There’s something about Sonic’s iced coffee that just hits different. Maybe it’s the crunch of that signature nugget ice or the way the sweet cream swirls lazily into the coffee like a melted milkshake dream. For me, it started on a summer road trip in Oklahoma. We were miles from the next town, hungry, heat-dazed, and just looking for somewhere with air conditioning and caffeine. I ordered the French Vanilla Iced Coffee on a whim. First sip? Hooked. It was dessert and fuel and comfort all in one.
This Sonic Iced Coffee Latte copycat brings that same creamy, cold magic right into your kitchen, no drive-thru necessary. You get the bold smoothness of cold brew, the richness of sweet cream that tastes like it melted right out of an ice cream machine, and the option to flavor it up just like Sonic’s French Vanilla or Caramel classics.
Best of all? It’s endlessly customizable. You can tweak the coffee strength, sweetness, or creaminess to fit your mood. But I’ll say this: the more nugget ice you can pack in, the more it’ll feel like the real thing.
Table of Contents
How to Make a Sonic Iced Coffee Latte
Start with chilled cold brew, store-bought or homemade. Then whip up a quick sweet cream blend using heavy cream, whole milk, and sweetened condensed milk (trust me on this one). Pour it over Sonic-style nugget ice, give it a lazy swirl, and you’ve got a drink that tastes like it came straight from that red-roofed drive-in.
Nutrition facts (per 16 oz serving)
- Calories: 280
- Total Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Sugar: 24 g
- Protein: 4 g
Ingredients (for 1 serving, 16–20 oz glass)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
- 1 cup cold brew coffee (chilled)
- ¼ cup nugget or crushed ice (plus more to fill glass)
- 4 tablespoons sweet cream (see below)
- 1–2 tablespoons French vanilla syrup (optional, for flavored version)
Sweet Cream (makes 4 servings)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Tools You’ll Need
- Tall glass (16–20 oz)
- Spoon or straw for stirring
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Blender (optional, for homemade cold brew)
- Pitcher or jar for storing extra sweet cream
Instructions
1. Make the sweet cream
In a jar or small pitcher, whisk together heavy cream, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. Store chilled.
(Prep time: 1 minute)
2. Fill your glass with nugget ice
Use Sonic-style pellet ice if possible, or crushed ice. Fill the glass about ¾ full.
(Prep time: 30 seconds)
3. Add coffee and syrup
Pour in the cold brew over the ice. Add vanilla syrup if you’re making the French Vanilla version.
(Prep time: 30 seconds)
4. Top with sweet cream
Pour 4 tablespoons of your prepared sweet cream over the coffee. Watch it swirl. Stir gently if desired.
(Prep time: 30 seconds)
5. Taste and adjust
Need it sweeter? Add a bit more cream or syrup. Want it stronger? Add more coffee and ice.
(Prep time: 30 seconds)
Tips
- Use a smooth medium roast for cold brew. It should taste rich, not bitter.
- Nugget ice is key. It melts slowly and gives that Sonic texture. If you don’t have it, pulse some ice cubes in a blender.
- Want extra froth? Shake the sweet cream in a jar before pouring.
- For homemade cold brew: steep 1 cup coarse coffee grounds in 4 cups cold water overnight, strain, and chill.
What to Serve With
Fast food comfort
- Waffle fries or tater tots – Just like at the drive-in, salty carbs make sweet coffee shine. Perfect pairing for that hot-salty-cold-sweet contrast.
- Crispy breakfast sandwich – A bacon, egg, and cheese croissant next to this coffee? Dreamy. The buttery layers soak up that sweet vanilla in the best way.
- Mini sliders – If you’re hosting brunch, offer a couple of bite-size savory sliders to play against the rich sweetness of the drink.
Lighter bites
- Fruit salad with mint – Keep things fresh with chopped strawberries, melon, and pineapple. That chill + crunch + coffee combo works.
- Vanilla yogurt with granola – The creaminess mirrors the coffee, while the granola adds that Sonic crunch vibe.
- Cucumber tea sandwiches – An unexpected but fun twist. Light, refreshing, and strangely satisfying beside an iced coffee.
Sweet-on-sweet
- Snickerdoodle cookies – Cinnamon + vanilla + cream = harmony.
- Glazed donut holes – Because coffee and donuts just belong together. Especially cold sweet coffee.
- Peach cobbler bar – Warm fruit + cold latte is a back porch classic.
Variations
French Vanilla
Add 1–2 tablespoons of French vanilla syrup. Sonic’s version leans heavy on the vanilla, so don’t be shy. You can also swap the vanilla extract in the cream for vanilla syrup.
Caramel
Drizzle caramel sauce into the glass before pouring in the coffee. Stir gently for ribbons of caramel in every sip.
Mocha
Add 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup to your cold brew before the cream goes in. Stir well. A mocha twist that feels like dessert in disguise.
Dairy-Free Version
Use oat milk or almond milk instead of heavy cream and whole milk. Sweetened condensed coconut milk works beautifully as a sub. Top with dairy-free whipped topping if you want to go all in.
Boozy Brunch Version
Add a splash of Irish cream liqueur or coffee liqueur like Kahlúa. Not Sonic-approved, but very Saturday-approved.
Iced Coffee Float
Instead of cream, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream right on top. It slowly melts into the coffee, giving you creamy goodness in every sip.
Ingredient Substitutes
Cold Brew Coffee
Original: Homemade or bottled cold brew
Subs: Strong chilled drip coffee, espresso + cold water, or instant coffee concentrate (use 2x strength)
Nugget Ice
Original: Sonic-style pellet ice
Subs: Crushed ice, mini ice cubes, or pulse regular ice briefly in a blender
Sweet Cream
Original: Heavy cream + whole milk + sweetened condensed milk
Subs:
- Half-and-half with vanilla syrup
- Dairy-free creamer with a splash of maple syrup
- Whipping cream alone for ultra richness
French Vanilla Syrup
Original: Store-bought syrup (Torani or Monin)
Subs:
- Homemade: equal parts sugar and water with vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp vanilla coffee creamer
- Vanilla bean paste stirred into maple syrup
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Original: In the sweet cream
Subs:
- Evaporated milk + sugar
- Coconut condensed milk (for dairy-free)
- 1 tbsp vanilla pudding mix (dry) stirred into the cream
Honest Review
After a few rounds of taste testing (including one where I went a little too heavy on the sweetened condensed milk), this version really nails that Sonic vibe. The balance of cold brew and sweet cream feels spot-on: smooth, rich, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat without tipping into milkshake territory. The texture is what surprised me most, it has that same silky, slightly indulgent feel as the original, especially when poured over nugget ice.
Is it exactly like Sonic? Not quite. I don’t have their syrup dispensers or that perfect drive-in ice, and let’s be honest, part of Sonic’s magic is the experience. But taste-wise? It absolutely scratches the same itch. Especially the French vanilla version, it’s bold, creamy, and gives that cozy dessert-coffee energy you’re probably chasing if you found this recipe.
Would I make it again? 100%. Especially on days when I need a little caffeine and comfort all in one glass. Bonus: no car keys needed.
