How to Make Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Updated: Dec. 14, 2020
Save a few bucks by ditching the Starbucks drive-thru. Find out how to make their delicious vanilla sweet cream cold brew at home!
When I’m feeling particularly sluggish on a Monday morning, cold brew coffee is the only drink that can save me. Specifically, the delicious Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew from Starbucks.
Strong cold brew coffee can literally give me the shakes, which is why I love the Starbucks sweet cream version. A Grande size only contains 185 milligrams of caffeine (as well as 110 calories) which is just enough to get rid of those bags under my eyes—but not too much that I feel like I’m in hyper-drive. I would argue it’s the perfect coffee drink. After all, it features dark, smooth coffee poured over ice, then topped with rich vanilla cream that slowly floats down, incorporating the whole cup with its sweet flavor. Yum.
The only problem is those daily trips to Starbucks are not easy on the wallet. Luckily I can whip up a batch of this tasty drink at home and still get my fix with just a few ingredients. Here’s how to make your own vanilla sweet cream cold brew.
Psst! These are the healthiest drinks you can order at Starbucks.
How to Make Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Ingredients:
For the cold brew coffee:
- 1 cup coarsely ground coffee
- 6-7 cups cold water
For the vanilla sweet cream:
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Dash salt
Step 1: Make the cold brew coffee
Place the coffee grounds in a clean glass container and pour in the cold water. Cover the container and refrigerate for 12 to 16 hours. The longer the coffee steeps, the stronger the flavor. When the coffee is done steeping, strain the coffee through a fine-mesh sieve, then again through a coffee filter. For more detailed instructions, check out our guide to making cold brew.
Editor’s Tip: If you have a French press, making cold brew is even easier! Simply mix the coffee and water in the French press chamber, but don’t press down the plunger. After steeping overnight, slowly press the plunger down. The built-in mesh filter separates the grounds for you in one easy step.
Step 2: Make the vanilla sweet cream
For the cream, split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds from the center into a small saucepan; then add the bean. Add condensed milk, whipping cream and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat 5-7 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Discard vanilla bean and let the mixture cool completely.
Editor’s Tip: Trying to cut back on sugar? Substitute the sweetened condensed milk with 1 1/2 cup of almond milk (or one of these other milk alternatives), then add 1/4 teaspoon of stevia powder to sweeten.
Step 3: Combine coffee and cream
Fill a serving glass with ice. Add cold brew, leaving a little room for cream at the top. Add your preferred amount of sweet vanilla cream and serve. You can store the vanilla sweet cream and cold brew coffee in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Make It Your Own
Want to switch up your cold brew game? Different flavored creamers will brighten up your day. Here’s a list of our favorite options:
- Tipsy Cold Brew: Follow this recipe for a boozy iced coffee spiked with amaretto. Simply trade the hot coffee for cold brew.
- Honey-Spice:Â Mix together milk, honey, molasses, sugar and spices for a cold brew to ring in fall. Get the recipe.
- Cinnamon Mocha:Â Add a splash of half-and-half cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Want more tasty ways to use coffee? Check out these recipes.
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My family loves this comforting chai tea latte recipe, especially on cold days instead of cocoa or when they're feeling under the weather. I simplified this chai tea recipe by using the filter basket of our coffeepot. It's delicious and great after dinner! —Julie Plummer, Sykesville, Maryland
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Inspired by: Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino
I love caramel frappuccinos from Starbucks, but they get too expensive. I now make my own, and they are just as good. If you blend the milk with all the other ingredients, it gets too foamy—instead stir it in with a spoon after all the ice is crushed. —Heather Egger, Davenport, Iowa
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Cold brewing reduces the acidity of coffee, which enhances its natural sweetness and complex flavors. Even those who take hot coffee with sugar and cream might find themselves sipping cold brew plain. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Or if you rather buy it at the store, our Test Kitchen team found the very best options to kick start your mornings.
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I created a copycat Starbucks gingerbread loaf that’s the perfect addition to my holiday baking. Served with a thick layer of frosting, it’s delicious with a cup of coffee. —Risa Lichtman, Portland, Oregon
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My family always asks for this love-me-tender lemon loaf cake. Sometimes, I shake things up and make cupcakes with the batter. So awesome for brunch! —Lola Baxter, Winnebago, Minnesota
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We combine rich molasses, golden honey and a host of spices to create this warm and comforting beverage.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Homemade granola layered with fresh fruit and yogurt makes a superb breakfast. Sometimes I skip the parfait step to enjoy it on a hikes or picnics.—Donna Speirs, Kennebunk, ME
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Each sip of this spiced-just-right beverage from our very own baristas tastes like a piece of pumpkin pie! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Coffee granules enhance the chocolate flavor in these amazingly fudgy brownies. Add chocolate chips to the batter and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin
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When I'm sipping this delicious coffee, I almost feel as if I'm visiting my favorite coffeehouse. —Jill Rodriguez, Gonzales, Louisiana
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Skip the line and bake Starbucks pumpkin bread in your own kitchen. This copycat recipe may be even better than the original! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Each winter in early February my friends and I gather for an outdoor show called Mittenfest. We skip the Bloody Marys and fill our thermoses with these hot cocoas instead.
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This quick bread is a family favorite, so I always try to have ripe bananas on hand for this recipe. I'm sure your family will love this tasty, nutty bread as much as mine does. —Susan Jones, La Grange Park, Illinois
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Make spirits bright with a minty mocha to share under the mistletoe or around the piano. I’ve also stirred in coffee liqueur instead of peppermint. —Lauren Brien-Wooster, South Lake Tahoe, California
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I love serving this blueberry scone recipe to visiting friends and family. I always make sure a have a few in the freezer. Just pop a frozen scone in the microwave for 20 seconds or so. —Joan Francis, Spring Lake, New Jersey
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Skip the drive-thru and head straight to your kitchen to shake up this coffee drink. You only need four ingredients!
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I first made this recipe back in 1987 and have since made it many times over the years because it's my children's favorite muffin recipe. —Wendy Stenman
Inspired by: Starbucks Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
My soothing white hot chocolate is a great warm-up after a wintry day spent sledding or ice skating. Or include it as a festive addition to brunch or an afternoon tea party. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Inspired by: Starbucks Chocolate Chip Cookie
My take on the classic cookie is inspired by a bakery in California called Hungry Bear. It's big, thick and chewy—truly the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. —Irene Yeh, Mequon, Wisconsin
