I’ve had many, many requests for the easy, delicious, and creamy coffee punch recipe served at the shabby vintage style baby shower yesterday and I’m happy to share the recipe with you today. This cold and creamy punch is as delicious as it sounds and gets requested for every shower or party I host. It’s truly the best coffee punch ever! {Looking for an adult version instead? Be sure to check out the spiked coffee punch recipe I made recently!}
Made with chocolate and vanilla ice cream and just a few other easy-to-find ingredients, this punch is easy to make, can be prepped ahead of party time, thrown together at the last minute, and it will always delight your guests!
I’ve never served this recipe at a party when the bowl hasn’t been completely emptied and it always gets rave reviews and many requests for the recipe! It’s a fun change from the standard soda and juice based punch recipes, especially for an adult party!
This coffee punch recipe made its rounds for years at every bridal and baby shower that was hosted in my group of friends. It’s a legend … and when you try it, you’ll understand why! It’ll quickly become a legend in your group too!
To make this punch, you’ll need the following ingredients. {You can find a printable recipe card and frequently asked questions further down in this post.}
Cold Coffee Punch Recipe
1 gallon of whole milk {whole milk makes it creamier and thicker but you could also substitute a leaner variety}
1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream
1/2 gallon of chocolate ice cream
1/4 cup powdered instant coffee
2 cups of white sugar
1 cup of water
In a small saucepan, mix the coffee powder, sugar, and water, and heat the mixture until the sugar has melted and all the ingredients are dissolved and well mixed. Don’t allow it to boil.
Refrigerate the mixture in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it. The liquid will get kind of syrupy and become thicker as it cools.
If you want to prep ahead for a party, you can make the syrup ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
Before the party guests arrive for the big shindig, pour the chilled syrup into a large punch bowl. {I often use a large apothecary jar to hold the punch instead of a standard punch bowl because I love the look of it.}
Add the entire gallon of milk and stir well.
Add all the ice cream {by scoops} into the punch. Stir gently to mix.
The ice cream doesn’t have to melt all the way prior to the party … it serves as the ice, keeping the punch nice and cold, and will slowly melt throughout the party. Just give it a quick stir before serving a glass.
Enjoy! This rich and creamy coffee punch will quickly become a requested recipe that’s handed down through friends and served at every party, shower, or special occasion.
Can the coffee punch be made ahead of time?
If I’m hosting a large gathering, I like to make two or three batches of the syrup and store them separately in mason jars so I can quickly make another batch of punch without any extra measuring.
The syrup can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for about a week. For best results, the punch shouldn’t be mixed up in advance, however, if it has to be done, it will still taste good but will have a fully melted consistency.
What is instant coffee?
Instant coffee is the granular, fully dissolvable coffee found in the coffee aisle. It doesn’t require brewing.
Can brewed coffee be used instead of instant coffee?
I haven’t tried using brewed coffee but there’s no reason you couldn’t do that. Brew it very strongly and you may want to eliminate a bit of the milk to replace that liquid with the coffee.
Can decaf instant coffee be used?
Definitely.
How many servings will this recipe make?
One batch of this recipe will fill a large punch bowl, serving about 20 cups, depending on the size of the glass used. If you want a smaller amount, cut the amounts in half.
Can alcohol be added to this punch for a grown-up version?
Definitely! You can add any of your favorite liqueurs or check out my spiked coffee punch recipe for a tried and true version of the classic.
Can this punch be made with different ice cream flavors?
For a chocolate, mocha style flavor I would recommend using at least one container of chocolate ice cream but you could definitely substitute the vanilla ice cream for another flavor. Coffee ice cream would probably be delicious!
Can the amount of sugar be decreased or can it be completely eliminated?
I haven’t tried decreasing or removing the sugar but I would say you could easily cut it in half and still have a really palatable punch. You could probably eliminate it altogether if you wanted but I haven’t tried it like that.
Can the punch be served in a beverage dispenser instead of a punch bowl?
Because the punch gets served before the ice cream has fully melted, it would be difficult to serve it in a dispenser. However, if you allow the ice cream to fully melt, a beverage dispenser would work.
A cold, ice-cream based coffee punch.
The Best Coffee Punch
Ingredients
Instructions
That punch sounds so delicious! I am having a birthday brunch next month and I think I just might have to make this. Coffee (punch) counts as a brunch beverage, right? 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thanks! Sounds great:-)
girl! that is the best sounding thing I’ve heard in ages! I host Easter brunch, and I am SO throwing this amazingness into the mixx! Thank you!!
Wow, that sounds good! Congrats on your SYTYC victory!
How unique! Sounds very yummy and will have to try. Thanks for sharing!
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How many cups is the 2 oz. of instant coffee? I’ve read different measurements online. Just want to make it right! Excited about trying the recipe!
