Sweet Cream Cold Foam Recipe

This vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe is so easy! Find out how to make sweet cream cold foam at home without a frother with this Starbucks cold foam recipe! Then you'll know how to make vanilla sweet cream cold brew at home, whenever you like!

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And if you like this DIY cold foam recipe, you've got to try my Lemon Lavender Cookies, my Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins, and my Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte (Starbucks Copycat)!

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)

The first time I made this cold foam at home, I was floored! I couldn't believe this homemade cold foam was JUST as good as Starbucks! And I didn't have to leave the house, wait in line, or fork over 6 bucks.

If you've ever wondered how to make sweet cream cold foam without heavy cream, you're in luck! It couldn't be easier. With just a few ingredients you'll be making indulgent iced coffee creations at home in no time! It's the best way for coffee enthusiasts to indulge while saving money!

I love this vanilla sweet cream cold foam over cold brew coffee drinks and lots of ice, but since you're making it at home you can make it your own! Try this DIY cold foam over iced chai, iced matcha, or any cold drinks you like!

What is cold foam?

Cold foam is frothed cold milk and cream that are whipped until thick and creamy, then poured over iced coffee to create a smooth, velvety topping. It's a modern twist on classic vanilla whipped cream.

And making your own DIY cold foam for iced coffee, cold brew, or any beverage is so easy!

How to Make Cold Foam Without Heavy Cream

The best thing about this basic cold foam recipe is that you don't need heavy whipping cream! You can use half-and-half, or any type of dairy milk to make this Starbucks cold foam recipe -- even skim milk!

Or if you do have heavy cream, that works too for a richer version of this easy treat! It's such an easy way to step up your cold coffee or tea!

Cold Foam vs. Whipped Cream

Is cold foam just heavy cream? Not quite. It's often made with heavy cream, but is usually mixed with a lighter liquid like milk or syrup to thin out the consistency and make it more foamy.

Cold foam is also not whipped as long as whipped cream, so it doesn't hold its shape and it tends to melt into the drink it's served with. And that's exactly what we want, so that the flavor of the cold foam gradually blends into our drink as we enjoy it.

Why this cold foam recipe works

• It's quick and easy - just three ingredients for coffee shop quality at home!
• The texture is perfect - I love how it sits perfectly on top of your iced drinks, but also melts into them slowly to give them that creamy goodness.
• The secret ingredient - half-and-half is what we use, a combination of milk and cream that makes this cold foam recipe thick, but still frothy.
• Amazing flavor - vanilla bean paste is the key.

What is sweet cream cold foam made of?

This copycat Starbucks vanilla sweet cream cold foam is a recipe made with just three simple ingredients -- in fact you could probably make it with what you have on hand right now!

• half-and-half - for a little richness, I used half-and-half in my cold foam. I find it makes a fluffy, yet creamy foam. But if you're wondering how to make cold foam with heavy cream, no worries! The instructions are the same!
• powdered sugar - just for a bit of sweetness and to help built a frothy consistency, we're using some powdered sugar. If you prefer, you can use a sugar substitute, simple syrup like my cardamom syrup, or leave it out completely!
• vanilla bean paste - I love the amazing vanilla flavor that comes from vanilla bean paste. It's perfect in this Starbucks cold foam recipe, but you can also use vanilla extract like my homemade vanilla!

Best Milk for Cold Foam

I like half & half in this Starbucks cold foam recipe because it's an easy combination of heavy cream and milk. In my testing, the heavy cream made it creamy and thick, but still fluffy and frothy because of the milk. Plus, it's so much easier to use one main ingredient instead of both milk and cream and still get that creamy flavor on top of your coffee.

How to Make Vanilla Cold Foam: Tools

You can use a handheld milk frother for this DIY cold foam recipe, which I find to be the easiest way to make it! But if you don't have one, see below for tips on how to make sweet cream cold foam at home without a milk frother!

