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    Bites with Bri » Drink & Cocktails » Sweet Cream Cold Foam

    Sweet Cream Cold Foam

    Published: Jul 15, 2021 · Modified: May 18, 2022 by Brianna May · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Learn how to make Sweet Cream Cold Foam at home. This is a Starbucks copycat recipe, except way cheaper and completely customizable. The foam is a blend of heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and sugar. It is luscious, fluffy, creamy, and lightly sweetened.

    weet cream cold foam being poured into a glass filled with cold brew

    Starbucks' famous cold foam changed the coffee game and has made its way into so many coffee shops.

    If you love copycat recipes, try my Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Recipe, Iced White Chocolate Mocha, or Copycat Starbucks Chai Tea Latte.

    Don't forget to make breakfast with your morning coffee, like my Blackberry Lemon Bread, Over Hard Eggs, or Banana Carrot Muffins.

    Jump to:
    • What is Cold Foam?
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
    • The Best Way to Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam
    • How to Make Sweet Cream Cold Foam
    • Expert Tips & Notes
    • Variations
    • FAQs
    • More Drink Recipes
    • Watch the How to Video
    • Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

    What is Cold Foam?

    Cold foam is a frothed or aerated, milk and cream mixture. It is runnier than whipped cream but thicker than cream. It is also lightly sweetened. Starbucks made cold foam super popular by adding a variety of drinks to their menu with it served on top.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • This cold foam recipe demonstrates how to make sweet cream cold foam with a frother, foamer, mixer, and blender. 
    • This recipe shows you how to make vanilla sweet cream cold foam, salted caramel cold foam, chocolate cold foam, cinnamon sugar cold foam, and brown sugar sweet cream cold foam.  
    • It takes less than 5 minutes to make this Starbucks cream cold foam recipe and only requires a few simple ingredients.
    • This cold foam is delicious on top of hot or iced coffee or tea.
    • The sweet cream cold foam is gluten-free and can be made low carb/keto.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    ingredients needed for sweet cream cold foam
    • Heavy Cream: I have only tested this recipe with heavy cream. I am not sure if sweet cream cold foam with half and half would work because it has a lower fat content. 
    • Granulated Sugar: Swap for monk fruit sweetener, splenda, or stevia. Adjust the amount accordingly. These sweeteners are much sweeter than sugar so you will need much less. 
    • Vanilla: Swap the extract and sugar for 1-2 Tablespoons of vanilla syrup.

    Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

    The Best Way to Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

    My least favorite was unfortunately the Nespresso foamer. I wanted this one to be my favorite so badly. I love it and use it every morning for frothing hot milk for my coffee. But the foam was a little too runny. I ended up using the handheld milk frother to give it more aeration.

    Here are the four different tools (ranked in order favorite to least favorite) I tested to make cold foam and the pros & cons for each. 

    My favorite tool by far is the handheld frother. 

    MethodProsCons
    Handheld Frotherperfect consistency 
    quick
    easy to clean
    fits in a mason jar or bowl
    inexpensive
    none
    Blenderperfect consistency 
    fastest method
    covered/contained (no splashing)
    ideal for large batches
    hands-off
    not ideal for a single serving
    most difficult to clean
    Electric Hand Mixerperfect consistency 
    easy to clean
    bulky
    have to use a larger bowl
    takes longer than the frother
    Nespresso Foamermultiple functions (hot & cold foam)
    easy to clean
    no extra cup or bowl needed
    covered/contained (no splashing)
    hands-off
    runniest foam
    expensive

    How to Make Sweet Cream Cold Foam

    Overview

    • Combine all of the ingredients. 
    • Mix using the frother, blender, mixer, or foamer until thickened slightly. 

    Step by Step

    Step 1: Pour the cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla into a cup that is large enough for the mixture to double in volume (or in the blender or foamer if using).

    Step 2: Froth the cream mixture using the handheld frother (or mixer, blender, or foamer) until it thickens and increases in volume. It should still be pourable and thinner than whipped cream.

    milk, cream, sugar, vanilla in glass pitcher & foam in pitcher

    TIP - Do not over mix the cream mixture or it will become too stiff. 

    Expert Tips & Notes

    • Do not over mix. If you over mix the cream, it will become more like whipped cream. This is not the end of the world. ? However, it will be harder for it to melt into the cold brew coffee. 
    • Add more sweetener if desired. After you combine the ingredients, but before you have frothed them, dip a spoon (or your finger) into the cream mixture and taste it. Add more sweetener if needed. Keep in mind if it is going to be mixed with black coffee, you may want to make it a little extra sweet. 
    • Serve immediately. Unfortunately the cold foam does not hold up well in the fridge. So do not froth it until right before you intend to drink it.
    • I do not recommend making this sweet cream cold foam ahead of time. It deflates in the fridge.
    • This sweet cream cold foam recipe is enough for one coffee. This recipe can be scaled up if you are making cold foam for multiple cups of coffee or people.
    45 degree angle of sweet cream cold foam over coffee

    Variations

    • Salted Caramel Cold Foam: ¼ cup heavy cream, 3 Tablespoons 2 % milk, 1 Tablespoon salted caramel syrup (or more to taste), one small pinch of salt. 
    • Chocolate Cold Foam: ¼ cup heavy cream, 3 Tablespoons 2 % milk, 1 Tablespoon chocolate sauce (or more to taste)
    • Cinnamon Sugar Cold Foam: ¼ cup heavy cream, 3 Tablespoons 2 % milk, 2-3 teaspoons granulated sugar (or more to taste), ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
    • Brown Sugar Sweet Cream Cold Foam: Swap the white sugar with brown sugar.
    • Serve hot or cold: You can pour cold foam over cold brew coffee, hot coffee, or even tea. 
    • Low Carb/Keto: Use monk fruit sweetener. Adjust the amount accordingly.
    salted caramel, chocolate, cinnamon sugar, and vanilla cold foam

    FAQs

    What is sweet cream cold foam at Starbucks?

