If you also love Starbucks-style iced coffees, then I’m sure you have already heard about cold foam creamer coffee or the Starbucks cold foam recipe.
It’s a creamy, frothy topping that can turn your simple iced coffee into something that feels café-level.
With just a few ingredients and some tips, you can make cold foam creamer DIY versions like vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe, pumpkin cold foam creamer recipe, or cold foam recipe using creamer without heavy cream.
How to Make Cold Foam Creamer
Cold foam creamer is a smooth, frothy topping made from milk (sometimes with cream and flavors). It is whipped until light and airy, but poured over cold coffee or cold brew instead of hot drinks.
Ingredients:
Here are the simple ingredients that you’ll need to make your own cold foam creamer recipes.
Base Ingredients
- ½ cup cold milk: The best option that I like is 2% milk because Starbucks also uses that for their foam. Besides this, you can also use whole milk or plant-based milk like oat milk. If you want creamy, then you can use oat milk (it will froth better than almond).
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional): If you want a sweet cream cold foam recipe Starbucks style, you’ll have to mix milk + cream. But don’t worry, I’ll also show you how to make cold foam without heavy cream.
- 1–2 tablespoons sugar, syrup, or honey: You can use simple syrup, maple syrup, or even liquid stevia. They all will blend well and make the foam a little sweet.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: If you want a vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe. You can also use flavored syrups (pumpkin, hazelnut, caramel).
Optional Flavor Variations
- Pumpkin spice syrup: If you want a fall-inspired pumpkin cold foam creamer recipe.
- Salted caramel syrup: If you want a salty-sweet Starbucks-style topping.
- Cinnamon or nutmeg: That is perfect for a cozy flavor.
- Chobani coffee creamer: Yes, you can make a chobani creamer cold foam recipe, you will just have to froth their vanilla creamer.
Instructions:
This is my method to make cold foam creamer recipes at home.
Step 1: Choose Your Milk or Cream Base
You will need about ½ cup of cold 2% milk (or you can also use any other milk that you like).
And if you want richer Starbucks-style creamer, you can also add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream.
Pro tip: You have to keep the milk really cold. Because the colder it is, the better it will froth.
Step 2: Add Sweetener and Flavor
Now, add your vanilla extract, sugar syrup, or any flavor that you are using (pumpkin spice syrup, caramel, hazelnut).
Stir it once to combine.
Step 3: Froth It
Now comes the most important part. You have different options. So, depending on your kitchen tools.
- Using a Milk Frother: You have to insert and froth until your creamer becomes creamy, thick, and foamy.
- Using a Blender: You can blend for 20 to 30 seconds; it’s enough time to make the creamer frothy.
- Using a Jar: Put the milk mix in a mason jar and close the lid tightly. Then, shake hard for 30 to 40 seconds. (It’s good when you don’t have a frother at home.)
- Using a French Press: You can pour milk mix inside, pump the plunger quickly until it doubles in volume.
This is how you can even make cold foam without a frother.
Step 4: Layer on Coffee
Once your cold foam is ready, you have to pour it over iced coffee, cold brew, or iced latte. The foam will sit well on top and slowly blend as you sip.
And that’s it — you’ve got your own Starbucks cold foam recipe at home!
Ingredient Substitutes:
In case you don’t have some ingredients that I mentioned above, here are a few swaps:
- Without heavy cream: You can only use whole milk or oat milk. But if you want to make it thicker, you can add ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (like Starbucks does sometimes).
- Without sugar syrup: Consider using honey, maple syrup, or monk fruit drops.
- Without vanilla extract: You can use vanilla bean paste, vanilla sugar, or completely skip it.
- Without dairy: Oat milk is best, but you can also use almond, coconut, or soy milk; they also work.
This way, you can easily prepare a cold foam creamer DIY recipe with whatever you already have at home.
Pro Tips for the Best Cold Foam Creamer
Here are a few things I’ve learned from making cold foam coffee recipes again and again:
- You always want to use cold milk. Warm milk won’t foam well.
- Don’t over-froth. It has to be creamy and pourable, not stiff like whipped cream, which is what we use in coffees and other drinks.
- If you want a sweeter Starbucks cold foam recipe, you can always use syrup instead of granulated sugar.
- If you want it thicker, simply add a tiny pinch of xanthan gum. (This is how Starbucks keeps its cold foam stable.)
- If you’re making large batches for family, keep it in the fridge, but always froth it again before serving.
Cold Foam Recipe Variations You Should Try
One of the best parts of this recipe is that you can make so many versions of it. Here are my favorite ones:
1. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam Recipe
This is the classic vanilla cold foam Starbucks copycat. Just add vanilla extract + sugar syrup to your milk/cream base. Froth and serve over iced coffee.
It tastes almost identical to the original Starbucks one.
2. Pumpkin Cold Foam Creamer Recipe
It’s perfect for the fall season. You wanna add pumpkin spice syrup or puree + a pinch of cinnamon to your milk/cream base. Froth and top it on cold brew, like my 7 Brew ocean breeze recipe.
Pair it with these Bakery Style Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins for a cozy combo.
