Make your own McDonald’s Mocha Frappe at home with this easy copycat recipe! It’s the perfect cold coffee drink for Spring and Summer, and many readers have reported they like it better than the original drive-thru version!
This Mocha Frappe copycat recipe is great for an afternoon pick-me-up, and SO delicious! We love love making our own versions of restaurant favorites at home… like this Copycat Wendy’s Frosty, and Classic Shamrock Shake. This is one of my Copycat Recipes you’ll definitely want to keep on hand!
MOCHA FRAPPE RECIPE
Overpaying for a coffee drink is SO a thing of the past. This incredibly easy to make copycat mocha frappe tastes better than the original!!
I have a slight, okay, fairly decently sized addiction to McDonald’s Mocha Frappe’s. They. Are. SO. Good!! There’s one thing I don’t like though… they can be pricey!
A cheapskate at heart, I just can’t justify spending $4 each time I get a craving… so I went on a mission to find out how to make them at home.
They’re so frothy, so icy, so creamy, and SOOOO full of chocolate and coffee flavor!
HOW TO MAKE
- Brew coffee and let cool. Alternatively you could use cold leftover coffee!
- Pour into clean ice cube trays and freeze. This is great to do ahead of time, so you don’t have to wait when you want a frappe!
- Add frozen coffee cubes, milk, syrup and sugar to blender. Blend until the coffee ice cubes are broken down and the mixture is the texture you’re looking for.
- Pour into glasses and garnish. Garnishing is optional, but if you want that classic McDonald’s look, you’ll want to add whipped cream, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.
- I usually get a little “extra” and add some chocolate shavings and sometimes garnish with a sprig of fresh mint if I have some. You totally don’t have to do this lol.
ADDITIONAL COOKING TIPS
There’s a secret to getting that perfect flavor/frozen texture… and I’ll share it with you.
Frozen. Coffee.
Oh yes, that’s right. Just brew up some of your favorite coffee (or even decaf if you prefer), and let it cool to room temperature. Pour the cooled coffee into ice cube trays and pop them in the freezer until frozen.
So you might be wondering, “why can’t I just use regular coffee and add ice cubes??“. Well, in short, you can lol. But as the ice melts, it will water down your drink 🙁 Boo!! So by freezing the coffee into ice cubes, you get the frozen component to make it nice and icy, but without diluting your drink!
VARIATIONS OF THIS RECIPE
- DAIRY – I created this recipe using almond milk, since that’s what I had on hand at the time. However, I’ve since tested this recipe using soy milk, regular dairy milk, and half and half (a US dairy product of half milk and half cream).
- REDUCED SUGAR – Several readers have asked if this recipe could be made using sugar-free or reduced sugar products. And yes, it certainly can! Sugar-free chocolate syrup is a great alternative for regular syrup. And sugar alternatives can be used in place of the granulated sugar. Alternately, the granulated sugar can be omitted… it’s really a matter of taste and how sweet you like things.
- OTHER FLAVORS – If you’d like, other flavors of syrups can be used in place of the plain chocolate. Torani makes some great syrups, as does Ghirardelli. My favorites are caramel, and a salted chocolate caramel syrup!
- The mint is really nice as a garnish, but you could add some peppermint extract to make this a festive holiday peppermint mocha drink!
MAKING MOCHA FRAPPES AHEAD OF TIME
Since this is a frozen drink, this is a recipe that’s truly best made right before serving.
However you can do the first part of this recipe ahead of time. Brew the coffee and let cool (or use leftover cooled coffee). Pour into ice cube trays and freeze until frozen solid. Add the cubes to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
STORAGE
Leftovers can be placed in to a freezer-safe container and frozen for up to a month. Thaw before drinking.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THIS RECIPE
- Blender – This is the blender I usually use when I make this recipe… it’s got great power and doesn’t break the bank.
- Torani Syrups – you may be able to find these in your grocery store, I just wanted to show you all the options.
- Ghirardelli Syrups – not as many varieties as Torani, but great flavor.
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OTHER READERS’ COMMENTS FOR TIPS AND REVIEWS.
AND DON’T FORGET, IF YOU’VE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING LETTING ME KNOW HOW YOU ENJOYED IT!
Recipe originally published in 2016, and has been updated in 2020 with additional information
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 2 cups cold coffee
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or regular dairy milk)
- 3 1/2 Tbsp chocolate syrup
- 3 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- Whipped cream for garnish
- Extra chocolate syrup for garnish
- Chocolate bar shaved, for garnish
Instructions
- Brew coffee and let cool to almost room temperature.