    Starbucks actually does not have a sweet cream cold foam on their menu. Their sweet cream (sweetened vanilla milk and cream) can be added to their cold brew with cold foam.

    What is cold foam made of at Starbucks?

    Starbucks makes their cold foam with nonfat milk. However, they have a special blender that froths nonfat milk to the perfect cold foam consistency. Since we do not have access to their equipment at home, I find the addition of heavy cream is the easiest way to replicate it at home.

    Is sweet cream cold foam just whipped cream?

    No, it has a more runny consistency compared to whipped cream. 

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

    Cold foam is thicker than Starbucks vanilla sweet cream. It is whipped or aerated in a blender or with a frother. Starbucks cold foam is made with with nonfat milk. However, the sweet cream is made with homemade vanilla simple syrup, 2% milk, and heavy cream. Whipped cream is simply heavy cream sweetened with sugar whipped until stiff peaks form. 

    Can you use heavy cream to make cold foam?

    Yes! You will also need a little milk to thin out the cream. 

    More Drink Recipes

    • Brown Sugar Syrup
    • Rum Moscow Mule
    • Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
    • Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Recipe

    Watch the How to Video

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    5 from 26 votes

    Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

    This Sweet Cream Cold Foam is a Starbucks copycat recipe, except way cheaper and completely customizable. The foam is a blend of heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and sugar. It is luscious, fluffy, creamy, and lightly sweetened. The perfect way to start your day!
    Servings1 person
    Prep2 minutes
    Total2 minutes
    Course: Drink & Cocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Brianna May

    Equipment:

    • Frother
    • Blender
    • Hand Mixer
    • Nespresso Foamer

    Ingredients:

    • ¼ cup heavy cream*
    • 3 Tablespoons 2% milk
    • 2-3 teaspoons granulated sugar*
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract*

    Instructions:

    • Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
    • Pour the cream, millk, sugar, and vanilla into a cup that is large enough for the mixture to double in volume (or in the blender or foamer if using).
    • Froth the cream mixture using the handheld frother (or mixer, blender, or foamer) until it thickens and increases in volume. It should still be pourable and thinner than whipped cream.

    Notes:

    Heavy Cream: I have only tested this recipe with heavy cream. I am not sure if half and half would work because it has a lower fat content. 
    Granulated Sugar: Swap for monk fruit sweetener, splenda, or stevia. Adjust the amount accordingly. These sweeteners are much sweeter than sugar so you will need much less. 
    Vanilla: Swap the extract and sugar for 1-2 Tablespoons of vanilla syrup.
    Add more sweetener if desired. After you combine the ingredients, but before you have frothed them, dip a spoon (or your finger) into the cream mixture and taste it. Add more sweetener if needed. Keep in mind if it is going to be mixed with black coffee, you may want to make it a little extra sweet.

    NUTRITION:

    Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 44mg | Sugar: 10g
    Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention or tag @bites.with.bri_ or use the hashtag #biteswithbri
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Thomas

      July 01, 2022 at 12:33 pm

      5 stars
      It's funny... I have both a Nespresso foamer as well as a handheld one, and never thought to try to replicate the sweetened/flavored varieties. This is brilliant!

      Thanks Bri!

      Reply
      • Brianna May

        July 05, 2022 at 8:28 am

        Awesome Thomas! I am glad you found this post helpful.

        Reply
    2. Wendie Rehart

      March 15, 2022 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      I have Tried multiple recipes And none of them have ever turned out right but this one is awesome. I did accidentally use 3 tablespoons of sugar but turned out to be amazing because I added it to black coffee
      Thank you for the recipe

      Reply
      • Brianna May

        March 22, 2022 at 11:16 am

        Yes it is nice to be able to adjust the sweetness to your liking! So glad you enjoyed.

        Reply
    3. Amy Liu Dong

      February 08, 2022 at 2:28 am

      5 stars
      Wow! This looks so delicious plus it's really like the real thing. I can't wait to make this at home for the whole family.

      Reply
    4. Sunrta

      July 18, 2021 at 5:23 am

      5 stars
      Thanks so much for this step wise guide. So helpful.

      Reply
    5. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      July 16, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      5 stars
      It looks incredibly delicious. I wish this were in front of me.

      Reply
    6. Kayla DiMaggio

      July 16, 2021 at 8:13 am

      5 stars
      Yum! I love finding ways to save money on Starbucks haha. This cold foam recipe was so easy to make and delicious!

      Reply

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    I am a recipe developer, food photographer, blogger. My goal is to teach you how to cook, not just follow my recipes. I love to cook with bold flavors that are still family friendly. My hubs is a picky eater and all of these recipes are approved by him, so I am sure you and your family will love them too. Learn more about Bri >>

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