This homemade vanilla sweet cream cold brew will turn your morning coffee routine into a café experience! Silky cold brew coffee topped with a cloud of vanilla-infused sweet cream creates a refreshing iced coffee drink that rivals the Starbucks version at a fraction of the cost.
If you love coffee drinks, try my Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso or Chocolate Cream Cold Brew next!
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This easy Starbucks copycat recipe has become my go-to morning ritual. After perfecting homemade cold brew, I discovered that adding vanilla sweet cream takes it to another level entirely!
Best of all, you can make a batch of both the cold brew and sweet cream to enjoy coffee-shop quality drinks all week long! And if you want to add even more vanilla flavor, use Vanilla Bean Sugar in place of granulated sugar in the vanilla simple syrup.
Ingredients & Substitutions
You need just a handful of simple ingredients to make this easy coffee drink:
- Cold Brew Coffee. Make your own using my French Press Cold Brew Coffee Recipe or use store-bought cold brew concentrate. Dark roast beans create the richest flavor.
- Heavy Cream. It creates that silky, luxurious texture that defines sweet cream. Half-and-half works, too, but won't be quite as rich. For a lighter version, use all milk.
- Milk. I use 2% milk, but whole milk creates an even richer cream. For dairy-free options, coconut milk or oat milk will work.
- Vanilla Syrup. Homemade vanilla syrup made with real vanilla bean or extract adds incredible flavor. You can substitute maple syrup or use a sugar-free vanilla syrup for a lower-sugar version.
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a full list of ingredients.
How to Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Quick Overview
- Prepare cold brew coffee.
- Make homemade vanilla syrup.
- Combine heavy cream, milk, and vanilla syrup.
- Assemble the perfect cold brew.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- BREW: Make cold brew concentrate by combining coarsely ground coffee with cold water in a mason jar or French press. Let steep in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours, then strain. For quick results, you can use store-bought cold brew concentrate.
- SYRUP: In a small saucepan, combine equal parts sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat, add vanilla extract or split vanilla bean, and let cool. Store in the fridge.
- CREAM: In a measuring cup with a pour spout, whisk together heavy whipping cream, milk, and vanilla syrup until well combined. For extra frothy cream, use a milk frother or immersion blender, but don't overwhip, or you'll end up with whipped cream!
- ASSEMBLE: Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour cold brew concentrate halfway up the glass. Top with a generous pour of the sweet vanilla cream. Stir gently to combine or leave layered for that beautiful gradient effect.
Quick Tip from Jeri
For an extra-indulgent version, add a tablespoon of vanilla syrup directly to your cold brew before adding the sweet cream. It's deliciously sweet and perfect for special occasions!
Top Tips
- Coffee Matters: Use high-quality dark roast beans for the richest cold brew flavor. Freshly ground is always best!
- Perfect Ratio: For a balanced, café-quality taste, use a 1:4 ratio of coffee to water when making cold brew concentrate.
- Cream Technique: Pour the sweet cream slowly over the back of a spoon to create beautiful layers in your glass.
- Storage: Keep the sweet cream mixture in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store cold brew concentrate separately for up to 2 weeks.
- Temperature Matters: Ensure your cold brew and sweet cream are thoroughly chilled before combining for the creamiest texture.
Variations
- Caramel Twist: Drizzle caramel sauce inside the glass before adding ice and coffee.
- Mocha Magic: Stir 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder into your cold brew before adding the sweet cream.
- Dairy-Free: Substitute coconut cream and almond milk for a plant-based version that's still incredibly creamy.
- Cinnamon Spice: Add a dash of cinnamon to your sweet cream, or use cinnamon sticks to infuse your vanilla syrup.
- Maple Version: Replace vanilla syrup with pure maple syrup for a different flavor.
Storage Instructions
For best results, store all components separately and assemble fresh each time you want to make this delicious coffee drink.
Cold Brew: Store the concentrate in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Vanilla Simple Syrup: Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Sweet Cream: Store in a sealed jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Shake or stir well before using.
Recipe FAQs
While you can use chilled regular coffee, it won't have the same smooth, less acidic taste that makes cold brew special. If using regular coffee, brew it double-strength and chill completely.
This is normal! Give it a quick stir or shake before using. The heavy cream naturally rises to the top when it sits.
Absolutely! Use your favorite sugar substitute in the vanilla syrup. Monk fruit sweetener works particularly well.
Sweet cream has a pourable consistency while cold foam is whipped to be lighter and floats on top of the drink. For cold foam, use the same ingredients but whip longer with a milk frother.
Yes! Combine all ingredients in a blender with ice for a frappuccino-style treat.
More Coffee Shop Favorites
Printable Recipe
Homemade Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Ingredients
For the Cold Brew:
- 1 cup coarsely ground coffee
- 4 cups cold water
For the Vanilla Simple Syrup:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Vanilla Sweet Cream:
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup milk 1%, 2%, or whole milk
- 2 tablespoons vanilla simple syrup *if you like your coffee drink less sweet, use less syrup
To Serve:
- 1 cup ice cubes
- ½ cup cold brew concentrate
- vanilla sweet cream
Instructions
- BREW: Combine ground coffee with cold water in a mason jar or French press. Stir gently. Cover and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.1 cup coarsely ground coffee, 4 cups cold water
- STRAIN: If using a mason jar, strain cold brew through a cheesecloth or coffee filter. If using a French press, simply press down the plunger. Store concentrate in the refrigerator.
- SYRUP: Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and stir until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add vanilla, and let cool. Refrigerate in an airtight container.1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- CREAM: Whisk together heavy cream, milk, and vanilla syrup until well combined. For a frothier texture, use a milk frother for 5-10 seconds (don't overwhip).½ cup heavy whipping cream, ½ cup milk, 2 tablespoons vanilla simple syrup
- ASSEMBLE: Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour cold brew concentrate halfway up the glass. Top with a generous pour of sweet cream. Stir gently or leave layered and enjoy!1 cup ice cubes, ½ cup cold brew concentrate, vanilla sweet cream
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Notes
- The sweet cream mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Cold brew concentrate stays fresh for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
- For a dairy-free version, use coconut cream and oat milk.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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