Vanilla iced coffee Starbucks recipe (cold and easy)

Enjoy the vanilla iced coffee Starbucks recipe without actually going to Starbucks. This recipe requires only a few simple ingredients: brewed coffee, vanilla-flavored syrup, and your choice of milk.

If you are like me, you will enjoy this vanilla iced coffee. And what if I told you that it is easy to customize with your favorite milk, extra sweet, or a stronger coffee flavor? Also, you can make it without any added sugar (AKA sugar-free). 

If you enjoy sweet treats served with coffee at Starbucks, try my homemade, from-scratch Starbucks cake pops!

Why you will love this vanilla iced coffee Starbucks recipe?

1. Super simple recipe.
2. Saves a trip to your local Starbucks.
3. Highly customizable.
4. Perfect drink for a hot summer day.
5. Chilled and refreshing.
6. Ready in just a couple of minutes.

How to make a vanilla iced coffee Starbucks recipe?

Making vanilla iced coffee from Starbucks is super simple and extremely cheap when compared to the price you would pay at Starbucks. And, it is just a 4 steps process. Let's see how. 

Sr. No.	Steps
1.	Make vanilla syrup (if using homemade otherwise this is an optional step)
2.	Add ice cubes to the glass.
3.	Pour in vanilla syrup.
4.	Add milk, stir, and serve.

Vanilla iced coffee ingredients

Here is the list of ingredients for a vanilla iced latte. For the full recipe, please see the recipe card at the bottom.

• Coffee - Of course, the recipes star ingredient. Make sure you use a strong coffee to avoid diluting it with cubed ice. Use cold brew coffee or shots of espresso at home or use the cold brew concentrate of Starbucks, which is easily available in grocery stores.

• Vanilla syrup - Use your own vanilla syrup or buy some from the grocery store. Making homemade vanilla syrup is straightforward and cost-effective. This is the secret behind Starbucks' unique vanilla iced coffee. (mentioned the process in the step-by-step recipe)

• Milk - Use either whole milk or 2% milk, depending on whichever is available in your pantry. You don't need to make a separate trip to the grocery shop for this :).

• Ice cubes -  Another key ingredient of the recipe. Helps to keep the coffee chilled. Imagine you're on vacation on a sweltering day and grab a cooled coffee from Starbucks, only to discover it's at room temperature half an hour later. Would you enjoy it? Of course not, which explains the ice cubes. 

Any substitute?

• Milk - Use almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or any other plant-based milk to make it dairy-free or vegan. Replace with the same quantity. 

• Vanilla syrup -  This vanilla syrup is made by combining pure vanilla extract, water, and regular sugar. Replace the regular sugar with the same amount of sugar-free sweetener. As an alternative, get readymade sugar-free vanilla syrup from the grocery store or Torani sugar-free syrup from Amazon. You can also use vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract to get a rich vanilla taste.

• Coffee - Use decaf expresso instead of regular expresso coffee. 

Tools needed

1. Small saucepan - to make vanilla syrup.
2. Measuring spoons or cups - to measure ingredients
3. Tall glass or Mason jar (whatever is available) - to serve the coffee
4. Straw - for drinking

Vanilla iced coffee Starbucks (step-by-step) recipe

Make vanilla syrup

1. In a saucepan, add water and sugar.

2. Heat on low to medium heat until the sugar is dissolved completely and the mixture begins to boil and thickens. This is just a simple syrup. 

3. Remove from the gas and add vanilla extract to it.

4. Stir and keep it aside. 

PS - This can also be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated for later use.

Assemble

5. In a serving glass, add ice cubes.

6. Pour vanilla syrup over the ice cubes.

7. Now, add the brewed coffee.

8. Finally, add the cold milk. 

PS - you can froth milk if you wish, but it is completely optional.

Serve

9. Stir it, add the straw, and serve.

Watch me making (video)

https://youtu.be/SEa_jpYyq60

Storing and freezing instructions for Starbucks copycat iced vanilla latte recipe

I do not recommend storing or refrigerating the leftover coffee. It contains ice cubes, which can dilute the coffee. Hence, it is best when consumed immediately.

But just in case you have any leftovers and want to store them, here are some suggestions.

Storing instructions

Remove the ice cubes from the glass and refrigerate the cold coffee drink for up to 4 days. 

​Freezing instructions

Take the ice cubes out, pour the drink into ice cube trays, and create coffee ice cubes. Freeze for up to 2 months.

​Thawing instructions

Whenever you are ready to enjoy, put the ice cubes in a serving glass and thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. If you are in a hurry, leave it on the kitchen counter. It will melt and turn into a liquid depending on the temperature of the room. If it has been outside for a while and has cooled down to room temperature, add the ice cubes and serve right away.  

Variations

As this is a handmade version of Starbucks' vanilla iced latte, I recommend utilizing the simple components listed. But if you want to add a little twist to your vanilla iced coffee, here are some of my favorite versions. 

1. Chocolate and vanilla iced latte -After adding vanilla syrup to the serving glass, simply drizzle a tablespoon of regular or sugar-free chocolate syrup over ice cubes.
2. Caramel iced latte - Add caramel sauce to the vanilla latte, just as you would chocolate syrup. 
3. Spiced iced latte - Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg in the coffee and then sprinkle some on top too.

I do not recommend adding crushed nuts to this recipe as it may clog the straw, so a strict no-no :).

Secret tips to make the best vanilla iced coffee Starbucks recipe

1. Use strong coffee - This is iced coffee, so it will be served with ice cubes. Ice cubes can dilute your coffee, so choose a very strong coffee base to keep the flavors intact.
2. Do not store - For the same reason as earlier, refrigerating the leftovers can modify the taste as the ice cubes melt, resulting in a diluted form of the coffee. But if you still want to store, please see my storing and freezing instructions. 
3. Do not add too much ice - use the ice cubes mentioned in the recipe. If you add very little, you won't have the chilled effect ( this happened to me once, and trust me, it did not taste that great) and if you add too much, it will alter the taste. 
4. Consume immediately - If you leave the coffee on the table for too long, the ice will melt and the coffee will flow out of the glass. 

FAQ's

Can I use instant coffee? Yes, you can use instant coffee, but bear in mind that the flavor may differ somewhat from brewed coffee. Dissolve 1 teaspoon instant coffee in a cup of boiling water, then chill for half an hour. 

Can I use other syrup than vanilla syrup? Absolutely, feel free to experiment with different flavors. For more ideas, check out my variations. 

How can I make a hot version of this coffee? It's pretty simple, skip out ice completely and mix hot milk with brewed coffee, then add vanilla syrup, stir, and serve hot. 

If you have any further questions, please feel free to drop a comment below and I will be happy to answer them :).

Want to try some other Starbucks copycat recipes?

1. Starbuck's dairy free hot chocolate.
2. Starbucks chocolate cake pops.
3. Madeleines from Starbucks.

Did you make it?

You do not need any special occasion to make this. Try this vanilla iced coffee that gives a similar taste to Starbucks and enjoy it while watching your favorite series on Netflix in the comfort of your own home. Please let me know in the comments section below. I love hearing from you, and your feedback does matter to me.

If you post on Instagram, do not forget to Tag @DessertKatta or Hashtag it #DessertKatta

Recipe card