Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew {Starbucks Copycat}

Name: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew {Starbucks Copycat}
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 740 min
Ingredients: 8 cups filtered water; 2 cups ground coffee; 1 cup sweet cream (see below); 1/2 cup vanilla syrup (see below); 1 cup water; 1 cup sugar; 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tbsp vanilla extract); 1/2 cup milk; 1/2 cup whipping cream; 1 tbsp vanilla syrup

This Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is just like the version at Starbucks – it's so creamy & refreshing, plus the cold brew coffee is so easy!

Ingredients and substitutions

Filtered water – this will give you the best flavour, but you can also use tap water.
Ground coffee – for a taste most similar to the Starbucks version, use a medium or dark roast blend.

Vanilla syrup

Sugar – or any cup-for-cup sugar substitute of your choice.
Vanilla bean – if you can’t find whole vanilla beans, use ½ tsp. vanilla bean pasta or 1 tbsp. vanilla extract.

Sweet cream

Milk – use any dairy or non-dairy milk of your choice.
Whipping cream – substitute for a vegan whipping cream substitute for a healthier option.
Vanilla syrup – make your own or use a store-bought vanilla syrup.

Skip the Ads and Get Right to the Recipes!

ZERO ADS on over 600 recipes!
Weekly Meal Plans, Grocery & Prep Lists
Bonus eBooks

LEARN MORE

How to make vanilla sweet cream cold brew

Step 1: Make the cold brew coffee.

Make the cold brew coffee by mixing water and coffee grinds together in a large pitcher. Let sit overnight in the fridge for at least 12 hours (or up to 48 hours if desired).

Step 2: Strain the cold brew.

When ready to serve, slowly pour coffee through cheesecloth that is sitting in a fine mesh sieve into another large pitcher. Make sure you pour slowly and with precision to ensure there are no coffee grounds in the cold brew.

Step 3: Make the vanilla syrup.

Add one cup boiling water and 1 cup sugar to a mason jar, stirring well. Add vanilla bean, then let cool to room temperature. Remove vanilla bean, then store in the fridge up to 2 months. Alternatively, use vanilla extract.

Step 4: Make the sweet cream.

Mix all ingredients under sweet cream heading together well in a large mixing cup. If you'd like the frothy texture, use an immersion blender or milk frother to mix up ingredients – if choosing this method, be sure to add to your cold brew ASAP!

Step 5: Pour everything into a glass.

Add a handful of ice to a large glass or mason jar, then mix in 2 tbsp of vanilla syrup. Top with 2 cups of coffee, then add 1/4 cup of sweet cream on top.

Step 6: Serve and enjoy!

Homemade vanilla syrup

While you can buy vanilla syrup at the store for this vanilla sweet cream cold brew recipe, it’s so easy to make your own at home – and you’ll be cutting down on a lot of the preservatives. Here’s how to make your own:

Add water to a saucepan over high heat.
When it comes to a boil, remove the pan from the heat, add the sugar, and stir to dissolve. Alternatively, you can boil water in a kettle and mix with the sugar.
Next, add the bean to the sugar syrup.
Allow the mixture to cool completely, then discard the vanilla bean and store the sugar syrup in the refrigerator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much caffeine is in Starbucks cold brew sweet vanilla cream?

The amount of caffeine in this vanilla sweet cream cold brew recipe varies depending on the type and strength of the coffee you use. Generally speaking, the stronger a blend of coffee is, the more caffeine it will have (depending on how you measure it, of course). Dark roast coffee and espresso have the most caffeine while blonde roasts have the lowest. Obviously, using decaf coffee is the only way to make an actual caffeine free version of this recipe. Allowing the coffee to steep for a longer time will also increase the amount of caffeine in the drink.

Is it healthy?

On its own, cold brew coffee is low in calories and it’s also fat free. Making a vanilla sweet cream cold brew will add fat, calories and carbs, but the good news is that you can control the amount of sugar and sweet cream that you add. Plus, if you substitute the sugar with a sugar alternative, it will become a low carb coffee drink!

How many calories are in this drink?

This vanilla sweet cream cold brew recipe has 118 calories per serving. If you want to cut down on the calorie count even more, use a dairy-free milk and a vegan whipping cream.

Is vanilla cream cold brew sweet?

While there is some sugar in the vanilla syrup, this isn’t a super sweet drink at all. If you want to make your sweet cream cold brew less sweet, just use less vanilla syrup.

Storing components of this recipe

All of the individual components to make this vanilla sweet cream cold brew recipe should be kept in the refrigerator, and you can make some ahead of time to cut down on prep. The syrup can be stored in a mason jar in the fridge for a few weeks.

Since the coffee needs to step for at least 12 hours, you’ll need to make it the day before and store it in the fridge. I typically will enjoy a pitcher of cold brew coffee for up to 5 days from the time I make it and I find the flavour doesn't change too much as long as the pitcher is covered, but it all depends on how you like your coffee.

Wanna Learn How To Meal Prep?

My meal planning service, Dinner Prep Pro, removes the guesswork and helps you get dinner on the table in 15-20 minutes each night. My meal prep checklists only take 1 hour each week!

Learn more

More cold brew coffee recipes

See more related recipes

Meal Prep Tools

I use 16oz mason jars as cups and storage containers for these cold brew drinks.
Get some cheesecloth to strain the coffee.
I use smaller 4oz jars for storing the vanilla syrup.
**Get my full list of tools here**

Join The Girl on Bloor Premium!

ZERO ADS!
Weekly Meal Prep Checklists
Bonus eBooks

LEARN MORE

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew {Starbucks Copycat}

Ingredients and substitutions

Skip the Ads and Get Right to the Recipes!