Copycat Mcdonald’s Frappe
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You can skip the drive-thru line and make a professional-grade McDonald’s Mocha Frappe in your own kitchen. This simple copycat recipe is perfect for any time of year and is often preferred over the original for its bold coffee flavor and customizable sweetness.
Looking for more delicious copycat drink recipes? Our current favorites are the Copycat Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade Recipe, Cookies and Cream Frap, Caramel Frappuccino, McMuffin and Copycat Wendy’s Frosty!
Why This is the Best McDonald’s Frappe Copycat
- Save Money at Home. Coffee shop frappes add up quickly, but making them yourself costs a fraction of the price.
- Better Than the Drive-Thru. You can control the sweetness, chocolate flavor, and coffee strength so the drink tastes exactly how you like it.
- Simple Pantry Ingredients. Everything in this recipe is easy to keep on hand, so you can make a frappe whenever the craving hits.
A mocha frappe is a creamy blended coffee drink made with coffee, milk, chocolate, and ice. It’s thicker than iced coffee and has a smooth, almost milkshake-like texture. Coffee shops and fast food spots helped make the drink popular, but it’s surprisingly easy to recreate at home with just a handful of ingredients.
After making more than a few copycat coffee drinks in my own kitchen, I’ve found the biggest trick is freezing the coffee into cubes first. It keeps the flavor bold and prevents the drink from getting watered down once blended. It’s a small step that makes a big difference and gives you that thick, frothy coffeehouse-style texture.
Jesseca’s Recipe Review
If you’re someone who loves grabbing a mocha from the drive-thru, this homemade version might surprise you. It has that same creamy, chocolatey coffee flavor but comes together in minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
The small trick that really makes this recipe work is freezing the coffee first. Instead of using regular ice that waters the drink down, the frozen coffee cubes keep everything rich and bold while blending into that thick, frothy texture you expect from a good frappe. It’s one of those simple swaps that makes the homemade version taste just as good, if not better, than the original.
Tip from Jesseca:
Freeze extra coffee cubes and keep them in a freezer bag. That way you can blend up a drink whenever the craving hits.
Ingredients for a Homemade Mocha Frappe
Can you really beat the frothy, creamy, and chocolate packed flavor in these blended coffees? Here’s what you need for this recipe:
- Coffee: Make sure the coffee is brewed strong. Weak or less bold coffee won’t give you the flavor you are looking for, but I promise it’s sweet enough in the end.
- Sugar: Just a touch to sweeten the strong brew we use.
- Milk: 2% or higher. We’ve also made this with unsweetened almond and coconut milk with great success.
- Chocolate Syrup: Just a touch is all you need to get a bold mocha taste.
- Whipped Cream: Optional, but a fun finishing touch to your fancy made-at-home drink.
This blended coffee really checks all of the boxes. It’s smooth and frothy, creamy, and full of chocolate flavor. All while using the most basic ingredients! You’ll also save money by skipping the drive-thru! Win-win.
Easy Variations
One of the best parts about making a mocha frappe at home is how easy it is to tweak the flavor. Once you’ve mastered the base recipe, try one of these simple variations to switch things up.
- Caramel Mocha Frappe
Add 1 tablespoon caramel syrup to the blender before mixing. It adds a buttery sweetness that pairs perfectly with the chocolate and coffee. - Cookies and Cream Mocha Frappe
Blend in 2 crushed Oreo cookies for a thicker, dessert-like drink with little bits of chocolate cookie throughout. - Protein Mocha Frappe
Turn this into a quick breakfast or post-workout drink by adding 1 scoop chocolate protein powder. You may want to add a splash of extra milk to keep the texture smooth. - Vanilla Mocha Frappe
Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for a subtle sweetness that rounds out the chocolate flavor. - Extra Creamy Mocha Frappe
For a richer, milkshake-like texture, replace half of the milk with half-and-half or add a small scoop of vanilla ice cream before blending. - Make It Dairy-Free
Swap the milk for almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk for an easy dairy-free version that still blends up smooth and creamy.
Once you start experimenting, it’s easy to create your own favorite version of this homemade mocha frappe.
