Chick-fil-A Vanilla Iced Coffee Recipe (Better Than the Original)

If you’re looking for the Chick-fil-A iced coffee recipe, this easy copycat tastes just like the real thing! You can customize it with vanilla or other flavors in the comfort of your own home.

Made with cold brew, milk, and simple syrup, this Chick-fil-A drink is smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet without needing a drive-thru run.

Below, I’ll show you exactly how to make the classic version plus the vanilla iced coffee version step-by-step.

What Is Chick-fil-A Iced Coffee Made Of?

This delicious iced coffee is made with basic ingredients like cold brew coffee, 2% milk, and a sweetener like vanilla syrup. The vanilla version simply adds flavored syrup for extra sweetness.

What Does the Iced Vanilla Coffee from Chick-Fil-A Taste Like?

The coffee flavor is bold with a perfectly balanced amount of sweet vanilla notes and creaminess. The overall taste is strong and soft at the same time which will leave you refreshingly satisfied. Most coffees that I have tried from fast food restaurants don't usually taste that high quality to me, but I was surprised that Chick-fil-A's coffee actually does.

How to Make Chick-fil-A Iced Coffee at Home (Quick Answer)

Fill a glass with chewy ice, add cold brew coffee, stir in vanilla syrup (optional), then top with milk and mix well.

Ingredients for Chick-fil-A Vanilla Iced Coffee Recipe

Exact measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Cold Brew Coffee: Cold brew-specific coffees work the best for this recipe since that is what Chick-fil-A uses. It actually has a different flavor that's uniquely distinct from regular coffee. Cold brew coffee tastes less acidic, less bitter, and more mellow as compared to hot coffee. It also has more mg of caffeine as well.
• Milk: If you want the true Chick-fil-A experience at home, then 2% milk is what you should use. However, you could easily replace it with whichever type of milk you like, no matter if it's dairy or vegan. Personally, I prefer whole milk because of the higher fat content to give the coffee more body and creaminess. For even more richness, try half-and-half or a splash of heavy cream If you're looking to keep the calories down, skim or nonfat milk works great as well. For dairy-free options, you can easily substitute dairy milk by using soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or almond milk. 
• Vanilla Syrup: Vanilla Syrup is what's used to sweeten this tasty drink. There are a variety of different brands you could use, or you could even make your own at home!
• Ice Cubes: Even though both the cold brew coffee and milk will be cold from the refrigerator, you will want to fill the cup with ice to give your coffee that refreshingly cold chill, especially if it's a hot day during the summer months. 
• Nugget ice specifically works best and is the most fun and enjoyable. There are nugget ice machines for your home you could buy, or you could just take whole cubes from the freezer and throw them in the blender until they're smaller. You could also buy bags of nugget ice from Chick-fil-A restaurants.

How to Make a Copycat Chick-fil-A Vanilla Iced Coffee Recipe

1. Pour ice into a cup and fill it to the top.
2. Pour the cold brew coffee over the ice. Stop at about 3/4 of the way to the top to leave room for the vanilla syrup and milk.
3. Add a few tablespoons of vanilla syrup to the coffee.
4. Pour in the milk and fill in the last quarter of the cup. Stir with a straw or spoon.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home

There is no preferred method to making cold brew, the end result should be the same regardless. The easiest way is with items that are specifically designed for it, but you can make it just as well with a little more patience and normal household items.

*Note: The recommended ratio to make cold brew coffee is 1 gram of coffee grounds to 8 grams of water. Keep this in mind for whichever method you choose.

Cold Brew Coffee Maker: 

There are actual cold brew coffee makers that exist to make this process as easy as possible. They essentially include a large pitcher or carafe, that has a long vertical tube with a lid. The tube is made out of meshed strands of metal which creates micro perforated holes. The holes are so small that zero coffee grounds can pass through, only liquid. To use this, simply pour a scoop of measured coffee grounds into the tube, fill the pitcher with water, and place the tube inside. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours.

