Do you love Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew? Us too. This homemade version of the vanilla sweet cream cold brew uses house-made cold brew and a simple vanilla sweet cream, combined for a refreshing at-home coffee that’s every bit as satisfying as the original.
Featured Comment
“We made this and it was exactly like the Starbucks variation!!” — Michelle
Sometimes you want to treat yourself to a fancy coffee drink. We used to place group orders for the team so often that this vanilla sweet cream cold brew became a regular pick. We decided to recreate it at home—and it turned out delicious.
If this drink is new to you, it’s a lightly sweet, chilled coffee made by combining cold brew with a rich vanilla sweet cream. The combination yields a smooth, slightly sweet coffee that’s perfect over ice.
Reasons we love this drink
- Cold brew is smooth, mellow, and incredibly refreshing, especially in warm weather.
- This homemade version closely matches the Starbucks taste without the line or the price.
- Making it at home saves money and lets you control sweetness and strength.
- Both the cold brew and sweet cream store well, so you can prepare a batch and enjoy it all week.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Summary: A simple, homemade version of the Starbucks classic. Make your cold brew, whisk up a vanilla sweet cream, and assemble for a drink that’s smooth, slightly sweet, and perfect over ice.
By: Lee Funke
Prep: 15 mins Cook: 0 mins Total: 15 mins Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 cups cold brew coffee (see notes on making cold brew)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup 2% milk
- 1/2 vanilla bean, paste scraped out
- 1–3 teaspoons simple syrup, to taste
- Pinch of salt
- Ice, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the vanilla sweet cream first.
- Use a butter knife to scrape the paste from 1/2 a vanilla bean into a bowl or jar.
- Combine the heavy cream, milk, vanilla paste, simple syrup, and a pinch of salt in a mason jar or a small pitcher.
- Cover the jar and shake vigorously until everything is combined and slightly thickened.
- If you prefer a frothy top, use a hand-held frother and froth the mixture for 15–30 seconds until foamy.
- Fill a glass with ice and pour in 1 cup of cold brew coffee.
- Top with about 1/4 cup of the vanilla sweet cream. Stir gently with a tall spoon to combine, or let the cream float on top for a layered look.
- Serve immediately.
Tips & Notes
- Storage: Store leftover cold brew and sweet cream separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Cold brew will keep 5–7 days; sweet cream about 3 days.
- Simple syrup: Start with less and add more to taste—it’s easier to sweeten than to remove sweetness.
Watch It
(Video demonstration available in the original recipe source.)
Nutrition
Calories: 45 kcal; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 1 g. Nutrition is an approximation and should be used as a guideline only.
Top Tips for Our Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Make a foam
You can serve the sweet cream as-is or transform it into a light, frothy foam. To make foam, froth the sweet cream for 15–20 seconds with a handheld frother.
Serve over ice
We recommend serving this drink over ice. Cold brew is typically concentrated and tastes best when ice-cold. Pour the cold brew over ice, then add the sweet cream.
Can I make it hot?
This recipe is intended to be cold. If you prefer a hot version, use a cup of hot brewed coffee and finish with the vanilla sweet cream—though the texture and experience will differ from the cold original.
Can I make it dairy-free?
For a dairy-free option, substitute with a creamier plant milk. Oat milk is a good choice for both the heavy cream and milk replacements to keep the texture rich and similar to the original.
More of our Favorite…
Drink Recipes
- Matcha Latte Recipe
- Homemade Lemonade Recipe
- How to Make a Simple Syrup
- Iced Matcha Latte
Storage Suggestion
Store the vanilla sweet cream separately from the cold brew and combine them just before serving. Keep both in airtight containers in the refrigerator for best flavor and freshness.
How to Make
Cold Brew Coffee
Make a simple batch of cold brew at home using just coffee and water. Let it steep, strain, and you’ll have smooth cold brew ready for this recipe.
