Blended Iced Coffee: Healthy Homemade Dairy-Free Frappuccino Recipes (Vegan, Too!)
Sep 29, 2023| By JOI team
Sep 29, 2023| By JOI team
Blended Iced Coffee: Healthy Homemade Dairy-Free Frappuccino Recipes (Vegan, Too!)
Almond-Base | Cashew-Base | Coffee | Creamer-Base | Dairy-Free | Dessert | Keto | Oat-Powder | Recipe | Sugar-Free | Vegan | Vegetarian | 
When the temperature soars, nothing hits the spot quite like a frozen coffee drink topped with whipped cream. You get that caffeine pick-me-up that you want, but without the heat of regular brewed coffee.
But what if you live a vegan or dairy-free lifestyle and the processed plant milk options found at a typical coffee shop won't satisfy you? OR, you're just looking to make a healthier blended iced coffee drink at home? You're in the right place. Our homemade frappuccino recipes are dairy-free and delicious, using homemade almond milk, cashew milk or oat milk to add creaminess. And, we have lots of tasty ways to “mix it up” and make them your own.
Using JOI is the secret to creating the most special vegan frappuccino at home—even better than using store-bought, processed oat milk or almond milk. Why? Keep reading to find out.
Why Use JOI?
JOI is the magic that will turn an ordinary iced coffee into a wonderfully refreshing AND better-for-you (nutritious! clean!) frappuccino, perfect for a hot summer day. Instead of using traditional processed, boxed alt-milk, JOI gives you a more nutritious and clean alternative. JOI stands for “Just One Ingredient”. JOI dairy-free concentrates (our flagship flavors are composed of 100% almond or 100% cashew), are better for the environment and better for your body.
JOI products are shelf-stable, and a little goes a long way...so you're making an environmentally-friendly choice each time you use JOI. That's because JOI reduces packaging waste (one 15 ounce tub saves up to 7 non-recyclable cartons of milk from the landfill!) and reduces your carbon footprint with less shipping around of 98% water in those boxed nutmilk “beverages” you otherwise buy at the store.
That's not all. JOI is also a healthier choice because it doesn't contain the preservatives and fillers (nor sugars and oils) that other plant milks often have. This control over the ingredients you consume allows you to make a healthier (and more delicious) choice for your body (and tastebuds).
Dairy-Free Frappuccino Recipe Ingredients
In addition to JOI, these tasty recipes have other ingredients with benefits of their own.
Naturally sweetened at home means you can make these healthier frappuccino coffee drinks refined sugar free, because you have control over what sweetener you choose. Whether it’s fruit, such as dates and frozen banana, or agave syrup, date syrup, maple syrup - the choice is yours!
Adding a splash of vanilla extract and a dash of cinnamon are the perfect way to add some flavor and health benefits to your coffee drink: cinnamon is thought to help control blood sugar levels, as well as to prevent cancer and heart disease. Whipped together with the coffee, you have a “base” summertime drink that you'll crave all the time.
The use of rice (which, of course, is gluten-free) in one of our signature frappuccinos recipes adds a new flavor twist that's different than your “run of the mill” frappuccinos.
Now let’s talk about the under-rated star of the show when it comes to frappuccinos: the ice cubes! Ice cubes are what give the drinks their frothy consistency! You may need more or less ice depending on the size and density of your ice, so experiment a bit to find out how much is best for the texture YOU want in your blended iced coffee.
Of course, no frappuccino (vegan, dairy-free or otherwise!) would be complete in our minds without a topping of whipped cream. Whipped cream adds that iconic, satisfying little extra layer of creamy sweetness and decadence that you crave. Make your own coconut whipped cream, or pick up a bottle of your favorite healthy whip at the grocery store. Not that there's anything wrong with a "no whip" kind of day!
Equipment Needed
This is a simple recipe that doesn't require a lot of kitchen equipment...it's quick and easy to whip up on any hot summer morning (or afternoon, when you need a boost).
You'll just need a blender! A blender will do the best job of combining together all of the ingredients. That's it! It couldn't be faster or simpler to make your own healthier frappuccino at home. (Definitely faster than taking the time to hit the coffee shop for your java fix!)
Variation #1: How to Make A Horchata Frappuccino
The method for whipping up a homemade horchata frappuccino couldn't be simpler. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly and easily it comes together.
First, prepare your JOI milk: whether it’s oat milk or cashew milk or almond milk, follow the package instructions...and remember, just add more JOI to make it extra creamy. Blend and then heat the milk up until warm. Add the rice to the JOI plant milk and steep until softened. This takes about 30 minutes if you're using instant rice, or a bit longer with traditional rice.
Next, put the rice-milk mixture into the blender with your sweetener of choice, vanilla extract, cinnamon and pinch of sea salt. Give this combination a good whirl to mix it well. If you don’t have a high speed blender - or you want a thinner consistency - strain the mixture and then put it back into the blender together with the ice.
