Dreamy Ice Caf Recipe

Frosty Bliss: The Ultimate Ice Caf Recipe for Summer Joy

Cool summer afternoons call for a refreshing ice caf recipe that instantly beats the heat.

This delightful beverage blends rich coffee with smooth, creamy textures that dance on your palate.

Chilled and sublime, it offers a perfect escape from sweltering temperatures.

Professional baristas and home coffee enthusiasts alike adore this simple yet elegant drink.

Each sip promises a luxurious combination of bold coffee notes and silky coolness.

The ingredients are straightforward, requiring minimal effort but delivering maximum satisfaction.

Brew, blend, and indulge in this ultimate summer coffee companion that will revolutionize your afternoon refreshment routine.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 364 kcal

Servings: 9

Ingredients for Making Classic Ice Café

For Base and Flavor:
  • Heavy Cream: Provides rich, smooth texture and carries deep coffee essence.
  • Whole Milk: Creates silky foundation and balances cream's intensity.
  • Espresso Coffee: Delivers bold, aromatic coffee punch and deep flavor profile.
  • Vanilla Bean: Adds elegant, complex undertone and natural sweetness.
For Binding and Sweetness:
  • Granulated Sugar: Ensures creamy consistency and perfect sweetness level.
  • Egg Yolks: Creates smooth, luxurious custard base and helps stabilize ice cream.
For Enhancement and Depth:
  • Dark Rum: Introduces warm, sophisticated flavor and prevents ice crystals.
Ingredient Selection Notes:
  • Use fresh, high-quality espresso beans for intense coffee flavor.
  • Choose vanilla beans with glossy, plump appearance for best extraction.
  • Select organic, farm-fresh eggs for richer custard base.
  • Opt for dark rum with caramel or molasses undertones for complex taste.
  • Ensure cream and milk are at peak freshness for optimal texture.

How to Prepare Ice Café at Home

Ice Café Magic

  • Coffee Dreams Awakening

Grab a cozy pan and bring cream, milk, coffee, and vanilla seeds together in a warm dance. Let the ingredients whisper and steam, creating a rich, aromatic base for your dreamy dessert.

  • Silky Yolk Transformation

In a mixing bowl, whip sugar and egg yolks until they become a pale, fluffy cloud. Gently cascade the steaming cream mixture over the yolks, stirring with love and patience.

  • Creamy Alchemy

Return the silky blend to the pan, embracing low heat. Stir continuously, watching for that perfect moment when the mixture transforms and coats the spoon like velvet. If tiny egg bits appear, simply strain for smoothness.

  • Chilled Rum Symphony

Let the mixture cool completely, then welcome a splash of rum. Churn in an ice cream maker until it reaches a luxurious, dreamy consistency. Tuck it into the freezer, waiting to surprise taste buds with its rich, coffee-infused magic.

Flavor Tips for Cream, Sugar, or Spice

  • Swap regular coffee with espresso or cold brew concentrate for a deeper, richer coffee flavor that transforms the ice cream's profile.
  • Experiment with different liqueurs like Kahlúa, amaretto, or brandy instead of rum to add unique flavor dimensions and personalize your dessert.
  • Skip the ice cream maker by freezing the mixture in a loaf pan, stirring every hour to break up ice crystals and ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
  • Top the ice cream with chocolate-covered espresso beans, caramel drizzle, or a sprinkle of sea salt to add exciting texture and complementary flavors.
  • Replace heavy cream and milk with coconut milk or almond milk for a lighter, vegan-friendly version that maintains the delicious coffee essence.

Best Ways to Serve a Cold Coffee Drink

  • Coffee Companion Delight: Pair this luxurious ice cream with a freshly brewed espresso, creating a harmonious blend of cold and hot coffee flavors that dance on your palate.
  • Dessert Elegance Platter: Serve thin slices alongside dark chocolate shavings, toasted almond slivers, and a delicate caramel drizzle for a sophisticated dessert experience.
  • Rum-Infused Indulgence: Crumble crisp amaretti cookies over the ice cream and add a light splash of additional rum for an extra layer of rich, boozy complexity that elevates the dessert.
  • Textural Contrast Magic: Garnish with a sprinkle of crunchy caramelized coffee beans and a small quenelle of whipped cream to introduce delightful textural variations to each creamy spoonful.

