Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Discover how to make Starbucks’ famous Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew at home! This creamy, smooth, cold brew coffee topped with vanilla-infused sweet cream delivers cafe-quality taste at a fraction of the cost.

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Starbucks Cold Brew with Vanilla Sweet Cream

Starbucks took its delicious cold-brewed coffee and topped it with sweet cream flavored with vanilla. The combination makes a rich and creamy iced coffee drink you’ll want to enjoy repeatedly.

But that can get expensive when getting it at the coffee shop. So why not save money and make it at home? And you don’t need to get big bottles of expensive store-bought coffee syrup either.

All you need to do is make simple vanilla syrup, mix it with milk and cream, and have homemade vanilla sweet cream.

Then you’ll add that to cold brew coffee, which is also super easy to make. Just steep coffee grounds in cold water overnight. Find out more in my thorough guide on how to make cold brew coffee.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

Having worked as a barista, I’ve learned that the perfect Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew comes down to two key elements: properly steeped cold brew coffee and a perfectly balanced sweet cream. This recipe nails both components, creating that signature Starbucks taste without specialty equipment or hard-to-find ingredients.

How to Make Cold Brew at Home

You can buy premade cold brew concentrate in the store, but it’s much cheaper to make it yourself. There are all sorts of specialized cold brew makers, but you only need a large container, some coffee, and a way to strain it. The secret to making a good quality cold brew rich without a hint of bitterness is choosing the proper ground, amount of coffee, and brewing time.

Ideally, you should use coarsely ground coffee. A coarser ground is much easier to filter out, giving you a strong brew without over-extracting. If the store where you buy your coffee beans grinds it fresh, ask for a French press ground or number seven.

You can use the same coffee you use for your automatic drip machine, but you will have to reduce the brewing time to about eight hours, and you shouldn’t expect as rich of a flavor.

Brewing time can range from 12 – 24 hours based on how strong you want your coffee. It is good to start with an extraction time of 12 hours and increase it if it isn’t strong enough.

Cold brew systems have built-in filters, but if you make your coffee in a jar or other container, you’ll have to figure out another way to filter the grounds. Try straining with a permanent pour-over filter, cheesecloth, fine mesh tea strainer, or even through several layers of paper towel.

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

• Coarsely ground coffee – Use medium-dark to dark roast for rich flavor without bitterness
• Water – Filtered water produces cleaner taste
• Sugar – Creates the sweet base for flavoring
• Vanilla extract – Provides authentic vanilla flavor
• 2% milk – Balances richness while maintaining creaminess
• Heavy cream – Creates rich, creamy texture

How to Make Starbucks Sweet Cream

The Starbucks sweet cream recipe is just a mixture of vanilla simple syrup, heavy cream, and 2% milk. It’s much better than any creamer at the grocery store.

To make own vanilla simple syrup:

1. Add one teaspoon to each cup of simple syrup. If you don’t have any simple syrup, you can make it by mixing two cups of white sugar with water in a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil slowly while continuously stirring.
3. Once the sugar dissolves, remove the saucepan from the heat. When the simple syrup is at room temperature, stir in one tablespoon of vanilla extract.
4. Please note: you will not use all of the homemade vanilla syrup in the recipe; you will have plenty left over.

Tips for Making, Serving, and Storing This Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Recipe

• Substitute half and half for the heavy whipping cream and milk mixture. You probably won’t taste that much of a difference.
• Add a dollop of whipped cream. For an even more indulgent presentation, crumble a vanilla wafer on top.
• Keep any leftovers in the fridge. Extra vanilla simple syrup in the fridge for up to six months, while you should drink your cold brew coffee within a week.

Check out more of our favorite Starbucks recipes on our YouTube channel.

How to Make Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

1. Pour water into a French press or large jar.

2. Add coffee grounds.

3. Steep for 12 hours and then strain out the coffee grounds.

4. Make a batch of vanilla simple syrup, pour it into a jar, and let it cool to room temperature or cooler.

5. Whisk or stir together milk, cream, and vanilla syrup to make vanilla sweet cream.

6. Fill a tall glass with ice, add cold coffee, and then top with vanilla sweet cream.

Go to the recipe card to get the full recipe.

Pro Tips for Perfect Results

• Use coarse ground coffee (French press grind)
• Filter water for best taste
• Keep ratios consistent for reliable results
• Serve immediately after adding cream
• Adjust sweetness to taste

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Coffee Too Strong?

• Dilute with cold water or extra ice
• Reduce steeping time in future batches

Coffee Too Weak?

• Increase coffee-to-water ratio
• Extend steeping time
• Use darker roast coffee

Cream Not Foaming?

• Try different frother speed
• Ensure cream is very cold
• Use higher fat content cream

Dietary Modifications

• Sugar-free: Use sugar substitute in syrup
• Dairy-free: Use coconut cream and almond milk
• Low-fat: Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream

Serving Suggestions

• Serve over extra ice
• Top with whipped cream
• Add vanilla bean garnish
• Pair with breakfast pastries

Cost Savings

• Homemade version: ~$1.50 per serving
• Starbucks version: $4.50-5.50
• Annual savings (1 drink/week): $150+

Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

Cold Brew Storage

• Keep in airtight container
• Refrigerate up to 1 week
• Do not freeze

Vanilla Syrup Storage

• Store in sealed container
• Refrigerate up to 6 months
• Label with date

Sweet Cream Storage

• Keep refrigerated
• Use within 3-4 days
• Shake before each use

See our recommended coffee products to make coffee-house quality drinks at home.

Love Starbucks Drinks? Try these copycat recipes!

Do you enjoy an espresso drink, lattes, and other coffee drinks at Starbucks? Here are some popular copycat recipes:

• Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
• Flat White Coffee
• Mocha Coffee
• S’Mores Frappuccino
• Starbucks Eggnog Latte
• Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
• Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus
• Starbucks White Mocha
• Vanilla Frappuccino

More Fast Food Copycat Drink Recipes

• Dunkin Brown Sugar Sweet Cream Cold Brew
• Orange Julius
• Sonic Ocean Water
• Taco Bell Baja Blast

Check out my easy drink recipes and the best Starbucks copycat recipes here on CopyKat!