Mcdonalds Sweet Tea Recipe (2024)

Craving the refreshing taste of McDonald's sweet tea but wanting to enjoy it from the comfort of your own home? Look no further! With this copycat McDonald's sweet tea recipe, you can indulge in the classic flavor anytime you want. Whether it's a scorching hot summer day or you simply need a pick-me-up, this homemade version will hit the spot.

Sweet tea is so refreshing during the warmer months, and it's great to always have a pitcher ready in your fridge if you're an avid tea drinker. By making sweet tea at home, you can control just how sweet you want it to be. I like it over a glass full of ice cubes with a slice of lemon or orange.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Recreate the beloved taste of McDonald's sweet tea in your own kitchen.
• Made with simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand.
• Customize the sweetness to suit your taste preferences.
• Perfect for quenching your thirst on hot days or with your favorite meals.
• Enjoy a refreshing beverage without the need to visit a fast-food restaurant.

Ingredients for McDonald's Chilled Sweet Tea

• Filtered water
• Family-sized tea bags
• Sugar
• Baking soda

Equipment and kitchen tools

• Gallon sized pitcher

How to make this McDonald's iced tea recipe

Place 4 cups of water in a large saucepan over high heat. Bring to a rolling boil.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the tea bags to the hot water. Cover and allow the hot tea to steep for 5 to 6 minutes. (Steep tea longer for a stronger tea.)

Meanwhile, add an additional 12 cups of water and a pinch of baking soda to a gallon pitcher.

Remove the tea bags from the saucepot, gently squeezing to remove the excess tea. Discard the tea bags.

In the saucepan, add the sugar and stir until completely blended.

Pour the tea into the gallon-sized pitcher with the water. Stir to combine.

Cover the pitcher and refrigerate. Best if refrigerated overnight.

Tips for the Best Results

• Use filtered water for the best flavor.
• Adjust the amount of sugar to suit your preference for sweetness.
• For a stronger tea flavor, steep the tea bags for a longer time.
• Serve the ice tea over ice cubes for an extra refreshing touch.
• Garnish with lemon slices for added zest, if desired.
• Enjoy this refreshing tea recipe on a hot day as is or with creamer.
• The most important thing to remember when steeping the tea is that you need to give it at least 5 minutes for a good steep.

For more great summer beverage recipes ideas

• Peach Iced Tea. This delicious peach tea recipe is both refreshing and tasty.
• Strawberry Iced Tea - One of my favorite versions of iced t4ea.
• Easy Homemade Strawberry Lemonade - If you are a lemonade lover, you will love this refreshing twist.
• Starbucks Dragon Drink - Sweet mango and dragonfruit flavors with creamy coconut milk.
• Watermelon Agua Fresca - A refreshing and thirst-quenching drink made from fresh watermelon. SO GOOD!
• Honeydew Agua Fresca - Another variation on a summer melon drink that is so easy to make.
• Mint Simple Syrup - a great addition to tea or as a flavored water.

Substitutions and Variations

• Use brown sugar or liquid sweetener as alternatives to white sugar.
• Experiment with different flavors of tea bags for unique variations.
• If this tea has too much sugar for you, try using less sugar or a sugar alternative like agave syrup.
• You can use black tea bags if you like caffeine. Otherwise, you can use herbal tea bags.
• Mix your sweet tea with homemade lemonade to make your own Arnold Palmer.

FAQs About This Recipe

More great beverage recipes

📖 Recipe

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