French Press: 

A French press is not as top notch as a cold brew coffee maker, but it still does a great a job in terms of ease and convenience. It has a built-in circular sieve that strains the coffee while pressing down the grounds, hence why it's called a French press. A small amount of coffee grounds may slip through the sides but its minimal. To make cold brew, take off the lid and pour in a measured amount of coffee grounds and room temperature or cold water. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours.

Buy or Make Your Own Cold Brew Coffee Bags: 

There are premade cold brew bags out there that you could buy. They look exactly like a tea bag and work the same as well. You just steep the bag in cold water overnight and your cold brew is ready the next day.

Making your own can be very easy if you have everything you need. Grab a coffee filter and put a scoop of coffee in the middle. Pinch and fold the top closed. Take a rubber band and twist it around the top until it's secure. Place the bag in a jar full of water and store in the fridge overnight.

Mason Jar and Coffee Filter: 

If you don't want to partake in the process directly above, then this is the method to take if you don't have any special items for making cold brew. Start by pulling out a mason jar or any airtight container. Then put in a scoop of coffee grounds and water that is either cold or room temp. Seal the lid and store in the fridge 12-24 hours.

The next day, pull out your coffee, a sieve, a coffee filter, and an extra cup. Place the sieve over the extra cup, then the coffee filter over the sieve. Gently start pouring a small amount of coffee into the filter and allow the liquid to pass through before adding more. You have to have a good amount of patience for this.

If you don't have a sieve, lower the coffee filter into the cup until half of it is below the rim. Take the tops of the sides and fold them over the edges of the cup and secure them in place by stretching a rubber band around the rim over the filter. If you don't have a coffee filter you can use a paper towel, but from my experience it does not work as well.

Cold Brew Concentrate: 

Plenty of brands out there are hopping on the cold brew train and making bottles of coffee concentrate. As long as the packaging says it was made from cold brewing coffee then it will still give you the same cold brew flavor if you follow the diluting steps provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Make Chick-fil-A Iced Coffee Without Vanilla?

Yes! The base drink is just cold brew + milk. You can skip vanilla or replace it with caramel, hazelnut, or classic sugar.

What Can I Do to Make This Coffee Even Better

There are loads of additional ingredients to take your coffee to the next level.

• Add vanilla ice cream to make this coffee an affogato!
• Add in other tasty syrups that pair well with vanilla such hazelnut or caramel!
• Top your coffee with a swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon!
• Pair this coffee with a sweet treat or even a chicken sandwich to get the whole experience!

What Type of Vanilla Syrup Should I Use?

With so many different brands and varieties to choose from, it can be hard to know if you're making the right choice. Here is a short list of some of our favorites:

• Torani Coffee Syrup
• Monin Vanilla Syrup
• Ghirardelli Vanilla Sauce
• Matteo's Barista-Style Coffee Syrup
• Amoretti Premium French Vanilla Syrup

To Make Your Own at Home:

1. Start by boiling equal parts water and sugar in a pot to create simple syrup.
2. Add in a vanilla bean and a little vanilla extract.
3. Boil for 5 mins. Then turn off the heat and let it cool.
4. Strain the syrup to remove the vanilla bean.

Depending on your preference you can pair this drink with a delicious slice of this carrot bundt cake, these carrot cake muffins, or even these adorable bunny cake pops for a coffee shop experience!

How Many Calories are in Chick-fil-A Iced Coffee (Vanilla vs Regular)

A Chick-fil-A vanilla iced coffee has about 160–210 calories, depending on the size and sweetness level. Using less syrup or lower-fat milk can reduce the calories.

What Should I Serve this Coffee With?

Make it a whole meal by pairing your homemade coffee with these other delicious Chick-fil-A copycat recipes:

• Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Copycat Recipe
• Copycat Chick-Fil-A Crunch Side Salad Recipe
• Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries Recipe Copycat
• Chick-Fil-A Sauce Copycat Recipe