Xanthan Gum Free Herbal Iced Coffee with Fresh Herbs
Cold coffee drinks can be surprisingly tricky when you're avoiding thickeners and stabilizers, but this one keeps things beautifully simple — just brewed coffee, milk, ice, and a homemade herb syrup made from nothing but sugar, water, and fresh herbs. That syrup is the real star here: steeping mint, basil, or rosemary in hot sugar water for 20 to 30 minutes coaxes out a fragrant, lightly tinted liquid that elevates every sip without a single additive in sight. No powders, no gums, no store-bought flavored syrups with mystery ingredients — just clean, aromatic sweetness you made yourself. The result is a café-style iced coffee that feels genuinely elevated, with herbal notes that linger in the best possible way. It works equally well with dairy or a plant-based milk, so you can tailor it to whatever you have on hand. Garnish with a fresh sprig and it looks like something you'd pay too much for at a specialty coffee bar — except you made it at home in under 40 minutes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 2 cups strong brewed coffee, cooled to room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk or dairy free milk
- 2 cups ice cubes
For the herb simple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves (or fresh basil or fresh rosemary sprigs)
For serving
- 2 fresh herb sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- 2
Add the fresh mint (or your chosen herb) to the hot syrup and press the leaves gently with a spoon to submerge them. Let steep for 20–30 minutes, until the syrup is fragrant and lightly tinted.
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