The Secret Step: How to Make a Mocha Frappe with Coffee Ice Cubes
- Prepare the Coffee Base: Pour your brewed and slightly cooled coffee into an ice cube tray. Freeze for 3 to 4 hours, or until solid.
- Combine Ingredients: Place the frozen coffee cubes, sugar, milk, and chocolate syrup into a high-speed blender.
- Blend: Process on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes. You are looking for a smooth, slushy consistency without any large ice chunks.
- Serve: Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream and an extra drizzle of chocolate syrup if desired.
The Secret to a Creamy, Bold Frappe
The most common mistake when making a blended coffee at home is using regular ice cubes. As the ice melts, it dilutes the coffee, resulting in a watery drink.
The professional secret is to freeze your coffee into cubes. This ensures that as the “ice” breaks down in the blender, it only adds more coffee flavor to the mix, keeping the texture thick and the taste rich from the first sip to the last.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes. Dissolve 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee in ¾ cup of hot water, let it cool, then freeze into cubes. This works great for a quick and easy option.
Use less milk or add an extra few coffee ice cubes. You can also blend in a tablespoon of heavy cream or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a thicker, creamier texture.
A blender is best for that smooth, icy texture, but if you don’t have one, you can use a food processor. In a pinch, you can shake the ingredients in a jar with crushed ice—just expect a more slushy texture.
Reduce or skip the sugar and use unsweetened cocoa powder instead of chocolate syrup for a more coffee-forward taste. You can also use dark chocolate syrup for a less sweet but rich flavor.
Absolutely! Freeze a batch of coffee cubes and store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to a month. This way, you can whip up a mocha frappe anytime with minimal effort.
Whole milk gives the creamiest result, but you can use any milk you prefer. Almond, oat, or coconut milk are great dairy-free options that still keep it smooth.
It’s very similar! The main difference is that Starbucks uses a coffee base with emulsifiers for extra smoothness. For a closer match, add a tablespoon of vanilla pudding mix or a bit of xanthan gum to mimic that texture.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make Ahead Coffee Cubes
Brew strong coffee and pour it into an ice cube tray. Freeze until solid, then transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep well for up to 1–2 months and make it easy to blend a frappe anytime. - Prep Multiple Servings
If you know you’ll be making this often, freeze several batches of coffee cubes at once. Having them ready in the freezer means your frappe can be blended in just a couple of minutes. - Storing Leftovers
Frappes are best enjoyed right after blending. If you do have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for up to a few hours. - Refreshing the Texture
If the drink separates or thins out in the fridge, simply blend it again with a few fresh coffee cubes to bring back the thick, frothy texture.
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Copycat McDonald’s Mocha Frappe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
- Whipped Cream (optional)
Instructions
- Pour your brewed, and slightly cooled coffee into an ice mold.
- Freeze solid, roughly 3 to 4 hours.
- Place the frozen coffee cubes, sugar, milk, and chocolate syrup in a blender.
- Blend at a medium/high speed for 2 minutes.
- Pour into a glass and top off with whipped cream.
Notes
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Yummy I love McDonalds Mocha frappe so much thank you!!😊
You’re welcome, Teresa!
10/10, even just using Nescafe, fat free lactose free milk, Hersheys chocolate syrup, ice, no whip cream-all in a blender- super good, tastes almost *exactly* like the Mcdonald’s frape I didn’t want to leave the house for!
Love this, Megan! Honestly, nothing beats recreating a drive-thru fave without changing out of pajamas. So glad it hit the spot—even with the swaps!
This recipe is not complete. McDonald’s puts crushed ice in their frappes. I drink them almost every day.
Did you try the recipe or just review it based on your opinion?
Instead of ice they freez the coffee.
I don’t see how it can taste even remotely the same considering there is no coffee in a McDonald’s Frappe.
Hi there! I completely understand your skepticism, but I encourage you to give the recipe a try before judging. While McDonald’s may use different methods, this recipe captures the same creamy, indulgent flavor we all love. Sometimes, a little creativity in the kitchen yields surprising results!
