Chocolate Cream Cold Brew is a delicious coffee drink sweetened with homemade vanilla syrup and topped off with a smooth and frothy chocolate cold foam. This Starbucks dupe tastes even better than the original and makes the perfect summer beverage!
Don't forget to check out our Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew recipe next!
If you love Starbucks cold brew drinks and have always wondered if you can make them taste just as amazing at home, this recipe is just for you! It took me forever to attempt Starbucks copycat drinks because I thought they were complicated and required tons of ingredients and fancy equipment.
That couldn't be farther from the truth! This chocolate cream cold brew takes just a few minutes to make and the only special equipment you need is a milk frother to make the chocolate cream, although you also make it in a small blender or french press!
Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
Chocolate Cold Foam
- Heavy cream. Starbucks uses a combination of heavy cream and % milk for their cold foam. This combination provides the perfect texture for the cold foam.
- 2% milk. I have not tested this recipe with any other variety of milk but feel free to try it with whole milk if you like. I do not recommend skim milk.
- Malted milk powder. This is an easy-to-find ingredient and is usually located on the coffee aisle next to the powdered chocolate drink mixes. The malted milk gives the chocolate cold foam its signature caramel and nutty notes, and is a must-have ingredient if you want your drink to taste like the Starbucks version!
- Vanilla syrup. I use my homemade vanilla syrup for this recipe but you can also use store-bought syrup such as Torani Vanilla Syrup if you prefer.
- Cocoa powder. This ingredient is what makes this a chocolate cold foam versus just a regular cold foam!
Coffee
- Your favorite brand of cold brew coffee. I love Starbucks Black Unsweetened Cold Brew!
- Vanilla syrup. I used my simple homemade vanilla syrup in both the cold foam and the coffee, but you can use store-bought if you prefer.
How To Make This Recipe
- Add the cream, milk, malted milk powder, vanilla syrup, and cocoa powder to a large cup or glass. Use a handheld milk frother to beat the mixture until it doubles in volume and becomes light and frothy. Set aside.
- Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the cold brew over the ice. Add the vanilla syrup, being careful to leave about an inch or so at the top of the glass to accommodate the cold foam.
- Pour the chocolate cold foam over the coffee and enjoy!
Variations and Substitutions
This recipe tastes almost exactly like the Starbucks Chocolate Cream Cold Brew (even better if you ask me!) so any variations will take you away from the original version of this beverage.
I don't say that to hold you back from trying fun new things, however! Try different flavor syrups with cold brew such as:
- Caramel
- Butterscotch
- Hazlenut
- Almond
There are also some substitutions for malted milk powder that I hear work really well. I have not tested this recipe with any of these substitutions, but feel free to try them and let me know how they turn out!
Instead of malted milk powder, you can try:
- Regular milk powder
- Coconut milk powder
- Almond milk powder
- Ovaltine milk powder
- Malt syrup
- Molasses
If you do not have a handheld milk frother, you can also make the cold foam in a small blender or french press. Just blend the cold foam ingredients in the blender or plunge in a french press until frothy and doubled in volume.
What Is Starbucks Chocolate Cold Foam?
Starbucks chocolate cold foam is a delicious combination of cream, milk, cocoa powder, and malt powder that is frothed until foamy and used to top cold coffee beverages.
Starbucks has several different versions of cold foam that have become wildly popular as of late and for good reason! They are the perfect topping for an iced coffee on a hot day and are super refreshing.
Can I Make Chocolate Cold Foam In Advance?
I do not recommend making the chocolate cold foam in advance because it loses its froth as it sits. The cold foam is so easy to make and takes only a minute or two so there is really no reason to make it in advance!
Can I Use Chocolate Cold Foam In Other Beverages?
Use the chocolate cold foam to top any of your favorite iced coffee and tea drinks! Try it on top of:
- Regular iced coffee
- Iced espresso
- Iced lattes
- Blended iced coffees
- Iced chai tea beverages
- Iced London fog tea
Although you can technically use chocolate cold foam on hot beverages as well, it really doesn't make much sense since it will just melt into the beverage. You would probably be better off just using regular sweetened cream.
Storage Instructions
You can make large batches of cold brew sweetened with vanilla syrup and store it in the refrigerator so it's ready to go.
As I mentioned, I do not recommend making the cold foam ahead of time because it will lose its froth as it sits.
Recommended Tools For This Recipe
- Handheld milk frother
- Tall drinking glasses
- Stainless steel straws (they're pretty and eco-friendly!)
Enjoy This Chocolate Cream Cold Brew With Some Of These Sweet Treats!
- Carrot Cake Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chocolate Chip Oat Muffins
- Chewy Chai Spiced Molasses Cookies
- Spiced Apple Crumb Cake
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Cream Cold Brew (Starbucks Copycat)
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate Cold Foam
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons 2% milk
- 1 tablespoon malted milk powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla syrup - homemade or store-bought, my recipe linked
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
Coffee
- 8 ounces cold brew coffee
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup - homemade or store-bought
Instructions
- Add the cream, milk, malted milk powder, vanilla syrup, and cocoa powder to a large cup or glass. Use a handheld milk frother to beat the mixture until it doubles in volume and becomes light and frothy. Set aside.
- Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the cold brew over the ice. Add the vanilla syrup, being careful to leave about an inch or so at the top of the glass to accommodate the cold foam.
- Pour the chocolate cold foam over the coffee and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you do not have a handheld milk frother, you can also make the cold foam in a small blender or french press. Just blend the cold foam ingredients in the blender or plunge in a french press until frothy and doubled in volume.
- You can make large batches of cold brew sweetened with vanilla syrup and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
Heather
Perfected. Better than Starbucks. Finally I can stop spending $7+ dollars a day on this coffee (I’m hyper fixated right now)! Thank you!
Ashley Boyd
I'm so happy you loved the recipe! Aren't the savings glorious?!
Marla
This is DELICIOUS! Love that I can make it at home whenever I’m in the mood. Perfect summer coffee treat!
Ashley Boyd
I'm happy you love it, Marla! This drink is so great for summer!
Marlon Boyd
Made this the other day and it was amazing! The vanilla syrup is a game changer! Thank you for this!
Ashley Boyd
I'm so happy you enjoyed the recipe! I agree the vanilla syrup really takes things up a notch. Thank you for trying the recipe!
Mandie Meyer
Absolutely love this!!! I had to use chocolate malt powder because store doesn't carry regular- it still turned out great! I eliminated the cocoa because of that. So yummy! Thank you, thank you!
Ashley Boyd
I'm so happy you love it Mandie! I'm happy to hear the chocolate malt powder worked just as well.
Jen
Yeaaasss! Whipped this up this morning and whooooa. This recipe is amazing!!
Ashley Boyd
I love to hear it, Jen! Thank you for trying the coffee recipe!
Megan
I made this today and it was so delicious! The homemade vanilla syrup is a winner too! Thank you for the recipe.
Ashley Boyd
Hi Megan,
I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe and the vanilla syrup! You are very welcome and I thank you for trying the recipe.