This homemade vanilla bean horchata iced coffee is downright delicious. Homemade horchata made with lots of vanilla beans and cinnamon and then mixed with cold brew coffee. This drink is made for all you iced coffee lovers!
This post is sponsored by Princess Cruises. As always all opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.
Back in October when I went on my Princess cruise I had to fly out to LA since our cruise left from California. So obviously that meant I had a whole day to literally just stroll around LA soaking in the sunshine and wishing I lived there. Julie mentioned walking down Abbot Kinney so we all followed her lead and off we went. I’m fairly certain that walk through town was one of the most calorie consumed walks ever. I got a horchata iced coffee, vegan pistachio ice cream, vegan chocolate ice cream and 2 donuts. The walk was 30 minutes long SOOOOO I literally spent more time eating than walking.
Whoops?
Of course, after my first sip of my horchata iced coffee, I knew I need to make that at home. Since I don’t like anywhere near me that actually makes horchata I knew I had to make it myself too. It’s ok, it’s really simple and I know ANYONE can handle it!
The first step to this vanilla bean horchata iced coffee is actually making the horchata. I found some rice in my pantry, threw it in my Vitamix with cinnamon sticks and water. Then I gave it a little whiz round until it was chunky and the rice broke up along with the cinnamon sticks.
Then you wait. Give it at least 3 hours to sit in the blender BUT I let mine sit on the counter overnight. I really wanted all the delicious flavor to have time to meld together.
After your horchata mixture has sat you simply strain it out in some cheesecloth, mix in your milk, sugar and vanilla bean paste. THAT’S IT! How simple is that? Plus it makes enough to fill up a cute little swing top glass bottle so you can enjoy this iced coffee all. week. long.
I was actually inspired to make this drink by my visit to the Toms store. I wanted to pop in to look at shoes but little did I know they had a coffee bar inside the store. WHAAAAAA! I will pretty much always take my shoes with a side of coffee. Or my coffee with a side of shoes. Either way.
BUT for my version, I decided to throw in a little vanilla bean because I cannot live without my vanilla bean paste. Seriously you guys. This stuff is liquid gold. GET IT!
As far as the coffee goes you can, of course, make your own iced coffee/cold brew but I opted to instead just buy myself some of my favorite storebought cold brew – Chameleon cold brew coffee. <– no that is not sponsored I just really like their cold brew!
Now, when I make this little beauty I do about half vanilla bean horchata and half coffee and then sometimes (ok, a lot of times) I top it with whipped cream because I like to live life on the wild side.
Whipped cream > no whipped cream
{Looking for more delicious coffee drinks? Try my Coconut Gelato Iced Coffee Affogato, Traditional Irish Coffee {Video Recipe}, Irish Coffee Frappe, Cardamom Coconut Milk Iced Coffee {Dairy Free}, or my Spiked Salted Caramel Coffee.}
Vanilla Bean Horchata Iced Coffee
This homemade vanilla bean horchata iced coffee is downright delicious. Homemade horchata made with lots of vanilla beans and cinnamon and then mixed with cold brew coffee. This drink is made for all you iced coffee lovers!
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutesplus time to rest
Ingredients:
For horchata:
- 1-1/3 cup long grain white rice (uncooked)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
For horchata iced coffee:
- 1 part vanilla bean horchata
- 1 part iced coffee
- Whipped cream, optional
Directions:
For horchata:
In a high powered blender (I used my Vitamix) add rice, cinnamon sticks and water. Blend until chunky and the rice is in smaller pieces and cinnamon sticks are broken up. Let sit for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Once the horchata has set place a strainer over a large bowl and line the strainer with cheesecloth. Pour the rice mixture into the strainer, gently squeeze out the rice in the cheesecloth to try and get all the liquid.
To the strained mixture add milk, sugar and vanilla bean paste. Whisk to combine. You can also opt to rinse out your blender, add the strained liquid, milk, sugar and vanilla bean paste to the blender and blend to combine.
Pour the horchata mixture into a jar (I used one of these cute glass swing top bottles!) and store in the refrigerator.
For horchata iced coffee:
Add ice to a large glass and add equal parts vanilla bean horchata and iced coffee. Stir to combine and top with whipped cream if desired.
Miranda
Saturday 17th of December 2016
This sounds like such a favorful drink! Definitely trying to make this soon!
Sarah Kruse
Tuesday 13th of December 2016
Ok, 1. this is an awesome blog! 2. Love cold brew, especially extra concentrated !
You should definitely try out this new one I'm now addicted to: ICEBOX coffee. I found it in my grocery store and was buying 1 big jug of it every grocery trip till one day they were out and I nearly had a panic attack. I googled it and they do subscriptions! So now it's a hopeless cause and I'm forever addicted. Cheers to iced coffee lovers!
*And now I will go make horchata with it*
nutmegnanny
Sunday 18th of December 2016
Hi Sarah! This coffee sounds awesome! I need to find it! I hope you enjoy the horchata iced coffee - it's so good!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
Saturday 10th of December 2016
Love the addition of the vanilla bean! Love this
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
Saturday 10th of December 2016
I wish I was sipping on this right now! This looks wonderful and your pictures are stunning!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama
Saturday 10th of December 2016
I had no idea that homemade horchata was so easy to make! Definitely trying this soon. :)