How to Make Starbucks Cold Foam at Home

If you've got a couple minutes to spare, you could be two minutes away from enjoying this vanilla sweet cream cold foam! Check the recipe card below for more details, but here are the basic steps for how to make cold foam at home:

Hint: Serve the foam as soon as it's done -- it deflates a bit the longer it sits and loses that velvety texture. I like to have my iced coffee poured before I start making my vanilla sweet cream cold foam so that I can serve the foam right away.

Is sweet cream cold foam made from heavy cream?

If you don't have half-and-half, you can make this vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe with your choice of milk:

• Heavy Cream - cold heavy cream produces a thicker, creamy texture, much like whipped cream.
• Whole Milk, Lowfat, or Skim Milk - provides a lighter, fluffier consistency but isn't as creamy.
• Non-dairy milk - using a plant-based milk that's high in protein, such as soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or a plant milk that has been protein-enriched is your best bet to get that airy foam result.

How to Make Sweet Cream Cold Foam at Home Without a Frother

If you don't have a handheld electric milk frother, you can still easily make this vanilla sweet cream cold foam! You can shake the mixture up in a mason jar or another airtight container, or use a whisk or hand mixer to whip it up in a bowl. Or you can just toss it all into a blender!

If you have a French press, you can also place the mixture into it and pump the handle up and down about 40 times, or until the mixture is thick and foamy.

How to Make Sweet Cream Cold Foam in a Blender

Here's how to make vanilla cold foam at home another way -- using a blender or an immersion blender is a super easy way to enjoy a Starbucks sweet cream cold brew at home!

Just pour your milk mixture into your blender cup instead of frothing with a handheld frother. Blend on high speed until light and frothy, about 30-60 seconds. And you're ready to enjoy it on your favorite drink!

Lavender Cold Foam Recipe

If you want a fluffy lavender cold foam for coffee or matcha, it's so easy! Just follow this recipe, but add ¼ teaspoon of lavender extract for the floral flavor! You can also add a drop of lilac food coloring.

Matcha Cold Foam Recipe

I love the flavor of matcha! Make this recipe into matcha cold foam by adding a little matcha powder to your mixture before you whip it up. It'll give you that amazing earthy matcha flavor and color!

Ube Cold Foam Recipe

Another easy twist on this easy vanilla cold foam recipe for all the ube lovers! Just grab some purple sweet potato powder and add it to your mixture when frothing, and you'll get that incredible subtle flavor and beautiful purple color.

How to Make Vanilla Cold Foam Variations

If you want to switch up the specialty flavors for your Starbucks sweet cream cold brew foam, it's so easy! Here are some more of the best cold foam flavors you can try:

• Pumpkin Cold Foam - use my Pumpkin Cold Foam Recipe for a pumpkin spice twist on this vanilla cold foam recipe!
• Salted Cream Cold Foam Recipe - add in a pinch of flaky salt for a sweet-and-salty flavor combo.
• Chocolate - add 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolatey twist!
• Cinnamon - add a few pinches of ground cinnamon before foaming, plus a few sprinkles of cinnamon sugar on top!
• No Sugar Added - feel free to use a powdered sugar substitute to make this a lower-sugar treat!
• Flavored - add a teaspoon or two of flavored simple syrup to your mixture! A lavender or jasmine syrup would be a great twist!

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam Calories

The nutritional information for this sweet cream cold foam recipe will vary depending on what type of milk and sugar you use, but if you follow it with half and half and powdered sugar as written, one serving will contain 115 calories. You can check the recipe card below for more nutrition information!

Cold Foam in a Can - Where to buy?

This vanilla cold foam recipe is so easy to make, but if you want a super quick one-step process, cold foam in a can does work in a pinch and it's usually available in most grocery stores! I like the Reddi-Whip cold foam in a can because it's made with real milk and cream, but there are lots of options out there!

Frequently Asked Questions

Pairing

This vanilla sweet cream cold foam is the perfect addition to a brunch spread! These are my favorite dishes to serve with this vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe:

📖 Recipe

Last Updated on March 26, 2026 by Chenée Lewis