- Carefully pour coffee into ice cube trays and freeze.
- Add frozen coffee cubes, almond milk, chocolate syrup and sugar to blender.
- Blend until desired texture is reached.
- Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup and shaved chocolate if you'd like.
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Chef Tips
Video
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Lila says
Instead of milk can you use ice cream? Like vanilla icecream or chocolate icecream? Do you think it would give a richer, creamer taste?
The Chunky Chef says
I’m sure it would give it a richer taste and feel, but it will also add considerably more sweetness. I haven’t tested it though, so if you do some experimenting I’d love to know how it turns out 🙂
Laura says
Delicious recipe! I don’t know what the complainers in the comments are talking about. I made this with whole milk and it tasted exactly like a Starbucks mocha frappuccino. I didn’t even put whipped cream on it but I’m sure it’d be even more decadent with that. Such a tasty treat.
Karri says
It was ok nothing like McDonald’s frappe, my son didn’t like it at all so I will be looking for a new recipe to try out.
Karri A Willoughby says
I haven’t made it yet but can’t wait to try it. My son has been begging me to do this for awhile. We will be making it tomorrow and I’m excited I love McDonald’s frappes. Thanks so much for the recipe
LJones says
Love it.
Casey Tevis says
I have prepped my ice cubes from the leftover coffee I had this morning. I made cinnamon whipped cream earlier today and I’m using it with vanilla almond milk. I can’t wait to try it.
Liza says
I am so glad I found this recipe. It’s better than any frappe I have ever had. I love that I can make it at home anytime. I always have a pitcher of cold brew made so I made my ice cubes with that. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!
Tammy McCarver says
Do you have to use heavy whipped cream?
The Chunky Chef says
You don’t have to use whipped cream at all, it’s a garnish.
Denise says
If you read the ingredients on the McDonald’s website, their frappes do not have coffee in them. It’s all flavoring. It’s coffee extract. Not coffee. Like using vanilla extract. So if you’re making this for kids you’re giving them actual coffee. The real frappe is an ice drink.
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Denise 🙂 I never claimed this was McDonald’s exact recipe, just a version that we love, that tastes pretty darn close. Oh, and I don’t give these to my kids 😉
Melissa says
I am absolutely obsessed with McDs frappes. They’ve actually been beneficial to me. Due to medical treatments, there are times that I will go days without eating. Frappes keep a little weight on me. I can’t guesstimate how much money I have spent. This recipe is fantabulous!! I think it may taste a little better than McD’s!!
THANK YOU!! 🥰🥰
Royce says
I made this with my granddaughter and it is sooo good! I may never go back to McDonald’s! (Sorry, Ronald McDonald, nothing personal!)
Michele says
Spot on! Love this recipe- so good! Thank you for posting this!
Stacy says
I love this recipe and I have it every morning instead of just plain old coffee now, I put 4-5 ice cubes in the blender, milk a little over half way up to the top of the ice, one whole banana broken into pieces, 1/4 teaspoon of Stevia, 2 tablespoons of pb (peanut butter) fit powder and about 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup 😋 it’s delicious. Thank you for posting this.
Stacy says
I love this recipe I use 4-5 ice cubes milk (vitamin D) a little over half way to the top one whole banana that I tear in pieces, 1/4 teaspoon of Stevia sugar, pb (peanut butter) fit powder and about 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup, blend it for 20 seconds and pour it in a 20 oz travel mug. In my opinion it is even tastier than the one you buy. It’s definitely the highlight of my morning.
Moe says
I added a banana 🍌 to this just give it a little sweetness instead of sugar or honey. Turned out yummy
Kim Selch says
How many coffee cubes do you use for this recipe. I’ve filled 2 trays. Do I use all cubes from both trays. Want to try and make in the morning. Thank you.
The Chunky Chef says
The exact amount of cubes will vary depending on the size of your ice cube trays, but you’ll need as many cubes as the 2 cups of brewed coffee filled. And yes, you want all of it for this recipe 🙂
Eva says
This was soooooo good and very easy to make!!! Thank you!!
Crystal says
Can you use coconut milk instead of the almond milk and sugar?
The Chunky Chef says
I haven’t tested this recipe using coconut milk, so I can’t say for certain. If you experiment and give them a try, I’d love to know how it turns out 🙂
Cindy says
Sure wish taco bell would bring back the Taco Salad, I ate it every day for lunch
Kathy says
I am going to try this tomorrow morning . I have made the crushed ice cubes and coffee to chill night before since I work at home and have to at work 7am. It sounds good.