There is coffee in McD’s frappe. A small keeps me wired for hours; that’s why I’m looking for a recipe so I can make a decaf version.McD’s website declares: McDonald’s Mocha Frappe contains a base made with cream, water, skim milk, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and coffee extract. It also includes natural and artificial flavors, cocoa (processed with alkali), and thickeners like mono & diglycerides, guar gum, potassium citrate, disodium phosphate, carrageenan, and locust bean gum. Finally, it contains artificial coloring (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1).
mine was not frozen after I blended for 2 minutes. if I add more frozen coffee it will take too long to break down the ice.
Thanks for trying the recipe, Sandra! It sounds like your blender might need a little more help with the ice. I recommend blending in shorter bursts or starting with slightly smaller ice cubes if possible. You can also try blending the frozen coffee in stages—this usually helps break it down faster without over-blending. Let me know if that works for you!
This is delicious! I make mine in my Ninja blender. I freeze my milk in ice cube trays as well. I use 4 coffee cubes and 6 milk cubes, adding about 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk in the Ninja. I also use 2 Tbs of Hershey’s chocolate and 2 Tbs of sugar in blender-per my husband ‘s preferance. This makes the equivalent to 1 LG McDonald’s frame.
Wow, I love your tweaks Bonnie! Freezing the milk into cubes is such a great idea for extra creaminess, and your husband’s preference sounds spot on with the chocolate and sugar—yum! Thanks for sharing your version; I’m sure others will love trying it too!
THANK YOU for your measurements! Wasn’t sure how many cubes to use!
Where are the actual portion amounts for each ingredient
The portion amounts for each ingredient are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Let me know if you have trouble finding it—I’m happy to help!
Good
I Love McDonalds Frappe, I usually get 2 or 3 every week, the Mocha is my favorite., When I saw this recipe, I couldn’t believe how delicious it tasted, just like McDonalds Frappe, So Thank You For Sharing it.
Now I can make my own Frappe at home.🥳💜🙋♀️🎉
Ok so I love the mocha frappe from McDonald’s I get a LG with no chocolate no whipped.i try to get one everyday and I use the app which helps me with $2 off each day and I get enough points to get a free one. so I’m here to ask can you please give me details of what you did and how much to put in what? I want to see if I make them from home. some days I can’t get out, snowed in or something else. so if I can make them from home I would be so happy. yesterday for my birthday that’s all I wanted, but due to the snow we have I can’t get out of my driveway & I don’t have anyone to shovel the driveway!
thank you!
Hi Taylor, I’m not quite understanding the question. The recipe breakdown is towards the bottom of the post inside the recipe card. Are you having a hard time with that?
I am a huge McDonalds mocha frappe addict and lover.
But I recently moved to Sweden and they don’t taste the same as the American ones. (Not as flavorful or icy)
There is only one McDonalds near my village which takes 20 minutes to drive to, who also never blends them fully so they make horrible quality ones that has unblended ice cubes. (staff who get sour if I ask for a new one)
But I am so happy with this recipe and it even tastes BETTER than the McDonalds ones.
Thank you so so much! you have restored the balance in my life and have made a frappe addict so happy!
I am excited to be able to make them whenever I want them and to spend less money on them.
10/10 rating on the recipe! 💥
Ok Alexa, you sure know how to make someone’s day! This comment was so kind and really made my crazy busy week feel worth it.
how many ice cubes to put in the blender?
lol i love the face that theres still bits of ice in mine when i get one from mcdonalds. i actually get sad when its fully bleded. crunching on the ice easily as i drink is my favorite part of drinking it. ive been trying to find a recipe that actually tastes like the McDonald’s mocha frap so hopefully this one works and maybe i can put aside extra ice to half bled for that effect since this calls for coffee ice cubes lol
I 100% know what you mean. You should be able to get that slightly under blended finish by cutting back how long you blend the ingredients together.
this is my most favorite drink. and it taste just like McDonalds mocha frappe
Thank you, Linda!
Love the Michael frappe
What would thicken this up a bit would be to add a 1/4 tsp of xanthan gum. That’s what Starbucks uses. I tried it & it works well.