CopycatSpices
Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Make Starbucks' popular Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew at home with smooth cold brew coffee topped with luscious homemade vanilla sweet cream.
copycat · starbucks · fast-food · coffee
🕑Prep15 min
🍳Cook0 min
⏱Total15 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyEasy
Ingredients
- 1 cup coarsely ground coffee
- 4 cups cold filtered water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup 2% milk
- 3 tablespoons vanilla syrup
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ice
Instructions
- 1.Brew the cold brew. Combine the coarsely ground coffee and cold water in a large jar or pitcher. Stir, cover, and refrigerate for 12-24 hours. The longer it steeps, the stronger the concentrate.
- 2.Strain the cold brew. Pour the cold brew through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean pitcher. Discard the grounds.
- 3.Make the vanilla sweet cream. In a bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, 2% milk, vanilla syrup, sugar, and vanilla extract until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is slightly frothy. Do not over-whip — it should pour easily, not be stiff.
- 4.Assemble the drinks. Fill tall glasses with ice. Pour the cold brew concentrate to about three-quarters full.
- 5.Float the sweet cream. Slowly pour the vanilla sweet cream over the back of a spoon onto the top of each glass so it floats on the surface in a beautiful layer. Serve with a straw and let the drinker decide when to mix.
The Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is one of Starbucks’ most popular cold drinks, and for good reason — smooth, slightly sweet cold brew coffee topped with a floating layer of vanilla-infused cream that slowly cascades through the dark coffee as you drink it. This homemade version costs a fraction of the price and tastes just as indulgent.
The Secret
The sweet cream is not whipped cream — it is a pourable, lightly sweetened cream that is thick enough to float on top of the coffee but thin enough to slowly blend in as you sip. The combination of heavy cream and 2% milk gives it the perfect body — all heavy cream would be too thick, while all milk would sink right through.
Pro Tips
- Use a coarse grind for the cold brew. Too fine a grind will make the coffee bitter and muddy.
- The cold brew concentrate is strong — if you prefer a milder drink, dilute it with equal parts water before adding ice.
- Make extra vanilla sweet cream and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It is great in regular hot coffee too.
- For a caramel version, add a drizzle of caramel sauce to the glass before pouring the cold brew.
