How To Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

Do you like Starbucks cold beverages? If so, you’ve probably tried the sweet, vanilla-flavored cream topping they use on several cold drinks like cold brew coffee.

Called vanilla sweet cream foam, this luscious cream is usually found on cold brew drinks at Starbucks. But do you know that you don’t have to go to this popular coffee chain to have one at home?

Yes, that’s right! With this copy of the sweet cream cold foam recipe, you can now enjoy your favorite cold brew at home with creamy vanilla foam on top. So, let’s get started!

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How To Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam (DIY At Home)

If you’re planning to make sweet cream cold foam at home with vanilla syrup, then this is the easiest copycat recipe. This creamy sweet foam goes perfect with your favorite iced drinks, coffee-based or not. You can also try it with hot coffee drinks, but it often melts faster than in iced coffee drinks.

One thing to note: this easy recipe calls for an electric handheld frother. But if you don’t have one, we will discuss below how you can make a foam which tastes great at high speed without one.

Learn More - Starbucks Most Popular Cold Foam Drinks You Need To Try

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

List Of Ingredients

You need five ingredients to recreate a sweet cold foam cream at home. Here are them (plus some substitutions if you want a healthier version!):

Heavy Cream:
This is the primary ingredient of vanilla cold foam. The heavy cream is responsible for the cold foam’s creamy and velvety texture.
Milk:
Depending on what you like, you can use whole milk, skim milk, non-fat milk, or dairy-free milk such as almond milk and oat milk.
Vanilla:
It’s not going to be vanilla cold foam without this ingredient. You can use different forms of vanilla, including vanilla bean paste, homemade vanilla syrup, store-bought vanilla extract, etc. Vanilla extract works best, but make sure you add some form of vanilla into the recipe. Otherwise, it’s going to be a regular cold foam.
Sweetener:
Of course, the vanilla sweet cream cold foam requires some sweetness. For a homemade version, you can choose what kind of sweetener you add. You can use maple syrup, simple syrup, powdered sugar, or a sugar-free option by using stevia or monk fruit sweetener (for low carb and keto options) if you don’t want it to be sweet.
Coffee:
This is an optional recipe developer ingredient as you can use vanilla sweet cream cold foam on any iced beverage of your choice. But usually, it’s served with an iced coffee or cold brew coffee if it’s available. It's possible to make your own cold brew coffee, but it's usually easier to buy it pre-made.

Learn More - Cold Brew Vs Iced Coffee: What's The Difference?

Steps For Making The Sweet Cold Foam

This cold foam recipe only comes with two easy steps using an electric milk frother or any handheld milk frother. Other recipes will call for a different device to create the frothed milk, but we’ll get to that later. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to create Starbucks cold foam dupe at home:

1
Add all the ingredients to a bowl or glass to create a cream mixture. Add more vanilla extract if it needs more flavor.
2
Using a handheld frother, mix all the ingredients for around 15-20 seconds or until the sugar dissolves if you’re using powdered sugar. Make sure to froth it until it thickens. The texture is just a bit thicker than melted ice cream. Once done, serve the cold foam on top of your morning coffee, iced drink, or cold brews.

Serving & Storing

For every iced drink, you can use ¼ to ½ cup of vanilla sweet cream cold foam to achieve a perfect ratio. If you reach the right consistency, it’ll sit the cold foam on top of your cold coffee drink or cold brew.

If it doesn’t, just continue to whip it using your electric milk frother (or handheld milk frother) or add more cold heavy cream. It can work as just a creamer, especially when you stir it. But don’t worry; the creamy foam will still sit at the top even after you mix it.

To store this homemade cold foam, keep heavy cream, milk (whole, skim milk, almond milk etc.), sweetener, and homemade vanilla syrup or vanilla extract in a jar and when you’re ready, pour it out into another bowl, jar, or glass, and whisk until you achieve the right texture.

Expert Tips

If you find the whipping cream unsuitable for your needs, you can replace it with coconut cream. It’s also dairy-free and vegan, perfect for those who are lactose intolerant. Another thing you can use to replace the heavy cream is half and half. It’s already a premix of cream and milk, eliminating the need for milk.
One important thing to note when making DIY cold foam is that milk with fewer fat froths is much easier. This is why we recommend using nonfat milk or non-dairy milk to achieve a creamy texture. Any milk works, too, if you can't find milk with less fat.
If you want it perfectly sweet, adding just a tiny bit of sweetener (like maple syrup) will do the trick. Some store-bought vanilla syrup or vanilla extract is already sweet, and adding more sweetener can ruin the whole flavor. So be careful when adding some.
Remember that this recipe is to make vanilla cold foam, but you can create a different flavor by using a different simple syrup or flavor extract.

What Is Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam?

The vanilla sweet cream cold foam was first introduced by Starbucks in their Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew drink. Now, this cold foam is primarily used to make sweet cream cold brew coffee drinks, but it features in many iced drinks such as the Pink Drink at Starbucks. It can also be added to almost any beverage on their menu.

The Starbucks sweet cream cold foam version is made from vanilla syrup, 2% milk, and heavy cream. No sweetener is added because the vanilla syrup (from the vanilla bean) is a source of flavor and sweetener.

