How To Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam (Just Like Starbucks)
Although many people, if asked, would readily agree that they love Starbucks, there’s no denying that visiting it every day can get expensive. That’s why there are so many copycat recipes online; they help people save money. With that in mind, I decided to tackle a copycat vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe.
To make vanilla sweet cream cold foam just like Starbucks, all you need is a cup of heavy cream, half a cup of 2% milk, and six tablespoons of vanilla syrup. Simply add the ingredients to a container and froth them using a frother, whisk, blender, handheld mixer, French press, or jar.
This article will give you the complete copycat recipe for making vanilla sweet cream cold foam. I’ll also break down the methods for making it using different tools.
Finally, I’ll provide you with a few other recipes I’ve found for vanilla sweet cream cold foam and a few examples of coffee drinks you can make with it.
How To Make Sweet Cream Cold Foam
There are plenty of ways to make vanilla sweet cream cold foam. Many people think they’re out of luck if they don’t have a French press or specific blender at home, but that’s not the case.
If necessary, you can make sweet cream cold foam, regular cold foam, or any other kind of cold foam using nothing but a jar!
First, though, let’s check out the ingredients you’ll need.
What Is in Starbucks Sweet Cream Cold Foam?
If you check out the ingredients list on Starbucks’ Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, you’ll find that it contains the following things:
- Ice
- Brewed coffee
- Vanilla sweet cream
Starbucks then goes on to break down the ingredients in the vanilla sweet cream a bit further:
- Cream (Mono and diglycerides, carrageenan, cream)
- Milk
- Vanilla syrup (Water, sugar, potassium sorbate, citric acid, natural flavors)
You don’t need all those sub-ingredients that make up the ingredients for your Starbucks vanilla sweet cold foam. Instead, you just need cream, milk, and vanilla syrup.
Any heavy cream will do, but 2% milk works best because it gives a fluffier, lighter froth. As for the vanilla syrup, you can use whichever brand you like best.
I recommend DaVinci Gourmet Madagascar Vanilla Syrup from Amazon.com. You can also make homemade vanilla syrup if you prefer.
How To Make Homemade Vanilla Syrup
Believe it or not, making homemade syrup is surprisingly simple; that’s why most people call it “simple syrup.” To make simple homemade syrup, all you need is sugar and water in equal proportions. (That means if you’re using one cup of sugar, use one cup of water. If you’re using two cups of sugar, use two cups of water, etc.)
Combine both ingredients in a saucepan and bring them to a boil, stirring frequently. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool. Then bottle it and store it either in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
To make homemade vanilla syrup, you do the same thing. However, you’ll also add three teaspoons of vanilla extract or a vanilla bean and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. The cooking process remains the same.
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, then it’s just a matter of combining them and making them foamy. There are a few ways to do this.
Making Sweet Cold Foam in a French Press
The best way to make any cold foam is with a French press. If you don’t have one, I recommend the Stanley French Press with Double Vacuum Insulation from Amazon.com. It’s a bit more expensive than some other options, but I’m a big believer in Stanley products.
My grandfather used his Stanley coffee thermos for about two decades, and if I wanted, I could still get it out of the cabinet and use it today. So I don’t mind paying extra for something that’s going to last that long.
If you have a French press, simply pour your ingredients into it, replace the lid, and work the plunger for 30 seconds to a minute. After that, your cold foam should be ready to serve.
Making Sweet Cold Foam With a Milk Frother
Using a milk frother to make vanilla sweet cold foam is just as simple as using a French press. First, pour your ingredients into a deep container, then use the frother to froth them for 20 to 30 seconds.
If you don’t have a milk frother, you can get a relatively inexpensive one on Amazon.com. For example, we use the Zulay Original Handheld Milk Frother in my house.
Other Methods for Making Sweet Cold Foam
Other options for making vanilla sweet cold foam include the following:
- Blender: Start pulsing at the lowest speed, gradually moving to faster speeds.
- Hand mixer: Pour ingredients into a deep container and mix, starting slow and increasing the speed.
- Whisk: Pour ingredients into a bowl and whisk vigorously for three to four minutes.
- Jar: Pour ingredients into a jar, seal it tightly, and vigorously shake it for four to five minutes.
The frother and French press work best, but you can get good results with any of these methods.
Optional Recipes for Sweet Cold Foam
Although I regularly use the ‘cream, milk, and vanilla syrup in a French press’ recipe for making vanilla sweet cold foam, there are other options out there.
If you try this method and aren’t completely satisfied with it – or if you like it but want to try something different – here are a few alternatives:
- Heavy cream, milk, vanilla bean, vanilla syrup, salt
- Vanilla syrup, heavy cream
- Sugar-free vanilla creamer, unsweetened almond milk, vanilla extract, Splenda
- Heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract
Additionally, you can adjust most recipes calling for heavy cream and milk to use half-and-half instead. It doesn’t affect the taste at all, and it doesn’t make a massive difference in the texture, although you may notice a slight change.
Starbucks Copycat Vanilla Sweet Cold Foam Recipe (Simplified)
These are the ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup 2% milk
- 6 tablespoons vanilla syrup
Here are the steps:
- Add all ingredients to a French press.
- Pump the plunger on the French press for 30 seconds to a minute until the ingredients are foamy and frothy.
- Pour over your drink, and enjoy.
Best Drinks With Vanilla Sweet Cold Foam
You can use vanilla sweet cold foam on just about any drink you like. However, there are a few drinks that really benefit from it. These are my three favorites.
Iced White Mocha With Caramel and Salted Cream Cold Foam
If you’re a chocolate and caramel fanatic like me, then you’ll love the Iced White Mocha With Caramel and Salted Cream Cold Foam.
It starts with a base of strong espresso. Then you add whole milk, white mocha syrup*, vanilla cold foam, some sea salt, and lots and lots of caramel drizzle.
Note: I use DaVinci Gourmet White Chocolate Sauce (available on Amazon.com).
Iced Chai Tea Latte
If you prefer tea to coffee, use this copycat recipe for Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Latte. The latte itself is easy to make.
Start with half a cup of Tazo Classic Chai Latte Concentrate (available on Amazon.com). Then add half a cup of 2% milk and some ice cubes. Finally, top it off with the vanilla sweet cold foam for an extra sweet touch.
Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte
If you love Starbucks’ Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte, try making it at home and adding the vanilla sweet cold foam to the top. It has a wonderfully bold flavor, and the sweetness of the cold foam and the spiciness of the cinnamon round it out beautifully.
This drink is one of my favorites for the fall. The cinnamon just puts me in mind of pumpkins, apples, and other fall goodies.
Final Thoughts
The next time you get a craving for Starbucks, don’t worry about rushing to the nearest open restaurant. Instead, stay in, save your money, and make your drink at home.
Making this vanilla sweet cold foam takes about five minutes or less, so the most challenging part of making these drinks is brewing the coffee.