[email protected]
2oz is 1/4 cup
What if you use granular coffee
Granular instant coffee? That’s exactly what I use.
I love iced coffee. This sounds awesome for a party…with ice cream, too.
I repinned it!
yummy!
I am totally going to try this! I pinned, stumbled, tweeted, and liked this post. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
This looks delicious. Now I have to figure out when I can make this!
im wondering what the 2oz of instant coffee is too….is that brewed? if so how much does 2oz make? thanks!
No, you are adding it to the saucepan with water and sugar and heating it.
Now, this is my kind of punch!
looks wonderful! Lezlee
its 2 oz of the dry instant coffee it mixes with the boiling water and sugar
I’ve had Randi’s coffee punch (straight from the source) and it definitely is the best punch I’ve ever had! What could be better than coffee & ice cream? YUM!!
Oh. My. Word! I am in heaven! Now I just wish I had a party on the horizon so I could make this! Do you think it would be bad if I made it and drank it all by myself? Lol!
I made it! Followed your recipe to the t. It was so good, people who don’t even like coffee were having seconds and thirds. I wish I could make this every weekend, buy my sleepless nights have had my husband limit my coffee punch consumption to the weekends. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. It will definitely be a regular at my hosted parties.
I’m so glad everyone liked it … the bowl gets almost licked out every time I serve it! 🙂
How much does this make and serve? And how do you figure out 2oz of coffee? I am not a coffee drinker but having a bridal shower and feel like my friends will love it! Thanks
One batch will almost fill your punch bowl, depending on its size. Because the punch is so popular, I usually double or triple the recipe. 2 ounces is a quarter of a cup. I’m sure your friends will love it … the bowl gets emptied every time I make it!
Talk about a diabetic coma…..lol
I would make it unsweetened, and have sweeteners available next to serving bowl. That way those with dietary restrictions could enjoy.
We add a small am out of chocolate nestle quick in with coffee. And we don’t add the milk. Just ice cream and syrup stuff.
Instant coffee comes in a jar marked “instant “. It is not coffee you perk. They dissolve with boiling water.
I am making this for a shower this weekend. Did you say I need to make the instant coffee first (2oz) or just put grinds in sauce pan?? Thanks!!!
Just add the instant coffee right in … it will dissolve with all of the other ingredients. Enjoy … it’s SO good!
Where did you get that beautful punch bowl? It’s perfect!
It’s actually not a punch bowl, just a large lidded decorative vase {similar to what you’d find at Hobby Lobby}. I just love the way it looks as a punch bowl!
Do you know how it would hold up overnight? I’m thinking of just making it for myself today
I’ve occasionally had leftovers the next day and it’s good but slightly different because the ice cream melts. Still worth drinking! 😉
Can we cut on the ice cream and sugar, for a healthier version
You could certainly experiment with it! I’ve never altered the recipe but I’d love to hear if you try something different and it’s still delicious!
I’ve made this before minus the sugar, we think the ice cream makes it sweet enough. Just a thought for the person above who was asking about cutting something out.
Awesome – thanks so much for letting us know!
Would this work in a beverage dispenser?
Not really. It’s a bit thick because of the ice cream and I think you’d have a really hard time getting it to pour properly.
Hi Randi, Thanks for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to make this for my next gathering. What brand of instant coffee do you use?
I just use the store brand … no fancy stuff is needed! 🙂
Oh my…yes, please! Definitely pinning! 🙂
I have a 4 liter punch bowl…would this work or should I cut the recipe in half? Thanks 🙂
Yes, I think you’ll have to cut it in half to make it fit.
Actually a gallon is about 3.8 litres so you’re fine…..
Yummy! How much is 1/2 gallon and 1 gallon?
1/2 gallon is 8 cups and 1 gallon is 16 cups. Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing…!! I am making it for the nieces and nephews that love their “coffee”….
I think adding kahlua and/or Godiva chocolate liqueur would be amazing!
What did you use and how much did you put in? How did that taste??
😉 now that’s Punch! I substituted coconut cream ans super-wow too….
I was wondering the same thing.
I was wondering the same thing. Can Baileys or Kaluza be added?
Definitely … I would just add the amount you want based on taste!
Could I use coffee ice cream instead of the vanilla or chocolate, or maybe half vanilla, half chocolate and half coffee ice cream. I love the taste of coffee ice cream, so I wonder if I t would work?
Definitely! I’d probably use half coffee, half chocolate so you don’t lose the chocolatey flavor!
Made this Christmas Eve! It was outstanding. My Granddaughter calls it “Milkshake Punch”!
I am wondering if you could use coffee concentrate instead of coffee powder. I roast my own coffee and really have an aversion to powder coffee. 🙂 Would love trying this, though. I hope to have a coffee party this Spring of 2017 and would be fun to have this, too, among espresso and all sorts of other iced coffees, and warm coffees.
