Starbucks Cold Foam Recipe
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Skip the line and make your own creamy Starbucks cold foam at home! This recipe only needs 2-ingredients. Spoon it on top of your favorite cold brews, iced lattes, and summer drinks. Just like at Starbucks, you can customize it with your favorite flavored syrups (did someone say sweet cream vanilla, pumpkin spice, or salted caramel cold foam at home? Yes, I did!)
You can save your money and make Starbucks cold foam at home with this recipe. All you need is two simple ingredients, milk and vanilla syrup. Just blend them and you have made an iced coffee topping for a fraction of the price!
Add your favorite syrups and make your own cold foam customizations, such as sweet cream vanilla, salted caramel, or the ever-popular pumpkin spice. Then, top your cold foam on top of your favorite coffee drinks including, iced coffee, iced brown sugar oat milk shaken latte, iced apple crisp oat milk macchiato, or the new Midnight drink!
It’s so easy you will wonder why you ever spent so much money at the Green Mermaid.
Starbucks Cold Foam Recipe
At a Glance
EASE: Super easy!
COURSE: With any cold drink.
TIME: One minute.
DIET: Vegan optional.
What Makes This Post Unique
What is the Difference Between Sweet Cream and Cold Foam?
Cold foam and sweet cream cold foam are so close in name and ingredients that it is easy to get them confused. Or maybe it’s me, but it took me some time to file these as similar but separate in my brain. Here is a quick breakdown.
- Starbucks Cold Foam is made with low-fat milk and Fontana vanilla syrup. It is a simple and frothy topping that is just a little bit sweet from the vanilla. When you add this to your drink, you will find it adds a light, silky layer.
- Starbucks Sweet Cream Vanilla Cold Foam is made with heavy cream, low-fat milk, and vanilla syrup. It has a creamier texture and is more indulgent.
- Note: Make these recipes vegan by using non-dairy milk and coconut cream.
The flavor variations happen by adding different ingredients. I will get into that more later.
Cold Foam Ingredients and Equipment
- Milk: Starbucks uses 2% milk in its cold foam. The lower the fat, the lighter the foam. I use a simple oat milk and find the foam is perfect!
- Vanilla Syrup: You will need one to two pumps of vanilla syrup. You can buy it online or at most large grocery stores.
- Handheld Milk Frother: I recommend using a frother to get the same light texture. If you have an espresso machine with a frother, you can use that. Or you can buy a simple handheld milk frother on Amazon. If you want to skip the purchase, place the ingredients in a mason jar, screw the lid on tightly, and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
Difference From Starbucks Website to Stores
When you order cold foam at a Starbucks store, they will give you one to two pumps of Fontana vanilla syrup, depending on the drink size ordered. However, their online recipe says to use powdered sugar and vanilla extract. I have tested both recipes and vanilla syrup tastes like the store, whereas the online recipe is missing the magic!
Popular Customizations
- Sweet Cream Vanilla Cold Foam: Add one to two pumps of vanilla syrup + 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream or coconut cream.
- Pumpkin Spice Sweet Cream Cold Foam: Add one to two pumps of pumpkin spice syrup
- Salted Caramel Cold Foam: Add one to two pumps of salted caramel syrup.
- Cinnamon Roll Cold Foam: Add one to two pumps of cinnamon syrup.
Personalize This Recipe
- Go vegan by using your favorite dairy-free milk (almond, soy, or oat milk). If you are making the sweet cream vanilla cold foam, use coconut cream in place of heavy whipping cream.
Store sweet cream cold foam in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Refroth before adding it to your iced drink.
Try My Other Starbucks Coffee Drinks
- Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
- Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
- Starbucks Strawberry Acai
- Starbucks Summer-Berry Refresher
- Blackberry Sage Refresher
Did you try this cold foam recipe or any other from my blog? If so, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below.
Starbucks Cold Foam Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup 2% milk, plant-based milk
- ¼ teaspoon Vanilla syrup
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Mix the vanilla syrup and milk with a spoon before frothing.
- Froth the Mixture: Using a frother or a blender, whip the mixture until it becomes foamy and light. This should take about 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on your equipment.
- Serve: Spoon the cold foam over your cold brew coffee or iced coffee.
Notes
- Sweet Cream Vanilla Cold Foam: Add one to two pumps of vanilla syrup + 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream or coconut cream.
- Pumpkin Spice Sweet Cream Cold Foam: Add one to two pumps of pumpkin spice syrup
- Salted Caramel Cold Foam: Add one to two pumps of salted caramel syrup.
- Cinnamon Roll Cold Foam: Add one to two pumps of cinnamon bun syrup.
First time attempting to make this ever. Didn’t have vanilla syrup but I did have vanilla chai syrup. It still tasted great!!
YEA! I am so happy you liked it. It is so easy, better and less expensive than Starbucks. My love for Starbucks has almost turned into a personal mission of teaching people how to make it at home for less.