Storage Tips for Leftover Brew or Syrup

  • Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Store your Ice Café in an airtight container, pressing plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent ice crystals from forming. This technique keeps the ice cream smooth and prevents unwanted freezer burn.
  • Temperature Zone: Keep the ice cream at a consistent -18°C in the coldest part of your freezer. Avoid storing near the door where temperature fluctuations can compromise texture and quality.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the ice cream base up to 3 days before churning. The coffee and rum flavors will develop deeper, more complex notes when allowed to meld slowly in the refrigerator.
  • Serving Suggestion: Remove the ice cream from the freezer 5-10 minutes before serving to soften slightly. This small waiting period allows the rich coffee and rum notes to bloom, creating a more luxurious tasting experience.

Coffee Tools Required to Brew and Chill

  • Large saucepan: Perfect for gently warming cream, milk, coffee, and vanilla without scorching.
  • Whisk: Essential for blending egg yolks and sugar until pale and creating smooth custard mixtures.
  • Digital thermometer: Crucial for precisely tracking temperature and ensuring perfect custard consistency.
  • Fine-mesh sieve: Helpful for straining custard and removing any potential scrambled egg bits.
  • Electric mixer or stand mixer: Great for whisking egg yolks and sugar to the right pale color.
  • Ice-cream maker: Key tool for churning the custard into smooth, creamy ice cream.
  • Mixing bowl: Needed for combining and whisking ingredients.
  • Wooden spoon: Useful for stirring custard while cooking over low heat.
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Dreamy Ice Caf Recipe

Dreamy Ice Caf Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 16 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Cool Brazilian ice café blends rich espresso with sweet condensed milk and crushed ice. Refreshing summer drink offers smooth, creamy indulgence that delights coffee enthusiasts and brings Brazil’s culinary spirit to your glass.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 egg yolks
  • 500 ml (17 fl oz) double cream
  • 325 ml (11 fl oz) whole milk
  • 200 g (7 oz) caster sugar
  • 125 ml (4.2 fl oz) espresso
  • 75 ml (2.5 fl oz) dark rum
  • 1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped out
  • 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) whipping cream
  • 1 tsp icing sugar
  • 1 splash vanilla extract
  • 1 large cup sweetened black coffee, chilled
  • Crushed ice
  • 1 large pinch cocoa powder

Instructions

  1. Infuse Base: Gently heat cream, milk, coffee, and vanilla seeds in a saucepan until aromatic and steaming, releasing deep, rich fragrances.
  2. Prepare Custard Foundation: Whisk egg yolks and sugar until transforming into a pale, ribbony mixture with a light, creamy consistency.
  3. Temper and Combine: Gradually stream heated cream mixture into egg yolk blend, whisking continuously to create a smooth, integrated base without curdling.
  4. Cook and Thicken: Return combined liquid to saucepan, cooking over low heat while stirring methodically until custard reaches a perfect coating consistency at approximately 82°C.
  5. Refine Texture: Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to eliminate any potential egg particles, ensuring a silky, uniform custard base.
  6. Chill and Enhance: Cool custard to room temperature, then gently incorporate rum, distributing the spirit evenly throughout the mixture.
  7. Churn and Freeze: Process custard in an ice cream maker until achieving a soft, creamy consistency, then transfer to a freezer-safe container for final setting and flavor melding.

Notes

  • Precise Temperature Control: Monitor custard temperature closely at 82°C to prevent curdling and ensure perfect consistency.
  • Smooth Texture Technique: Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any egg particles, guaranteeing a silky, luxurious mouthfeel.
  • Gentle Incorporation Method: Slowly stream hot cream into egg yolks while whisking continuously to create a stable, smooth base without scrambling.
  • Flavor Development Tip: Allow the ice cream to rest in the freezer, letting the coffee and rum notes harmonize and deepen for a more complex taste profile.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Drinks, Snacks
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 364
  • Sugar: 26 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 29 g
  • Saturated Fat: 17 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 210 mg
Mia Reynolds

Mia Reynolds

Food Writer & Home Cooking Specialist

Expertise

Easy Home Baking, Recipe Writing and Storytelling, Local and Seasonal Ingredients, Baking for Beginners

Education

New England Culinary Institute (NECI), Montpelier, Vermont

  • Certificate: Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Hands-on baking skills, pastry basics, and creating delicious, approachable baked goods.

Community College of Vermont, Winooski, Vermont

  • Degree: Certificate in Food and Beverage Management
  • Focus: Essential knowledge of recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and food business basics.

Mia Reynolds fell in love with baking as a teenager experimenting in her family kitchen. Her passion took her to New England Culinary Institute, where she learned practical pastry techniques, and later to Community College of Vermont to deepen her understanding of food management.

Mia combines clear, simple baking instructions with heartwarming stories, making home baking approachable for everyone.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star