No Starbucks nearby, but craving their vanilla sweet cream cold brew? I’ve got just the thing for you!
Whip up this easy, delicious copycat recipe at home. Use homemade cold brew from a mason jar, a French press, or even grab a store-bought cold brew concentrate for a quick fix.
This recipe is a breeze to make and delivers that Starbucks vibe right in your kitchen. Enjoy starting your day with this tasty homemade treat!
What is Cold Brew?
Cold brew is coffee brewed with cold water over 6-12 hours, resulting in a smooth, low-acid drink. Unlike iced coffee brewed hot and then chilled, cold brew uses coarse-ground coffee steeped in cool, filtered water. The slow extraction process produces a mildly sweet, velvety coffee with complex flavors, free from the bitterness often found in hot-brewed coffee.
Ingredients you need
Cold brew coffee: I used a homemade cold brew from the mason jar for this recipe, but you can switch it to a store-bought concentrate for a quick fix.
Cubed ice for the serving glass: It’s important to use large ice cubes so that the coffee doesn’t dilute as quickly.
Heavy cream: Substitute with half-and-half or a non-dairy creamer for a lighter option. To make an original vanilla sweet cream cold foam use regular milk.
Powdered sugar: You can replace it with a sugar-free sweetener if you prefer a low-sugar version.
Vanilla extract: For a richer flavor, use vanilla bean paste.
Step-by-step
How To Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew From Scratch
- Step 1: Prepare the cold brew of your choice, preferably the day before.
- Step 2: Place heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a separate container.
- Step 3: Froth up the mix. Use a milk frother or electric hand mixer, or simply shake by hand.
- Step 4: Fill your drinking glass to the brim with large ice cubes, and then pour in the cold brew. Leave about three finger-widths of space to the edge of the glass.
- Step 5: Pour in the Vanilla Sweet Cream.
- Step 6: Serve with a reusable straw.
Barista Tips
- For the best cold brew, start with filtered water to avoid any funky flavors and equipment buildup.
- Aim for a coffee-to-water ratio between 1:6 and 1:10.
- As your brewing time increases, make sure to adjust your grind to be coarser—essential for cold brew to prevent over-extraction.
- For optimal flavor, grind your coffee just before brewing; if you’re using a Comandante grinder, set it to 35-40 clicks (70-80 red clicks).
More Tips
I used heavy cream instead of milk in this recipe, so it’s not the original cold foam. The original Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam uses milk, resulting in a light foam that dissolves quickly. I recommend using half-and-half or heavy cream for a longer-lasting froth.
Easy options with tips for frothing:
- French Press: Pump the plunger vigorously for about 30 seconds for best results.
- Sealable Jar: Shake the jar vigorously for 1-2 minutes to create a nice froth.
- Hand Frother: Move the frother up and down for about 20-30 seconds for a creamy texture.
- Electric Hand Mixer: Whisk on high speed for about 30 seconds to achieve a thick foam.
For detailed instructions and more ways to froth, check out my guide on how to froth milk without a frother.
Products
- Cold brew jar or French press
- Manual coffee grinder
- Mixing bowl
- Handheld frother
- Reusable drinking straw
- Serving glass
Frequently Asked Questions about Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
A Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is a cold coffee drink made with cold brew coffee, ice, and a sweet cream mixture. After frothing, the mixture is poured over the cold brew, creating a creamy and flavorful beverage similar to Starbucks’. The original contains milk, vanilla extract, and sweetener. Our sweet cream is made from heavy cream, vanilla extract, and sweetener, making it a bit more stable after frothing.
Yes, cold brew coffee is generally stronger than regular coffee because it uses a higher coffee-to-water ratio during brewing, resulting in a more concentrated flavor.
More Recipes and Tips You Might Enjoy:
- Cold Brew White Russian
- Cold Brew Ratio – Guide
- Chocolate Iced Coffee
- Gifts for Cold Brew Coffee Lovers
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Can You Make Cold Brew in a French Press
- Cold brew with the Mason Jar
- Baileys Iced Coffee
- Strawberry Iced Coffee {stirred} with Cold Brew
- Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte
- Iced Latte Caramel with Homemade Caramel Milk
- Iced Coffee with Milk
- Iced Eggnog Latte
- Iced Lavender Latte
- Iced Honey Latte
- How to make Iced Chocolate Almond Milk Shaken Espresso?
- Plant-based Vanilla Iced Coffee
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @coffeewithnora and hashtag #coffeewithnora_recipes, so I don’t miss it.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Recipe
Equipment
- Cold brew jar or French press
- Manual coffee grinder
- Mixing bowl
- Handheld frother
- Reusable drinking straw
- Serving glass
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Heavy cream
- ¼ tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp Powdered Sugar
- Cubed ice
- 1 cup Cold brew
Instructions
- Combine ¼ cup Heavy cream, 1 tbsp Powdered Sugar, and ¼ tsp Vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.¼ cup Heavy cream, ¼ tsp Vanilla extract, 1 tbsp Powdered Sugar
- Froth the mixture with a milk frother or electric hand mixer, or shake by hand.
- Fill your drinking glass with Cubed ice and pour in 1 cup Cold brew, leaving about three finger-widths of space at the top.1 cup Cold brew, Cubed ice
- Top with your homemade vanilla sweet cream.
- Serve with a reusable straw and enjoy!
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food and beverages unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
No more waiting in lineups for one of my favorites! This recipe was so good!
Thank you, Sherry! I am so glad you liked it!
So refreshing! I loved that it wasn’t so sweet. It was a nice afternoon pick me up!
Thank you, Juyali!
oh man i’m making this at home from now on and saving my 8 bucks!
That is awesome! Thank you, Nancy!
I had tried making cold brew before and failed miserably, so I was very happy to find your detailed instructions for it. Finally I get why people love it and found my new favourite summer drink. I also love the added creaminess. I used Oat cream because of lactose intolerance and it worked marvellous.
Thank you, Sonja! I’m very happy that you were able to make friends with Cold Brew!
I just made this Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, and it’s fantastic! The creamy mix of heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract over homemade cold brew is a perfect, refreshing treat.
Thank you so much, Oscar!