also known as what happens when you spike cold brew coffee with the perfectly not-too-sweet blood orange syrup, blood orange cold brew iced coffee will be your newest winter citrus obsession!

this Recipe for Later!

i know exactly what you’re thinking…“oh no she didnnnnn’t…”

welp. yes i did. 

hell yes i did.

i put blood oranges in cold brew & it’s the best thing to happen to my life in the longest time. & you may think that’s the cliché over-excited “omg this is my new favorite thing ever” food blogger in me talking, but no. blood orange cold brew is actually my new favorite thing. ever. 

ever ever.

& it goes a little something like this:

• bold & smooth cold brew. because cold brew is like the cadillac of iced coffee. & because there’s something about iced coffee that sounds incredible no matter what. (right?!)
• homemade blood orange syrup, with emphasis on the blood orange. (i mean, is there any other way??)
• a generous splash of cream. or half & half. or milk. or nut milk. whatever you love!

the result?

oh. em. gee. 

& in case you’re not completely sold on the idea of citrus in your coffee, which chris just reminded me may actually be a thing when his response to my telling him about this recipe was, “uh that sounds effing nuts,” let me tell you this…

winter citrus + coffee is lovely!!! 

i first had a similar combination when my favorite coffee shop featured a iced lemon latte on special last spring. for lack of better, less cliché words, it was love at first sip. the bright notes of the citrus were perfectly offset by the creamy, slightly sweetened coffee. i knew i’d be recreating the recipe this winter with my favorite winter citrus of all: blood oranges. 

i’d love say i don’t really know when i fell head over heels in love with blood oranges, but really i do. it wasn’t the first time i ate one; it was way before then. it was the first time i ever saw dexter. please tell me you know what i mean. i love everything about them – their moody color, their juicy flavor, & especially the fact that they make the perfect pair with a bold cold brew. 

the key to adding blood orange, or any citrus for that matter, to coffee, i think, lies in making sure the citrus flavor isn’t overpowered by sweetness. this is exactly what was so magical about rose street’s iced lemon latte: it was just sweet enough to allow the bright notes of the lemon to shine without overpowering them.

striking the perfectly sweet, but not too sweet, balance of flavors took me several attempts to figure out when i was testing this blood orange cold brew. & the key really lies in taking a couple of extra steps when making the blood orange syrup. they’re not difficult steps, but they are a little extra. but i promise you, the payoff is totally there. 

the first step is making a blood orange-scented sugar. you simply rub the zest of a few blood oranges into some sugar before you cook it down into a simple syrup. the warmth of your fingers will release the oils from the blood orange zest & infuse them into the sugar. hello flavor magic. 

the second step is taking a few minutes to reduce the juice of a few blood oranges to concentrate its orangey flavor before adding in the blood orange-scented sugar. then you let it simmer just until the sugar dissolves, strain it off, & voila: the perfect blood orange syrup. 

all that’s left? pouring it over your favorite cold brew, along with a heavy splash of cream (duh), & enjoying.

blood orange cold brew iced coffee. do it do it. 

if you love this blood orange cold brew iced coffee, here are a couple of other recipes you’ll be obsessed with:

• porter spiked cold brew iced coffee 
• winter citrus mimosas with blood orange & honey 
• lavender lemonade rose 
• all pwwb beverages 

blood orange cold brew iced coffee

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review

• Author: jess larson | plays well with butter
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: serves 1 (easily multiplied!) 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

---

Description

also known as what happens when you spike cold brew coffee with the perfectly not-too-sweet blood orange syrup, blood orange cold brew iced coffee will be your newest winter citrus obsession!

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 ounces cold brew coffee
• 2 tablespoons blood orange syrup (below)
• optional: 2 tablespoons half and half or heavy cream

for the blood orange syrup

• 3 blood oranges, zested and juiced
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Make the blood orange syrup: Place the blood orange juice (3 blood oranges should yield about 1 cup juice) into a small saucepan. Cook the blood orange juice over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or so, until reduced by about 1/4. Meanwhile, as the blood orange juice cooks, make a blood orange-scented sugar. Place the blood orange zest and granulated into a small bowl. Use your fingers to work the blood orange zest into the sugar, until fragrant. Add the blood orange-scented sugar to the saucepan with the reduced blood orange juice. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar dissolves. Strain the syrup into a jar or resealable container & store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

2. To make a blood orange cold brew add your favorite cold brew coffee to a glass over ice. Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of blood orange syrup, depending how sweet your like your coffee to be. Top with a splash or two of your preferred creamer – I love half & half. Enjoy!!!

---

Notes

• Blood oranges are readily available in most grocery stores this time of year. I find mine bagged at Trader Joe’s for a very reasonable price!

pin this blood orange cold brew coffee recipe for later!