a dairy-free option like almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. You can also make it super decadent and use whipping cream or half-and-half if you'd like.
- Vanilla extract - Vanilla bean paste or an already used vanilla bean are great substitutes. Or, try another extract like almond extract, coconut extract, or maple extract.
- Granulated Sugar - You can make simple syrup with other sweeteners besides granulated sugar. Try honey, agave, or maple syrup if you prefer.
Variations
Check out these variations to change up this recipe:
- Cold Brew Mocha - Stir in some chocolate syrup or a little cocoa powder (plus more simple syrup) to make a mocha iced coffee.
- Island Iced Coffee - I love adding coconut milk to iced coffee. Add a little coconut extract into the vanilla simple syrup and top with toasted coconut flakes for a tropical vibe.
- Decaf - To make this decaf, look for decaffeinated cold brew coffee.
- Vegan - In addition to using a dairy-free milk, use vegan granulated sugar or agave in the simple syrup instead of granulated sugar.
Equipment
Hooray! To make this iced coffee, you won't need any fancy equipment. Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:
- dry measuring cups
- liquid measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- small saucepan
Storage
Store the ingredients separately in airtight containers the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 weeks.
Freeze the ingredients in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Tasty tip
Keep some of the vanilla simple syrup on hand in the fridge. It's also great to add a little pizzazz to homemade lemonade, iced tea, and other frosty beverages (including alcoholic ones.) It's quite delicious in this cotton candy Frappuccino too--just swap out some of the raspberry syrup called for so it's not too sweet.
Frequently asked questions
To make cold brew from scratch follow these simple steps: You'll want a ratio of 1:12; 1 part ground coffee beans to 12 parts water. First soak ground coffee in water at room temperature overnight (about 10 to 12 hours.) The next day, strain the coffee grounds through a French press, coffee filter, cheese cloth, or very fine mesh strainer. I tend to be very impatient though, and that is a lot of time to wait. So for me, it's easier to buy refrigerated cold brew instead of making it myself.
An opened container of cold brew will last about 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge.
You can! A great way to freeze it is to use ice cube trays. I love making cold brew ice cubes so that my iced coffee doesn't get watered down.
Cold brew tends to be more intense in flavor than iced coffee since it's brewed longer. Regular iced coffee (not made from cold brew) is just regular hot coffee that's been chilled.
It isn't all the time, but typically, yes, cold brew is stronger than regular drip coffee. The ratio of ground coffee to water is usually higher, and it's steeped longer.
Related
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Even more
These are more of my favorite recipes:
🍽Get the recipe
Homemade Vanilla Iced Coffee with Stok Cold Brew
Equipment
- dry measuring cups
- liquid measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- small saucepan
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ice cubes
- 1 ½ cups Stok cold brew
- Milk for serving
Instructions
- Make the vanilla simple syrup: Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Stir in the vanilla.
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the cold brew and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the simple syrup. Add desired amount of milk and stir. Serve immediately.
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
nancy says
i love Stok Cold Brew and this recipe was such a treat compared to just drinking it black all the time.
AshleyFreeman says
It's a great hack!
Shelley says
I LOVE Stok Cold Brew (especially the Extra Bold!). And, as I sit here drinking my lukewarm {meh} coffee, I'm thinking YES I need this Homemade Vanilla Iced Coffee in my life ASAP! I totally agree with you - who wants HOT coffee on a sultry summer day?!?! Thanks, especially for the yummy flavor variations, and the brilliant idea to freeze Stok into ice cubes!!
AshleyFreeman says
Shelley, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! I'm so glad I gave you a new idea!
Beth says
YUM! I have a cold brew every afternoon, and I can't wait to make this one. It's so pretty.
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks so much Beth!
Charah says
This is what I need! thanks for this,I can now make my coffee at home
AshleyFreeman says
Yes! Hooray for money saving tips!
Kathleen says
I am a big fan of cold coffee drinks and this one sound marvelous. I've never had Stok cold brew and am excited to try it. Yummy!
AshleyFreeman says
It's so yummy! Best bottled cold brew I've had.
suja md says
wow vanilla iced coffee, that's my favorite
AshleyFreeman says
Mine too!
Krystle says
The stok cold brew is fire! This recipe is saving me so much money!
AshleyFreeman says
I totally agree!
Melinda says
This is an easy and delicious iced coffee recipe, I made a big batch to serve at brunch. The vanilla simple syrup is quick to make and really elevates the flavor. Everyone loved it and it was a nice change of pace from serving hot coffee.
AshleyFreeman says
Love the idea to make a big batch!!
Juyali says
I loved the homemade vanilla syrup!
I used monkfruit instead of sugar. Such a refreshing afternoon pick me up for a coffee lover like me.
Gracias, Ashley! 😊
AshleyFreeman says
Love that!
Swathi says
Homemade vanilla iced coffee with stok is so refreshing. It tasted great.
AshleyFreeman says
Great to hear!
Ned says
Perfect for the summer, my wife loved it!
AshleyFreeman says
For sure!