If you’re craving a refreshing drink, this vanilla sweet cream cold brew is your answer. It’s a simple yet luscious treat that intertwines smooth cold brew coffee with a rich, sweet cream to create something truly special.
This recipe addresses slow extraction, avoiding bitter taste, preventing coffee grounds in the brew, controlling syrup sweetness, and achieving creamy texture in a cold coffee drink.
I love making this drink for those busy afternoons when I need a pick-me-up. One challenge I faced was getting the sweet cream just right, I once added too much sugar and ended up with a syrupy mess! Now, I balance it to keep the flavor crisp and satisfying.
This recipe is straightforward and reliable, taking about 12 hours to brew the cold coffee. With just a little preparation, you can have a creamy coffee delight ready to serve at the end of the day.
If you want to try another easy drink, check out my Starbucks Apple Crisp Chai.
Table of contents
Dietary Considerations
- This recipe is not gluten-free due to possible cross-contamination during vanilla syrup production processes.
- The recipe contains heavy cream and milk, so it is unsuitable for dairy-free and vegan diets.
- The recipe is vegetarian since it uses no animal-derived ingredients other than dairy products.
- This recipe does not meet keto or low-carb diets because of vanilla syrup’s sugar content.
- The recipe is nut-free as none of the ingredients contain or derive from nuts.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Pleasantly Creamy Texture The rich sweet cream crafted from vanilla syrup, milk, and whipping cream gives your cold brew a smooth, inviting texture that’s a pleasure to sip.
- Rich Vanilla Flavor The addition of vanilla syrup and vanilla bean enriches the drink, creating a sweet and aromatic profile that coffee enthusiasts will truly savor.
- Easy to Make Ahead You can brew the cold coffee the night before and store it, ensuring you have a refreshing drink ready for busy mornings or summer afternoons without any hassle.
- Perfect for Sharing With enough to make several servings, this recipe is excellent for enjoy with friends or family, making it a great choice for gatherings or sunny days on the patio.
How to Make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cool Time: 12 hours
- Cook Time: 12 hours
- Total Time: 12 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 drinks 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Cold Brew
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious homemade Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, perfect for warm days or a refreshing coffee break.
Ingredients
- 8 cups (1.9 L) filtered water
- 2 cups (180 g) coarsely ground medium or dark roast coffee
- 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tbsp vanilla extract)
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk (whole, almond, or oat, as preferred)
- ½ cup (120 ml) whipping cream (heavy cream)
- ½ cup (120 ml) vanilla syrup (from above)
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) vanilla syrup
- 2 cups (480 ml) cold brew coffee
- Ice (a handful per serving)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sweet cream (per serving)
Instructions
- Step 1: Combine 8 cups (1.9 L) filtered water and 2 cups (180 g) coarsely ground coffee thoroughly in a large pitcher. Ensure an even mix of grounds and water for proper extraction. Cover and rest in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours or up to 48 hours.
- Step 2: When ready to serve, slowly pour the cold brew coffee through a cheesecloth-lined fine mesh sieve into another large pitcher. Use a slow and steady motion to prevent coffee grounds from passing through and avoid bitterness in the brew.
- Step 3: In a mason jar, stir together 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water and 1 cup (200 g) sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved. Add the vanilla bean (split lengthwise) or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature before removing the vanilla bean. Store syrup in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
- Step 4: In a large mixing cup, combine ½ cup (120 ml) milk, ½ cup (120 ml) whipping cream, and ½ cup (120 ml) vanilla syrup. Stir or whisk until fully blended and creamy. For a frothy texture, use an immersion blender or milk frother for about 1 minute. If frothing, add sweet cream promptly to the cold brew to maintain texture.
- Step 5: Fill a large glass or mason jar with a handful of ice. Add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) vanilla syrup, then pour 2 cups (480 ml) cold brew coffee on top. Finish by gently layering ¼ cup (60 ml) sweet cream over the coffee. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Store cold brew coffee in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day, keeping it away from heat or sunlight.
- Store finished vanilla sweet cream cold brew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir before serving to recombine ingredients.
- Cold brew coffee can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and gently mix before serving.
- Use coarsely ground coffee for a smoother taste and look for quality coffee to brighten your drink.
- Adjust sugar in the vanilla syrup if you desire less sweetness; reduce to ¾ cup (150 g) sugar in future batches if syrup is too sweet.
- If the cold brew tastes too strong, lower coffee grounds to 1.5 cups (135 g) during brewing.
- For clearer cold brew, strain again through a fine mesh sieve if grounds remain.
- To increase sweetness or texture, froth the sweet cream with an immersion blender or frother for approximately 1 minute for a lively foam.
- If cold brew is not cold enough, chill an additional hour before serving with ice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Ingredient Notes
- Cold brew coffee: Use a coarsely ground coffee for a smoother taste. Look for a quality brand; the better the coffee, the brighter the notes in your drink!
- Vanilla syrup: A good quality vanilla syrup is key for flavor. I like to pick one that’s not overly sweet. Homemade can also be a fun option!
- Heavy cream: Opt for fresh, good quality heavy cream to create that luscious texture! It helps achieve that smooth sweet cream finish. Avoid anything labeled light.
- Milk: Choose your favorite type, whole, almond, or oat, as it affects the creaminess. This balances the sweetness from the syrup beautifully!
Recipe Tips
- If coffee tastes too strong, reduce the coffee grounds to 1.5 cups next time for a milder flavor.
- When the sweet cream isn’t frothy enough, blend with an immersion blender for 1 minute to achieve a creamy texture.
- If your cold brew has coffee grounds, pour it through a fine mesh sieve again to catch any remaining particles.
- For overly sweet syrup, adjust sugar to ¾ cup in the next batch to lower sweetness without sacrificing flavor.
- If your cold brew isn’t cold enough, chill it in the refrigerator for an additional hour before serving with ice.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a slice of gluten-free banana bread or a small fruit salad for a refreshing experience. Pair it with almond or coconut macarons for a delightful treat alongside this vanilla sweet cream cold brew.
Use to make frozen coffee pops or vanilla coffee ice cubes. Add to coffee smoothies or incorporate into overnight oats for a cold brew twist.
Top with a sprinkle of cocoa powder or a drizzle of chocolate sauce for added flavor. Consider adding a pinch of cinnamon for a warm contrast to the sweet cream.
Recipe variations
- You can use alternative milk options such as oat milk or almond milk instead of regular milk in the sweet cream for a dairy-free vanilla sweet cream cold brew.
- Add cinnamon or nutmeg, about ¼ teaspoon, into the sweet cream to introduce a warm spice note that complements the vanilla syrup in the cold brew.
- Either vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract works well in the vanilla syrup to enhance the depth of flavor in the sweet cream cold brew.
- If scaling up, double the recipe quantities to serve 8 drinks, adjusting cold brew steeping time as needed and using enough ice for a chilled presentation. This joins the homemade pumpkin cream cold brew as a seasonal favorite.
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How to Store?
To keep your vanilla sweet cream cold brew fresh and delicious, follow these storage tips:
Room Temperature: Store cold brew coffee in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 day, avoiding heat or sunlight to maintain flavor.
Refrigeration: Keep vanilla sweet cream cold brew in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days, stirring before serving to blend ingredients.
Freezing: Pour cold brew into a freezer-safe container, freeze up to 1 month, thaw overnight in the fridge before serving, gently mix after thawing.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Toasted Coconut Marshmallows
- Puff Pastry Apple Rosettes
- Rhubarb and Strawberry Tart Recipe
- Chocolate Peanut Clusters
If you enjoyed this Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I appreciate taking time to read about this recipe, thank you!
