Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Stop wasting your hard-earned money and make my copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew recipe at home! You only need 4 ingredients and about 5 minutes worth of active time in the kitchen to make this barista-level cold brew with sweet cream — no special equipment required!

Jump to:

• About This Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• Equipment
• How To Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
• Optional Variations
• Expert Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Beverage Recipes
• Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
• Optional Variations

About This Recipe

Despite cooler weather rolling in, I’m still on Team Iced Coffee for the time being, and this whole cold brew craze still has me solidly in its clutches.

That said, I’m just not always spending $5+ on a single dose of caffeine. Luckily, I’ve discovered the secret to making the most delightful, fancy coffee shop equivalent of the much-beloved Starbucks creation right from my kitchen.

Before you go running for the hills screaming, “But, Emily! I’m not a trained barista and I don’t have ANY fancy coffee equipment,” take a deep breath. This super simple vanilla sweet cream cold brew coffee recipe is:

• Made Without Any Fancy Equipment. Seriously. 
• Quick & Easy. Even if you go completely from scratch and make your own vanilla syrup, homemade vanilla sweet cream, and cold brew, the max amount of active time you’ll spend in the kitchen is just 10 minutes. That’s shorter than most of the Starbucks lines I’ve ever seen!
• Made With Just 5 Total Ingredients. Coffee beans, heavy cream, 2% milk, a vanilla pod, and sugar. Oh, and filtered water, so 6 ingredients if you’re really counting!

Interested in more coffee recipes? Try these favorites, like this Pumpkin Sweet Cream Cold Brew, Iced Honey Lavender Latte, and a Rose Milk & Vanilla Chai Latte!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Making your own Starbucks sweet vanilla cream cold brew at home is much simpler than you might think. The following ingredients is everything you’ll need:

• Vanilla Sweet Cream - Made with equal parts of just heavy cream, 2% milk, and vanilla syrup, there’s no reason to spend $5+ on a single cup. You can make a huge batch of sweet cream that’ll last you the entire week for that much! Oh, and in case you’re dairy-free, I’ve included the instructions on the original post, with no arbitrary upcharges.
• Cold Brew Coffee - All you need are your favorite beans and some filtered water to make your very own cold brew coffee.

Interested in making your own vanilla bean simple syrup? Head on over to my recipe page for Vanilla Simple Syrup which you can also use to make a vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe as well!

Equipment

Making your own Starbucks vanilla cream cold brew iced coffee drink doesn’t have to be a big process. Here’s every piece of equipment you’ll need:

• Large Container - For brewing your cold brew. Repurpose a pitcher, use a large saucepan, or grab a giant mason jar. You can also use a specially made cold brew maker or French press if you prefer.
• Mason Jar - For storing your vanilla sweet cream. Bonus points if you add a top with a flippable lid for easy measuring.
• Milk Frother - This is totally optional since you can use a blender, immersion blender, or mason jar with a lid to froth the cold foam, but my $10 handheld milk frother is quickly becoming one of my favorite appliances.
• Glass & Reusable Drinking Straw - To serve your fancy coffee shop beverage in without adding to any landfills. DIY FTW!

How To Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Making your own DIY vanilla sweet cream cold brew with cold foam couldn’t be easier. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Cold Brew Coffee by adding coffee grounds to cold water and steeping.

Step 2: Make homemade Vanilla syrup and Sweet Cream by mixing ingredients together.

Step 3: Assemble. Pour the desired amount of cold brew into a cup filled with ice. Pour the vanilla sweet cream into your glass of coffee! Cue a chill coffee shop playlist and settle into your favorite cozy chair.

Optional Variations

The best part about making your own sweet cream cold brew is you can make it exactly to spec without paying any extra surcharges. How great is that?!? Here are a few ways to customize this Starbucks copycat recipe to your needs:

• Swap in an Iced Americano for the cold brew coffee.
• Make it decaf by using decaffeinated coffee beans. OR, if you’re super sensitive to caffeine, make it completely caffeine free by using roasted chicory in place of coffee.
• Use a different flavored syrup to flavor your sweet cream. Feel free to get whimsical with it! Or, add less vanilla syrup for a less sweet cold coffee.
• Make it vegan by swapping in coconut cream and the non-dairy milk of your choice.

Expert Tips

This vanilla cream cold brew recipe is pretty straightforward for my fellow coffee lover, but there are a few things I’ve learned along the way. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Consider making coffee-flavored ice cubes to keep your drink from diluting too quickly. Simply pour any leftover coffee or some of your cold brew into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.
• Use filtered water for the best flavor. You want all the flavors of your favorite roast and your sweet vanilla cream to shine through, not the flavors of your tap. Grab a Brita pitcher and taste the difference!

Frequently Asked Questions

More Beverage Recipes

As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you try this recipe for my Starbucks copycat Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, please share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!