Nancy S.
You could definitely use coffee concentrate. You just want a very strong coffee mixture to give it the flavor. Your coffee party sounds so fun!
Thanks for sharing.
I am including it in my occasional dos hence pinning it.
Holy Moly! Add Bailey’s or Kalua and call it a PARTY!
If I use brewed coffee instead of instant, how much should I substitute? I also saw one of your replies mentioned making sure to use a very strong coffee mixture. Should I brew it stronger than normal?
Hi, this looks so yummy! I was wondering if I was going to make this ahead of time (like about 3 hours ahead of time for a church potluck) how should I store it? In the fridge, freezer, on the counter? And does it need to be covered? Thank you!!
I’d store it in the fridge. And I would have everything ready but just scoop the ice cream in at the last minute.
you could make it adult and exchange some of the milk for kalhua or bailey’s
What if I wanted to cut this down to make a pitcher of it
Simply cut the ingredients in half and it should work for a pitcher size.
I am hosting a bridal shower (brunch) for my coworker in 2 weeks and want to try this recipe! If I were to make the concentrate the day before but finish putting everything else together the morning of, would that work? I noticed in one of the other comments you mentioned it had a little different flavor but was because of the ice cream melting.
Yes, that would definitely work!
Thank you so much for your reply! Excited to try this!?
Thank you for sharing it sounds wonderful as is but my group of friends likes a little “flavoring” in our beverages when together. What would you suggest; I was thinking Kahlúa, Bailey’s, or whip cream vodka? Your input would be appreciated.
I think you could add any favorite liquor and it would be awesome! Everything you suggested would pair well with the coffee and chocolate flavors. Yum … now I want to try it that way too!
You mention adding the milk, but it’s not listed in the ingredient list. Is it 1 gallon 2% or whole milk?
Never mind, I reread the list, didn’t see the milk the first time
I would love to know the approximate number of punch cup size servings this would make.
About how many servings does this make. I am planning for a baby shower
So I need to chill the syrup mixture before adding the ice creams. About how long minutes , hours, days?
Just long enough so that it isn’t warm – you don’t want it to instantly melt the ice cream.
I made this for a bridesmaids brunch a couple years ago.
It was Such a hit!
I’m making it again tomorrow, for a bride and her attendants the morning of the wedding! I’m ready to have it again myself!
It is fabulous!!!!
How long should the mixture stay in the fridge? I am kind of waiting last minute for this, so trying to see if I’m too late.
If you can refrigerate it long enough just to cool a bit, it’ll be fine. You just don’t want it to be too warm.
I love making this punch. I always use 2 oz of instant coffee by weight, which is actually more than 1/4 cup. I usually buy the instant coffee in 2 oz jars. This goes over so well for Friday breakfasts at work! I am making the coffee syrup right now for tomorrow morning. I can’t wait!
Oh my goodness. I love this , I made it today. It was so good!
I only used 1/2 a gallon of milk. That’s all I had on hand . It was a little sweet, but I bet if I had a full gallon of milk. It would have not made it as sweet.
Thank you so much for the recipe !!!! 😍❤️❤️❤️
How far in advance can I make the syrup?
I’ve made it about 5-7 days in advance. Just be sure to keep it refrigerated.
Have you or anyone been known to replace Splenda in place of the sugar and how did it taste?
I haven’t had anyone tell me they’ve tried that yet but I’d love to hear how it works if you do try it.
My boyfriend is diabetic. When I made this for a party we threw; I used stevia(half the amount called for)instead of sugar, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, no sugar added vanilla ice cream, and I added a good drizzle of sugar free caramel sauce(about half a cup worth total) it was so delicious! Making it again for a bridal shower!
I was asked to make this punch for a 90th Birthday Party. I prepared 3 recipes and we only used one. Has anyone ever froze the Coffee Syrup?
I haven’t but I can’t imagine why you couldn’t. I think it would freeze just fine.
We’ve made this before and loved it. We are wanting to make for a party this weekend. Has anyone had success melting the icecream and then serving it in a beverage dispenser, and over ice? I’m wanting more of an iced coffee for this event so just curious if anyone has had success doing it this way?
I want to try it this way as well…did you end up doing it and how did it work?
Made this for a bridal shower and it was delicious! Since the ice cream I found came in 1.5 quarts, we ended up only using one of the vanilla and one of the chocolate- basically 3/4 of a gallon in ice cream
instead of a gallon and it was plenty- will definitely make again!
I have made this recipe a couple of times for bridal showers. The last time I made it I had a request to make it dairy free, so I substituted coconut milk creamer for the milk and coconut ice cream vanilla and chocolate for the regular ice cream. I am told that it was delicious, and I am making it again this weekend!,
Thank you for such a wonderful recipe, 💓💓