Blend until you get a smooth consistency. Either add the coffee and give it another whirl, or pour the mixture into a cup, filling it about 3/4 full, then top with your coffee and enjoy this naturally sweetened, blended iced coffee drink! Easy, right?
Other Blended Ice Coffee Recipes We Think You're Going to Love: Mocha Frappuccino, Mexican Chocolate Frappuccino and Caramel Frappuccino
The horchata version of our vegan blended iced coffee drink is a tasty twist, but there's nothing wrong with the classic flavors!
Make a mocha frappuccino by skipping the rice and adding a tablespoon of cocoa powder instead. Don’t have strong coffee or cold brew at hand? No worries; use instant coffee powder or a coffee alternative! This dairy-free mocha frappuccino alternative (chocolate + coffee flavor = heaven!) is just as delicious.
Feel free to turn your icy cold mocha coffee drink into a “Mexican” chocolate frappuccino by swapping out the vanilla for chili powder and a kick of heat! Your taste buds will thank you.
Or, does a caramel frappuccino capture your attention - and your taste buds? With a few drizzles of vegan caramel sauce, heaven awaits! Feeling “extra” (trendy)? Sprinkle in some flaky sea salt for a delicious “sea salt caramel” flavor that will rival anything you find in a coffee shop.
Make the Recipes:
#1 Dairy-Free Horchata Frappuccino
Yields 2 Drinks
Ingredients
- ½ cup minute rice (white rice)
- 2 Tablespoons JOI instant oat milk powder (or substitute 2 Tablespoons JOI milk concentrate (almond, cashew, hemp or oat creamer))
- 2 cups of water
- 3 pitted medjool dates (preferably pre-soaked) or 3 tablespoons of date syrup, maple syrup or agave syrup (or honey if not vegan, or sweetener of choice)
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla powder or extract
- 2 cups of ice
- 2 cups of strongly brewed coffee
- pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Heat the milk until just warmed through in a small saucepan over low heat or in your microwave.
- Add the rice to the warm milk and let sit (steep) for 30 minutes.
- Next, the rice milk mixture to a blender followed by the dates/sweetener, cinnamon, vanilla and sea salt.
- Blend on high for 2-3 minutes.
- Strain the horchata into a pitcher (or skip this step if you are using a high-speed blender or prefer a more thick consistency).
- Add 2 cups of ice to the blender followed by pouring back the horchata (you can also add the coffee at this point if you prefer). Blend for 1 minute.
- Fill each glass ¾ of the way with the iced horchata and top with coffee. Stir together and enjoy!
#2 Vegan Mocha Frappuccino
Yields 2 Drinks
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons JOI milk concentrate: almond, cashew, hemp, creamer or oat
- 2 cups of water
- 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
- 3 pitted medjool dates (preferably pre-soaked) or 2-3 tablespoons date syrup, maple syrup, agave syrup (or honey if not vegan, or sweetener of choice)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla powder or extract
- 2 cups of strongly brewed coffee or cold brew; or 2 shots of espresso
- 2 cups of ice
- pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Blend together the JOI, water, cocoa powder, whole dates or syrup, cinnamon (if using), vanilla, sea salt and coffee.
- Blend on high for 2-3 minutes.
- Add 2 cups of ice to the blender. Blend for 1 minute.
- Pour into glasses and top with vegan whipped cream, if desired. Sprinkle with extra cocoa powder.
- Enjoy!
#3 Extra Creamy Salted Caramel Frappuccino (Vegan, Dairy-Free)
Yields 2 Drinks
Ingredients
- ¼ cup JOI milk concentrate: almond, cashew, hemp, creamer or oat
- 2 cups of water
- 3 tablespoons of caramel syrup (vegan)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanill apowder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 2 cups of strongly brewed coffee or cold brew
- 2 cups of ice
- Homemade coconut whipped cream (vegan), if desired, to top
- Flaky sea salt, to top (optional)
Instructions
- Blend together the JOI, water, caramel syrup, cinnamon (if using), vanilla, and coffee.
- Blend on high for 2-3 minutes.
- Add 2 cups of ice to the blender. Blend for 1 minute.
- Pour into glasses, top with whipped cream (if using) and drizzle with extra caramel syrup.
- Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Enjoy!
Frappuccinos...and Beyond
We know you're going to love our dairy-free frappuccino (or "blended ice coffee") recipes, but when it comes to coffee, that's not all you can do with JOI: we think you'll also love our recipes for dalgona whipped coffee and dairy-free Irish coffee - try this one on ice! Or, use use JOI almond milk or oat milk to make other frozen treats when it's hot...how about trying a dairy-free, vegan birthday cake shake or key lime popsicles. Check out all of our JOI-full recipes on our recipe blog.