Sweet Tea– Easy McDonald’s Copycat

This homemade McDonald’s Sweet Tea hits all the right notes — smooth, extra sweet, and ice-cold with that classic southern kick. It’s super cheap, comes together in minutes, and makes a full pitcher to last all week (or all afternoon, depending). No drive-thru required — just tea bags, sugar, and vibes.

Jump to Recipe

Quick Summary

• Prep time: 5 mins
• Cook time: 5 mins
• Flavor: bold, sweet, clean
• Great for: hot afternoons, road trip nostalgia, fridge sipping

Why I Like This Recipe

Honestly? It’s just easy. Throw it together, dump it over ice, and suddenly everything feels 10% more manageable. I’ve made it three times this week. Zero regrets.

Ingredients

• 2 quarts water
• 3 family-size black tea bags
• 2 cups sugar
• Ice
• Optional: lemon slices, fresh mint, mason jar (for ✨aesthetic✨)

How To Make Sweet Tea

1. Boil the water: Bring 1 quart of water to a rolling boil. Big bubbles. No baby simmer.
2. Add the tea + sugar: Turn off heat. Toss in the tea bags and sugar. Stir slowly until it all dissolves. Steep 5 minutes.
3. Pour over ice: Fill a big pitcher halfway with ice. Pour the warm tea right over. It’ll crackle and pop — very satisfying.
4. Add cold water: Pour in the second quart of cold water. Stir it like you’re calming your nerves.
5. Chill it down: Stick it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Serve with lemon or just grab a straw and go.

Tips for Success

• Dissolve sugar in hot water, not cold. Otherwise it stays gritty.
• Don’t over-steep or the tea goes bitter. 5 mins is your sweet spot.
• Glass pitcher > plastic if you care about taste.
• Use classic black tea (Lipton, Luzianne, etc.) — this isn’t the place to get fancy.

Storage and Reheating

• Fridge: Keeps in a sealed glass pitcher up to 3 days. Stir before serving — sugar likes to settle.
• Freezer: You could freeze cubes for iced tea later, but don’t freeze the whole batch.
• Reheat: Nope. It’s sweet tea. Chill only.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use less sugar?
  Technically, yeah. But then it’s not McDonald’s-style. It’s just tea.
• What if I only have regular tea bags?
  Use 6–8 small ones in place of 3 family-size bags.
• Why glass pitcher?
  Hot liquids + plastic = weird taste sometimes. Plus glass just feels nicer.
• Do I have to chill it?
  If you’re pouring it over ice right away, no. But chilling helps mellow the flavor.
• Can I add lemon while it steeps?
  Skip it. Acid can mess with the steeping. Add lemon slices to the glass later.

Common Mistakes and How to Dodge Them

• Forgetting to dissolve sugar: The sugar needs that hot water moment. If you skip this, it just sinks to the bottom and tastes off.
• Using herbal or flavored tea: That’s not what this is. You want bold, plain black tea. Trust.
• Letting it steep too long: Turns bitter fast. Set a timer. Walk away. Come back when it dings.
• Pouring boiling tea directly onto plastic: You’ll taste it. And not in a good way. Use glass or let the tea cool slightly.
• Thinking “sweet tea” = “iced tea”: Different things! Iced tea can be unsweet. Sweet tea is its own sugary beast.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

• Calories: 258 kcal
• Total Fat: 0g
• Saturated Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 5mg
• Potassium: 50mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 67g
• Dietary Fiber: 0g
• Sugars: 65g
• Protein: 0g

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• Eggnog Shake– Easy McDonald’s Copycat
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• Caramel Macchiato – Easy McDonald’s Copycat