Iced Mexican Mocha
This iced Mexican mocha recipe is actually one from years ago here on LM. The recipe is so easy and so tasty (and it’s cuss words hot outside) that it needed an update and a reboot! While it isn’t authentic, it’s my easy way to enjoy some of that delicious combination of chocolate and spices.
I dreamed up this iced Mexican coffee inspired drink for Día de Muertos back in 2015 (just after my wedding). I was working with a sugar company and had a few week run of sugar-inspired recipes.
My husband had just started a job and I all too quickly inundated them with delicious, homemade goodies! I quickly had to settle back on my dessert making and stick with healthy veggie-focused salads so nobody revolted!
I’m a purist when it comes to my iced coffee and cold brew. There are so many products and recipes that have flavors added, but I always go for the classic, adding the sweetness and milk on my own. Rarely (basically never) do I venture into the minty, salty, caramely varieties.
This Iced Mexican mocha (or is it an Iced Mexican coffee?) is just the perfect spin on my classic drink, however, that I will make an exception at home!
Most of the flavor comes from the spices, which the foodie in me loves. And I always have all of the ingredients on hand, so I can whip it up whenever I need to kick up the flavor of my coffee.
It’s also a great recipe for any Mexican holiday parties, including Cinco de Mayo and Día de los Muertos festivities.
CONTENTS
Iced Mexican Mocha
So this recipe is actually for hot or iced mexican mocha. If your house is anything like ours, then you have at least one who only drinks hot coffee and another who really likes it iced. It’s a crazy life – somehow we make it work!
Anyway, this recipe pulls on the flavors of Mexican hot chocolate – cocoa powder, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and dried chili powder. It doesn’t take much of any of these spices to add a warm flavor to your coffee!
What Milk Can You Use in this Mocha?
I used nonfat milk in this recipe because I always have it on hand. Obviously a reduced fat or whole milk would be super delicious.
Or if you use almond or coconut milk or the very popular (and rather tasty) oat milk… Well, my mouth is starting to water thinking how delicious that would be. So, yes, you can use whatever milk you like in this recipe.
You can also use whatever kind of brewed coffee (or even espresso) you have on hand. I love that I can make this as a treat on the weekends. I can just as easily make it for my morning coffee and start my weekdays off on a tasty foot!
Coffee Recipes
Want some other ideas to spice up your coffee (literally)?! Try this easy cardamom latte and this eggnog latte!
Or if you just want some more chocolate and spices in your life, try this Mexican Chocolate Cake!
Check out these other drink recipes! And see how you can drink coffee more sustainably as well as this lengthy list of sustainable coffee brands!
ICED MEXICAN MOCHA
Ingredients
Cocoa Syrup
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder*
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional – see note
- ½ cup water
Iced Mexican Mocha
- 2 cups cold coffee
- ice
- milk/cream of choice
Instructions
Cocoa Syrup
- Sift sugar, cocoa, chili powder, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper(if using) together. This will make a little over ½ cup of seasoning mix.
- Mix ½ cup cocoa mix with ½ cup water. Heat in microwave for 20-30 seconds until sugar mix dissolves into water. Chill.
Iced Mexican Mocha
- Stir cocoa syrup into two cups cold coffee.
- Serve over ice with milk
Wondering how long this may keep for? Can you make a large batch of the syrup?
I haven’t tried making the syrup ahead of time, but I can’t see why it would be a problem. I’d recommend refrigerating just to be safe.
You could make the mocha and refrigerate for probably a few days. The milk in there is the only thing that would spoil. Just be sure to shake well before drinking!
I really want to try this recipe. I have a question, though. it says four servings in the heading, but you make two glasses of iced coffee with the syrup. is that like two 16 oz glasses of iced coffee? just trying to figure out the The will nutrition info. thanks, in advance. for your response
Hi Christina! Yes, it’s four servings. It’s 2 cups of coffee you mix in with the syrup. So each serving will have a half cup of coffee. I hope that helps!
Is it 1/2 c of cocoa powder or 2 T?
Hi Jo Ann! It’s 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Then you use 1/2 cup of the cocoa, sugar, and spice mix to make the syrup. I’ve added some headings and notes to the recipe above to try to make it clearer. Please let me know if you have more questions. xo, Luci
Where do you get your chili powder from? So many of them have garlic and other spices added. Could you please send me the link? Thanks!
Hi Miranda! Really any straight dried chili powder would be fine. The California chili is probably a good bet. You could do a dried ancho chili powder for a bit more heat. You can usually find a straight chili powder in the “Mexican” section of a grocery store. It’ll look something like: this!
Thank you so much, Luci!
Tastes great!
There is a latte stand in my hometown that has a “Mayan Mocha” on their menu and it’s been on there for several years. They weren’t willing to share their recipe, but yours looks like it could be the same as theirs. The little bite on my tongue after swallowing is what got me! So delicious and very unexpected. Thank you for sharing. I cannot wait to try it!
I just found this recipe and it looks so good. I was wondering if you had a favorite chili powder you use. I’ve noticed some have very different notes to them. Thanks
Hi Kim,
I don’t have a specific brand to recommend. The only thing to watch out for is to use pure chili powder, not a mix with garlic and other seasonings. I don’t think that mix would be bad, actually, but I’d recommend a pure option!
I made this the other day as a treat for my daughters and myself. Oh my gracious, so good!!!
Tonight I put the flavoring syrup together and added a pinch of salt and a splash of Mexican blend vanilla. I’ve got the coffee cold brewing and the half and half ready to foam in the morning.
Thanks for such a fancy, delicious treat.
I’m so happy to hear you love this recipe! I LOVE the idea of pre-mixing the flavoring syrup! xo Luci
This is such a great treat for coffee lovers like me!
This is the BEST iced coffee recipe I’ve ever tried! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
This recipe was fabulous! It was super easy and so refreshing. I’ll definitely be making again!
so good! now I just need to find a dry sweetener i like instead of sugar (normally i use liquid sweetener in my iced coffee)
Hi there! So happy you loved the recipe. I would try omitting the sugar in my recipe above and then just adding your liquid sweetener to taste at the end. In essence the sugar in my recipe is just creating the simple syrup in the drink. Let me know how it goes! xo Luci
Those awesome spices take this iced coffee to the next level!!
My daughter and I just tried this recipe. The chili powder gave me a minute of pause but we pushed ahead. It came out wonderfully! Our new favorite.
Love this Luci! And the photos are so pretty! And I want one right now. Delicious.
The recipe sounds delish! I’m going to try it, never though of cayenne on a Mexican coffee, but makes sense, chili 🌶 is a staple ingredient on many Mexican fishes and drinks.
Looks delicious! My family would love this.
This is so delicious! I made this coffee right after I read the recipe and I think it’s my new favorite!
I live for good iced coffee! This looks better than store-bought coffee. Will definitely try it!
Chili + cinnamon + cayenne is such an intriguing combo in coffee – I cannot wait to give this a try! Might become my favorite summer drink this year! 🙂 Thank you for this!
The addition of cinnamon and cayenne to this is fantastic! Such a great flavour. I am a huge coffee fan, and this is my new favourite way to enjoy it.
I’ve been drinking so much more coffee than normal since covid! Your version of iced Mexican coffee was so delicious! I love the cinnamon flavor!
Hi. These are so pretty! My mom loves the glasses and I was wondering where you got them. It is never to early to start Christmas shopping, am I right? (:
Hi Averi! No, it’s never too early. My aunt used to start shopping the year before and just picked things up as the ideas came to her! Much less stressful that way! My glasses are old, but they still have lots of similar styles. xo Luci
Thank you so much!!