3. Salted Caramel Cold Foam
Add caramel syrup + a pinch of sea salt. Froth and pour over an iced latte. The salt will bring out the sweetness beautifully.
This will taste good with Chocolate Covered Oreos.
4. Mocha Cold Foam Creamer Recipe
Add 1 teaspoon cocoa powder or melted chocolate before frothing.
You’ll get a chocolatey foam perfect for mocha lovers.
It pairs with Rice Flour Brownies with Cocoa Powder.
5. Chobani Creamer Cold Foam Recipe
If you’re lazy, just take Chobani vanilla creamer, froth it, and boom — instant cold foam creamer DIY.
6. Protein Cold Foam Creamer
Mix 1 scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder in the milk before frothing.
This will make a protein coffee creamer that’s both frothy and filling.
What to Serve with Cold Foam Coffee
Cold foam isn’t just for iced coffee — you can pair it with snacks and desserts to make it feel like a full café-style experience.
Simple Pairings
- Digestive cookies or biscotti: it’s a light crunch to balance creamy foam.
- Banana bread: Especially Easy Banana Bars Without Frosting.
- Fresh fruit: Berries, mango slices, or kiwi.
Sweet Pairings
- Chocolate chip cookies like Crumbl Semi Sweet Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Chocolate fudge bites from Chocolate Fudge Recipe with Marshmallow Fluff.
- Macarons or shortbread cookies.
Savory Pairings
- Cheese croissants.
- Spinach and feta puff pastry.
- Crackers with cream cheese.
Storage Instructions
Cold foam is best when fresh, but here’s what you can do in case you can’t finish all at once:
- Fridge: You can store it in a mason jar with a lid for up to 2 days. Just shake or froth again before use.
- Freezer: Not recommended. Freezing will break down the foam texture.
- Premade Mix: You can mix milk + flavorings ahead, store it, and just froth right before using.
Conclusion
This was the cold foam creamer recipe that you can easily prepare at home without spending on expensive coffee shop drinks.
You’ll just need milk, cream (optional), and a little sweetener. You’ll have a smooth, café-style cold foam coffee recipe.
It’s customizable in many flavors, like vanilla sweet cream cold foam recipe, pumpkin cold foam creamer recipe, or even a lighter cold foam recipe without heavy cream.
So now grab your ingredients and make your own Starbucks-style cold foam coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some questions and answers about this cold foam creamer.
How do you make cold foam at home?
To make cold foam at home, you will need cold milk (2% or oat milk also works best), a little flavor like vanilla syrup, and a way to froth it.
Besides this, you can use a milk frother, blender, French press, or even shake in a jar until your creamer becomes creamy and foamy.
Then, you can pour it over iced coffee or cold brew.
Can you make creamer into cold foam?
Yes, you can make it. If you want a shortcut, you can froth coffee creamer directly — even flavored ones like vanilla or Chobani creamer.
This is a quick way to make a cold foam recipe using creamer if you don’t have milk or heavy cream at home.
What are the ingredients in cold foam creamer?
In the classic cold foam Starbucks recipe. It has 2% milk, sometimes mixed with heavy cream, flavors like vanilla syrup, pumpkin spice syrup, or caramel.
But if you’re making it at home, you can use any milk, sweetener, and flavor extract. You can create your own cold foam creamer DIY recipe.
What is the 3/2/1 method for cold foam?
The 3/2/1 method is a simple ratio. In this, you have to use 3 parts of heavy cream, 2 parts 2% milk, and 1 part of vanilla syrup.
Many people follow this method to make sweet cream cold foam recipes.
If you fill it, you will get a perfect balance of creamy texture, frothiness, and sweetness.

Cold Foam Creamer Recipe
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- ½ cup cold 2% milk or whole, oat, almond, or soy
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream optional, for sweet cream style
- 1–2 tablespoons simple syrup honey, or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or flavored syrup of choice
Optional Variations
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice syrup or puree + pinch of cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon salted caramel syrup + pinch of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder for mocha foam
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum optional, for extra thickness
Instructions
Choose Your Base:
- Pour ½ cup of cold 2% milk (or substitute) into a jar or frothing container.
- Add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream if you want the Starbucks sweet cream style.
Add Flavor & Sweetener:
- Stir in vanilla extract and sweetener of your choice.
- Swap in pumpkin spice, caramel, or cocoa for variations.
Froth the Mixture:
- Using a frother: Whip until creamy and airy.
- Using a blender: Blend 20–30 seconds until foamy.
Layer Over Coffee:
- Pour the frothy topping gently over iced coffee, cold brew, or iced latte.
Notes
- Always keep milk cold — it froths better.
- Don’t over-froth; you want pourable foam, not whipped cream.

I’m a self-taught home cook who turns everyday ingredients into comforting, café-style recipes. I test everything in my own kitchen (sometimes more than once), tweak flavors how I like them, and share only what I actually enjoy.
Most of my recipes are chocolate-based or have a creative twist, and I keep them preservative-free, beginner-friendly, and fun to make.
If you love cozy drinks, healthier desserts, or bold flavor combos — you’re in the right place. [Read full story]