If you order a vanilla sweet cream cold foam at Starbucks, it’s not blended into a foam. Instead, it sits on top of the sweet cream cold brew coffee drink like whipped cream. In some Starbucks recipes, the cold brew has vanilla sweet cream swirled into it.

The vanilla sweet cream cold foam adds a silky texture to the drink as well as a touch of sweetness. It's not as light as the blended foam, but works perfectly with cold brew coffee drinks.

If you want to create a Starbucks copycat cold brew vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe, you can use the exact same ingredients they use and remove the sweetener from our recipe above.

Learn More - What Exactly Is Vanilla French Coffee?

Vanilla Sweet Cream Vs. Cold Foam: How They Differ

Cold foam, vanilla sweet cream, and vanilla sweet cream cold foam can be confusing, especially since they seem to be referring to the same thing. But they're actually not. Here are the significant differences between the three so you can easily distinguish them from one another.

What Is Cold Foam?

The famous Starbucks cold foam is made from non-fat milk and vanilla syrup, whipped using a special high-speed blender. This chilly foamy dairy-based topping is usually used in cold brews that act like a creamer for iced coffees.

The combination of bitter coffee and creamy cold foam makes the perfect sip you’ll enjoy in a cold beverage, and balances the smooth but intense cold brew coffee flavor.

This foam is inspired by the regular foam you frequently see in hot drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. But unfortunately, using the same regular foam on cold brew or cold coffee drinks doesn't work. This is where the cold foam comes into play.

First introduced by Starbucks, it has become a go-to topping of many cafes and people who like to create cold brew and other cold beverages at home. There's also a dairy-free option for cold foam in case you want something healthier on your favorite cold brew coffee.

What Is Vanilla Sweet Cream?

Unlike the cold foam that only contains milk to achieve a foamy texture, the Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream contains heavy cream to make a velvety consistency. While it may seem they are made the same way, the vanilla sweet cream isn’t blended.

Instead, it’s whisked and froth to achieve a melted ice cream texture that’s thick and creamy. That’s why when your drink comes with vanilla sweet cream; you can ask the barista to mix it with your iced coffee for a silkier beverage.

What is Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam?

Starbucks serves a combination of vanilla sweet cream and cold foam into their signature Starbucks sweet cream cold foam topping. Like the vanilla sweet cream, it contains vanilla syrup, 2% milk, and heavy cream but is whipped using a cold foam blender.

Learn More - What Is Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam?

If mixed into your cold brew or iced coffee, it cascades into the drink, creating a sweetened, foamy cream topping that closely resembles whipped cream and has a light vanilla flavor. This is the best cold foam option for those who like a thicker, sweeter, coffee.

How To Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam Without A Frother?

If you don’t have an electric milk frother, don’t fret! You can still make sweet cream cold foam at home and save money. Here are a few options you can try to recreate this popular Starbucks topping at home:

French Press

This brewing device doesn't only make your morning coffee, but it can also be used as a device to make sweet cream cold foam at home. Even a French press cold foam is simple to make too! Using the same exact ingredients from the recipe above, mix them and pour them into the French press. Then, move the French Press handle up and down until the foam forms.

Learn More - French Press Vs Percolator: Which Is Better For Coffee?

Mason Jar

Another method you can try is by using a jar. In a large jar, add all of the ingredients and shake well until you see the foam start forming. A mason jar is the simplest method for making vanilla sweet cream cold foam, and you can just keep shaking until you have the desired amount of cold foam.

Immersion Blender

If you have an immersion blender at home, you can use this kitchen device to recreate the famous vanilla sweet cream at home. It’s the same instructions as others. Mix all of the ingredients in the blender and blend away. However, you may need to double the amount of ingredients as the blender usually needs to be submerged to work properly.

Creamer Without Foam

Simply add all the same ingredients to a mason jar or bowl and mix. If you’re using a bowl, you can whisk it using a spoon if a whisk is unavailable. Once you achieve the right texture, serve immediately with your favorite iced coffee.

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam FAQs

What is the difference between sweet cream cold foam and whipped cream?

The vanilla sweet cream cold foam is a cold version of steamed milk, only a bit creamier and more velvety. On the other hand, whipped cream is thicker and can hold shape. However, both are made from heavy cream, with the vanilla sweet cream cold foam using vanilla syrup, vanilla extract, or other forms of vanilla.

Learn More - What Is Starbucks Whipped Cream?

Can you add sweet cream cold foam to any drink?

Yes, you can! Just let your barista know you want it in your drink, and they will have it ready for you!

How many calories does the vanilla sweet cream cold foam have?

An order of Starbucks vanilla sweet cream contains 100 calories. But if you’re watching your weight, you may want to check the monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and saturated fat as well.

What other cream toppers does Starbucks have?

There are only cold foam and whipped cream toppers on Starbucks cold beverages. For hot beverages, you can try adding steamed milk if you want it creamy and velvety.

Can I turn coffee creamer into cold foam?

Yes, you can! Just make sure that the creamer is cold before you froth it.

Conclusion

If you love Starbucks vanilla sweet cream cold foam, this recipe is for you. Now, you can create this creamy topping at home to add to any of your favorite drinks—no need to spend a lot of money going to Starbucks every time. With just four simple ingredients, you’ll truly enjoy the best coffee experience at home.

How To Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam – BaristaHQ