Love Dunkin’ coffee but don’t feel like getting dressed to go get it? I’ve got you covered with this easy Dunkin French Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee recipe. The best part? You only need a few simple ingredients to whip up the sweet and creamy vanilla swirl at home. Once you’ve made the swirl, you can use it to create all kinds of coffee house drinks—without ever leaving the house.
This refreshing iced coffee is perfect on a hot summer day when you just don’t feel like having a hot beverage, but still need a pick-me-up. Plus, it’s way cheaper than a drive-thru run. With just a handful of ingredients, you can enjoy a creamy, flavorful coffeehouse-style drink right at home.
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Ingredient Photo
Ingredient Notes
- Cold Coffee: We like to start with very strong coffee when adding different flavors because we love that bold, rich coffee taste. You can use either store-bought or homemade cold brew coffee—whatever’s easiest for you. Check out my recipe for cold brew using regular coffee grounds.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is key to making the sweet, creamy vanilla swirl that brings the signature flavor to this drink.
- Milk: I use whole milk for the best texture, but low-fat or 2% milk will work just fine.
- Cream: Heavy whipping cream adds richness to both the swirl and the iced coffee recipe.
- Vanilla: I use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor, but from what I understand, vanilla flavoring will work.
- Ice Cubes: How much ice you add is up to you!
Step-By-Step Instructions (with photos)
See recipe card below for complete directions with amounts.
Step 1: Combine the sweetened condensed milk, cream, whole milk, and vanilla in a mason jar to make the French Vanilla Swirl.
Step 2: Add the coffee, French Vanilla Swirl and heave cream to a tall glass and stir to combine, fill the rest of the glass with ice.
How does Dunkin’ make their iced coffee?
- Double Strength Hot Brewed Coffee: They brew their coffee extra strong—about twice as strong as usual—since the ice will dilute it. It’s not cold brew; it’s hot coffee brewed double strength and then cooled.
- Chilled Before Serving: The coffee is cooled before it’s poured over ice to avoid watering it down too quickly.
- Vanilla Swirl (and Other Swirls):Their “swirl” flavors like French Vanilla are sweetened, creamy syrups—not just flavored syrups. They contain sugar and dairy or dairy-like ingredients, which gives them that thick, sweet, creamy flavor.
- Custom Add-Ins: Customers can choose:
- Type and amount of sweetener (liquid cane sugar is the standard)
- Type and amount of cream (Dunkin’ cream is rich, similar to light cream or half-and-half)
- Swirls or flavor shots (flavor shots are unsweetened and dairy-free; swirls are sweet and creamy)
Popular Dunkin’ Swirl Flavors:
- French Vanilla Swirl
- Caramel Swirl
- Mocha Swirl
- Hazelnut Swirl
- Butter Pecan Swirl (seasonal but very popular—often returns in spring/summer)
- Pumpkin Swirl (seasonal—usually in the fall)
- Toffee Nut Swirl (seasonal or limited markets)
Dunkin’s French Vanilla Swirl (and other swirls) can be added to hot, iced, or frozen drinks like coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos. It’s a sweet, creamy flavor that works well in both regular menu items and secret menu creations.
Each swirl is made with:
- Sweetened condensed milk or a similar sweet dairy base
- Flavoring extracts or syrups
- Sometimes additional thickeners or emulsifiers
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! That’s a great way to use one ingredient instead of two, if you have it.
Of course! We use decaf to make many of our favorite coffee drinks so we can enjoy them later in the day.
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Dunkin French Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
For the French Vanilla Swirl
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 oz
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
For the French Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee
- 1 cup strong coffee
- 1/4 cup French Vanilla Swirl
- 2 tbsp heavy cream, half & half, or milk
- ice
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Instructions
Make the French Vanilla Swirl
- Combine the sweetened condensed milk, cream, whole milk, and vanilla in a mason jar to make the French Vanilla Swirl.1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup whole milk, 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Make the French Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee
- Add the coffee, French Vanilla Swirl and heave cream to a tall glass and stir to combine, fill the rest of the glass with ice.1 cup strong coffee, 1/4 cup French Vanilla Swirl, 2 tbsp heavy cream, half & half, or milk, ice
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