Cold brew and vanilla, blended to silky perfection: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is a smooth, café-style drink you can make at home. This Starbucks copycat combines cold brew coffee with a lightly sweetened vanilla cream for a refreshing, indulgent beverage.
If you love coffee and vanilla, this drink will likely become a favorite. It’s easy to customize: adjust the vanilla syrup for more or less sweetness, or swap the milk components to suit dietary needs. Making it at home saves money and lets you control the strength and sweetness.
Is this a healthy drink?
This beverage is a treat rather than an everyday health choice. The cold brew itself is unsweetened and low in calories, but the vanilla sweet cream adds sugar and fat. If you enjoy a sweet coffee occasionally, having a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew once or twice a week is reasonable for most people.
For lower sugar, use a sugar-free vanilla syrup or replace sugar with a preferred sweetener when making your syrup. Be aware that even with no added sugar, the cream contributes saturated fat. Adjust ingredients to match your dietary goals.
FAQ
Is the vanilla sweet cream cold brew sweet? Yes—while the cold brew base is unsweetened, the vanilla syrup and sweet cream add sweetness. Reduce the syrup amount or use vanilla extract only if you prefer a less sweet drink.
What is in Starbucks vanilla sweet cream? Starbucks’ version uses a combination of heavy cream, 2% milk, and vanilla syrup. This homemade version follows the same idea with a simple vanilla syrup and a mix of heavy cream and milk.
Ingredients
Cold Brew: Use store-bought cold brew or make your own cold brew concentrate. A strong cold brew works best so the ice and cream don’t dilute the flavor too much. If you want an authentic profile, use your favorite medium- to dark-roast coffee.
Heavy cream: Provides richness and a creamy mouthfeel for the vanilla sweet cream.
Evaporated milk or 2% milk: Evaporated milk adds body and enhances vanilla flavor, but 2% milk works as a lighter alternative if evaporated milk is not available.
Vanilla syrup: The syrup is the source of vanilla flavor and sweetness. You can use store-bought vanilla syrup, buy the same syrup Starbucks sells, or make your own simple vanilla syrup in minutes.
How to make it
Below are straightforward steps to make the vanilla syrup, the vanilla sweet cream, and the finished cold brew drink.
Homemade vanilla syrup
Ingredients: 1 cup hot water, 1 cup sugar, 3 teaspoons vanilla extract.
Instructions: Stir the sugar into the hot water until it dissolves completely. Remove from heat, then add the vanilla extract and stir. Let cool, then transfer to a sealed bottle or jar and refrigerate. The syrup will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.
Vanilla sweet cream
Combine heavy cream, evaporated milk (or 2% milk), and vanilla syrup in a jar. Whisk or shake until combined. For a foamy top, froth the mixture with a milk frother, hand whisk, or electric mixer until light and slightly thickened. Use immediately—the foam will lose volume after about 30 minutes.
Putting it all together
In a tall glass, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup (adjust for sweetness). Fill the glass with ice and pour cold brew until it reaches about 3/4 full, leaving room for the cream. Gently pour or spoon 1/4 cup of vanilla sweet cream over the coffee and serve right away.
Storing leftovers
Store vanilla syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Keep the vanilla sweet cream refrigerated in a closed jar and use within one week. Cold brew coffee also stores well in a sealed bottle in the fridge for several days. Always keep lids on to avoid off flavors—the cream in particular can absorb odors if left uncovered.
The sweet cream recipe below makes roughly 3–4 servings, so you’ll have extra on hand for a few drinks.
More Starbucks copycats
- Mocha latte (copycat)
- Matcha Frappuccino (copycat)
- Cinnamon Dolce latte (copycat)
- Strawberry Frappuccino (copycat)
📖 Recipe
Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Author: Tatiana Kamakura
Summary: A smooth, vanilla-forward cold brew topped with a creamy vanilla sweet cream—easy to make at home and customizable to taste.
Prep & time
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Total time: 5 minutes
- Servings: 1 tall glass (vanilla sweet cream yields 3–4 servings)
- Calories per serving: ~249 kcal
Ingredients
Vanilla syrup
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 cup sugar (or substitute sweetener per package directions)
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Vanilla sweet cream (makes about 3–4 servings)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup evaporated milk or 2% milk
- 3 tablespoons vanilla syrup
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew (per glass)
- 1 cup cold brew coffee
- 1/4 cup vanilla sweet cream
- Ice
Instructions
- Make the vanilla syrup: stir sugar into hot water until dissolved, then stir in vanilla extract. Cool and refrigerate.
- Make the vanilla sweet cream: whisk heavy cream, evaporated milk (or 2%), and vanilla syrup until blended. Froth if desired and use immediately.
- Assemble the drink: add vanilla syrup to the glass if you want extra sweetness, fill with ice, pour cold brew to about 3/4, then top with the vanilla sweet cream.
- Serve right away and enjoy.
Notes
- Adjust syrup quantity to control sweetness. For a sweeter drink, add 1–2 extra tablespoons of vanilla syrup to the glass before pouring cold brew.
- If using concentrated store-bought cold brew, dilute according to the label or to taste. For a robust cup that won’t get weak with ice, use a stronger brew.
- Store vanilla syrup and sweet cream refrigerated in sealed containers. The cream keeps for up to one week.
Nutrition (approximate per serving)
- Calories: 249 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 9 g (saturated fat ~5 g)
- Sugar: 9 g