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It’s so easy to make the popular Starbucks vanilla iced latte at home!
With only 3 simple ingredients, you can make this smooth, creamy and refreshing coffee drink right in your own kitchen – at a fraction of the cost.
An iced coffee is the perfect way to refresh on a hot summer day, and the addition of rich vanilla flavor really elevates your daily cup of joe.
So put on your Starbucks barista hat (do they wear hats?) and let’s make this easy iced vanilla latte recipe together!
Ingredients for Starbucks Vanilla Iced Latte Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to create this iced coffee recipe at home:
- Espresso. Don’t worry if you don’t have a fancy espresso maker. To get the espresso experience without an espresso machine, try using instant espresso powder mixed with boiling water.
- Milk. The original Starbucks recipe for their vanilla latte uses whole milk. You could also use 2% milk or even nonfat milk, both of which will work well in this recipe.
- Vanilla syrup. Store-bought vanilla syrup is easy to find in most grocery stores or on Amazon. And if you’re looking to reduce your calorie intake, buy sugar-free vanilla syrup. Both varieties have a really nice vanilla flavor that blends beautifully with milk and coffee. If you’d like to take the extra step and make your own vanilla syrup from scratch, scroll down for my homemade vanilla syrup recipe.
How to Make a Starbucks Vanilla Iced Latte
Follow these simple steps to create one of the most classic espresso beverages on the Starbucks menu:
Brew the Espresso
No espresso maker, no problem. Make homemade espresso using instant espresso powder or instant coffee mixed with boiling water. You can also find espresso in cans at the grocery store.
You can also use cold brew espresso cans or cold brew coffee concentrate.
Whichever method you choose, let the hot coffee cool to room temperature while you make the vanilla milk.
Make the Vanilla Milk
Pour the milk and vanilla syrup into a mason jar with a lid, or any other kind of airtight container with a lid. Seal it tightly and shake, shake, shake.
(You could also use a handheld milk frother for this part.)
Create the Iced Latte
Now, fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in the espresso, followed by the vanilla milk. Stir gently and enjoy!
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup
Although not as simple as using prepared vanilla syrup, making your own homemade syrup is still pretty easy.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 whole vanilla bean or 2 Tbsp. of pure vanilla extract or 2 Tbsp. vanilla bean paste
Here’s what to do:
- In a saucepan, combine water and sugar.
- Add the split vanilla bean or vanilla extract to the mixture.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, reduce the heat and let it simmer for an additional 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let the rich simple syrup cool to room temperature. If using a vanilla bean pod, remove it and strain the syrup.
- Transfer the homemade vanilla bean syrup to a bottle or jar and store it in the refrigerator.
Variations on this Starbucks Iced Vanilla Latte
1. Hot Vanilla Latte: Transform this cold coffee drink into something warm and cozy by steaming the milk first. Find my recipe here.
2. Nonfat Iced Vanilla Latte: Replace the traditional whole milk with nonfat milk to dramatically reduce the fat and calories.
3. Plant-Based Iced Vanilla Latte: Substitute plant-based options like almond milk, oat milk or soy milk for a dairy free alternative.
4. Vanilla Iced Caffè Latte: Increase the ratio of milk to strong coffee to 2:1 to create a creamy caffè latte. So use 4 oz. of espresso and 8 oz. of milk.
There’s a whole lot of deliciousness in this creamy, cool, coffee drink! So when you make it, let me hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more recipes for coffee lovers, try these:
For more Starbucks copycat recipes, try these:
Easy Vanilla Iced Latte (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
- 4 oz. brewed espresso
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 2 Tbsp. vanilla syrup
Instructions
- Brew the espresso and let it cool to room temperature.
- Pour milk and vanilla syrup into a mason jar with a lid (or other airtight container with a lid) and seal tightly. Shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds.
- Fill a large glass with ice. Pour in the espresso. Pour the vanilla milk over the espresso. Stir gently.
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