Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew- Starbucks Copycat

This salty and sweet coffee creation is even better than Starbucks Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew. It's cold brew topped with salted caramel cream that only takes a few minutes to make!

Caramel is my go-to flavor when it comes to coffee! Starbuck's Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew is hands down one of my favorite drinks they make- It's the perfect combination of salty and sweet, and the cold foam on top is so refreshing.

I decided to try and make my own version at home, and it turned out so delicious! It's easy to make and after you buy the ingredients, it costs way less than the salted caramel cold foam cold brew from an actual Starbucks. My other favorite Starbucks copycat is my Iced White Chocolate Mocha.

What is cold foam?

Cold foam is frothed milk that is created without the use of heat or steam, which is typically how foam is created for hot drinks like lattes or cappuccinos. If you've ever ordered a latte, you've most likely watched the barista place the milk into the steamer on an espresso machine, which heats and froths the milk giving you the frothy latte you want. Cold foam is made without heat so that it can be poured on top of a cold drink.

Starbucks makes their salted cold foam by frothing cream, milk, vanilla syrup, caramel syrup, and salt.

Recipe Ingredients

Here are some notes on a few ingredients- please see the full ingredient list in the recipe card below!

• cold brew- there are quite a few ways to make cold brew, as well as an option for store-bought cold brew as well! When in doubt, you can just use brewed coffee that has cooled down. Check out my tips & tricks for cold brew below.
• heavy cream & milk- I use both of these because that is how Starbucks makes it. I did not test with any non-dairy milk!
• vanilla syrup- You can use whatever brand of vanilla syrup you can find, Torani is my favorite! This one comes with a pump (like they use in an actual Starbucks) but you can always buy a smaller version without one. I found the ones below at my local Target.
• caramel syrup- You can use caramel syrup or an actual caramel sauce. I tested with both and actually preferred the taste of the caramel sauce. I also bought sugar-free caramel because that's all my store had on hand at the time. You can buy regular or sugar-free, whichever you prefer! Want to make homemade salted caramel? Follow the directions in my salted caramel brownie recipe!
• sea salt- You don't need a ton of salt for this recipe, literally just a pinch. I would recommend tasting your cold foam after whipping it up and seeing if you need more or less salt since everyone's preferences are different.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: In a glass (or in an electric frother if using one), pour in the milk, heavy cream, ½ teaspoon of vanilla syrup, caramel syrup, and salt. Froth the salted caramel cream until it's fluffy and thick (soft peaks have formed, not quite whipped cream texture).

Step 2: In a glass, pour your cold brew over ice. To this, mix in 1 teaspoon of vanilla syrup (this is optional- if you prefer your coffee sweeter you can add more or if you prefer it less sweet you can omit it). I like mine less sweet so I found 1 teaspoon to be enough. Starbucks adds 2 pumps of vanilla syrup (1 tbsp) to a 16oz cold brew.

Step 3: Pour the cold foam overtop the coffee and top with a drizzle of caramel sauce if desired.

What's the best frother to use?

I like both a handheld and an electric frother. I own the Nespresso frother, which is quite pricy but came with my machine when I bought one. I do love it and recommend it though, it can froth your milk both cold and hot! This is a cheaper version that does both hot and cold frothing.

You can also make this recipe without a frother. You can use a whisk, a blender, an electric mixer, or even a mason jar with a lid.  

Tips on how to make cold brew coffee:

There are a few ways to make your own cold brew- my favorite way and the easiest in my opinion, is using a cold brew maker like this one. I have it in two different sizes (small and large) and love them both. You fill the inside with coffee grounds and then fill the container with water and let it steep in the fridge overnight. It's that easy!

Another way to make cold brew is by making it in a french press- this is the one I have and love. Following the directions for your french press, you make a batch of coffee using cold water, and without pressing down on the handle you place it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, press it down and pour over ice!

If you don't have time for cold brew, you can always just brew up some regular hot coffee and either let it cool down a little, or pour it hot over ice. It will melt the ice so you'll have to add more, making the coffee a little watered down, but it works in a pinch.

The last option is to buy cold brew- I really enjoy Stok brand cold brew, but Starbucks makes a good one as well. Basically any cold brew you can find in your grocery store. Some stores might even have a cold brew concentrate!

Storing & Freezing

This salted caramel cold foam recipe is made for 1 serving, but if you want to make it ahead of time you can store it in a mason jar or another airtight container. When you want to use it, just give it another froth to get it fluffy again.

Want to try more recipes?

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