McDonald's Mocha Frappe Copycat Recipe

Nothing quite says "summertime" like heading to a drive-thru and ordering your favorite iced drink. While there's hot debate over which franchise serves the best coffee, those in the know order the classic: McDonald's Mocha Frappé.

Rich, chocolate-y, and boasting a real punch of coffee, the frappé ticks every box. While historians will one day look back and wonder why our civilization was so devoted to this treat, coffee-lovers around the country need no explanation. As the weather starts to heat up outside, guzzling down the sweet and strong flavor is a no-brainer.

"I love to drink frappés, especially in the summer. I went through one summer at work where I got them nearly every day before work," says photographer and recipe developer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge. "They are just so refreshing, and the added coffee gives you a nice buzz in the morning!"

Have we whet your appetite? Rather than jumping in your car and storming down to your nearest McDonald's, there is another option. You can create this convincing McDonald's Mocha Frappé copycat recipe in the comfort of your own home. Here's Olayinka's secret recipe.

First things first: You're going to need to gather your ingredients for this McDonald's Mocha Frappé copycat recipe. Creating the perfect balance of coffee flavors and that sweet hit of chocolate doesn't have to be hard. While the good people at McDonald's have worked hard to craft this summertime treat, you can recreate it easily.

Olayinka's quick and easy recipe makes two to three servings of a thirst-quenching Mocha Frappé copycat. To get started, you will need three cups of milk, two cups of hot water, six tablespoons of hot chocolate powder, six tablespoons of superfine sugar, seven teaspoons of instant coffee, and some whipped cream for that perfect finishing touch (if desired).

Think that only McDonald's can give you that rich, sweet, creamy taste? Think again. When you're making this McDonald's Mocha Frappé copycat recipe from scratch, choosing the best-quality ingredients will give you the undeniably addictive flavor your craving.

Since so much of the taste will come from the hot chocolate powder, you need to choose a quality option. Ahead of giving a mix the "go ahead," flip it over and check the ingredients. There are some certain things you need to look out for.

"A hot chocolate powder that contains cocoa, sugar, and powdered milk is the best one to use, as it makes this recipe even creamier," says Olayinka.

Following a plant-based diet? Lactose intolerant? Simply want to cut back on dairy products? We hear you. When you head to your local McDonald's, there's a whole range of milk options to choose from. While you can make this Mocha Frappé copycat using cow's milk, that's certainly not the only way to go here.

Olayinka says there is some wiggle room when it comes to choosing your milk base: "You can use any alternative for milk for this recipe. I used oat milk because it's naturally sweet, but you can use any plant-based milk such as almond milk, coconut milk, or hemp milk."

Let's sweeten things up with this McDonald's Mocha Frappé copycat recipe! Olayinka's Mocha Frappé recipe calls for superfine sugar. However, if your kitchen cupboards are looking sparse, you can switch things around. Simply use whatever you have in to add a hit of flavor to your cooling drink.

As Olayinka explains, you can use a whole variety of sweeteners to give your drink the taste you're looking for: "You can use coconut sugar as an alternative. You could even use a liquid sweetener like honey, agave, or maple syrup." Check out what you have in the cupboard or pantry, and use any alternative you want to create the treat.

Spoiler: This McDonald's Mocha Frappé copycat recipe takes some pre-planning. The night before you're planning to gulp down the delicious drink on your commute, whip up a batch of coffee. Grab a large jug, and add the instant coffee granules along with some boiling water. Next, make sure that you mix the coffee well so all of the granules have completely dissolved.

If you're short on time, this hack means less messing around when your alarm goes off in the morning. As Olayinka perfectly puts it: "It helps to make the coffee the night before because most recipes call for liquid coffee and ice. So I thought, why not make the recipe quicker and combine these ingredients together?"

To make your morning coffee routine super simple, you're going to need to freeze that coffee. Leave your coffee in the jug to cool down for a few minutes. Next up, pour the drink into an ice cube mold. If you don't have one to hand, don't panic. Look for a similar type of mold that is freezer-ready. For instance, you could use a popsicle mold instead.

Put the mold into the freezer and leave it overnight. Simple! (Of course, if you're in a hurry and want the Mocha Frappé copycat the same day, you could leave it for a few hours to freeze instead. The choice is 100 percent yours.)

When the morning comes, it's time to rise and shine ... and make this McDonald's Mocha Frappé copycat recipe. Grab the frozen coffee out of the freezer, and break it out of the molds. Pop the coffee blocks into the blender.

Once you've done that, pour the milk on top before adding the hot chocolate powder and the superfine sugar. If the coffee blocks are chunky, take a moment to break them up. You can use a knife and chopping board to slice them into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Feeling hot? Olayinka has a quick tip: "If you're making this recipe in the summer, be sure to act fast, as the ice could melt, and this could make the recipe slightly watery."

Grab some earplugs for the next step of this McDonald's Mocha Frappé copycat recipe. You guessed it: It's time to blend up your ingredients. Hit that button, and watch the ingredients whirl around to make a delicious concoction of caffeine-infused goodness.

Olayinka says you should blend the ingredients on high for around 30 seconds. Of course, this will vary depending on the quality of your blender and the size of those frozen coffee chunks. You might want to stop and check the consistency of the drink part-way through. That way, you can figure out how smooth the drink is and whether it needs extra time.

Presentation is everything. When you pull up to the McDonald's drive-thru, the staff don't smash the drink in a cup and throw it your way. Instead, there's a level of pizzaz that comes with creating the perfect summertime Mocha Frappé.

Pour the blended coffee drink out into two or three glasses. Take the whipped cream and top each of the drinks with a healthy dollop of the stuff. (Start from the sides and move in a circular motion to the middle for the best results!) Add a dusting of chocolate powder for effect, and pop a paper straw in the top. Voilà! You're done.