Have you tried the new holiday drink at Starbucks? This Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte is an easy-to-make at-home version of their fun new drink! The sugar cookie syrup is quick and simple and it pairs deliciously with espresso and almond milk.
You know it's the holiday season when Starbucks gets their red cups out. And when they introduce their brand new holiday drinks!
This year's big new Starbucks drink is the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. I mean, could they have come up with a more delicious-sounding holiday drink?
Tell me you're going to make a drink that tastes just like Christmas sugar cookies and I'm ALL in.
I made a copycat version of this year's fall Apple Crisp Macchiato and couldn't wait to recreate the Iced Sugar Cookie Latte at home! I ended up with a version that's pretty darn close to the original.
Plus, you can use the sugar cookie syrup in SO many drinks.
What is an Iced Latte?
Iced lattes are simply espresso and milk (or your dairy/non-dairy liquid of choice) mixed together over ice. Flavor can be added, usually through the addition of syrups.
Iced lattes are often much easier to make than hot lattes because there's no frothing of milk involved. You simply put the espresso and syrup in a cup filled with ice and then pour in the milk.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Well, first of all, it tastes like sugar cookies! Second of all, because it's an iced latte, it's incredibly easy to make.
The sugar cookie syrup takes a little time to cool, but you can make it in advance and keep it in your fridge until you're ready to make the latte.
My husband waited in the Starbucks drive-through line for 30 minutes when this drink first came out because I wanted to try it so badly. With this make-at-home version, there are no lines involved!
Ingredients
The ingredients in the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte are super simple. Here's everything you need:
- Ice
- Sugar cookie syrup (see more below)
- Blonde/light roast espresso or strongly brewed coffee (see more below)
- Almond milk
For the sugar cookie syrup, you need:
- Water
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Butter extract
- Almond extract
I haven't tried any store-bought sugar cookie syrups, but this brand makes a sugar-free version. you can purchase a bottle of this sugar cookie syrup. This shortbread syrup may be close, too.
What is Blonde Roast Espresso?
One thing that's a bit different with this latte compared to other Starbucks lattes is that they use a blonde roast espresso. As the name implies, blonde roast is just more lightly roasted than the typical beans.
It's generally smoother and sweeter and often more palatable to people who don't like the "burnt" taste of Starbucks coffee. It also has more caffeine than the typical espresso, so watch out!
Did you know there's actually no difference in coffee beans and espresso beans? It's all in the way the beans are brewed! This Starbucks tutorial explains more.
So, you can purchase Starbucks Blonde Roast or any other lighter roast coffee for the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. Ideally, you'll want to make espresso with the beans. But if you don't have an espresso machine, you can just use the coffee to make a cup of strongly brewed coffee.
If you have a Nespresso machine, you can even purchase Starbucks Blonde Roast espresso pods.
If you don't have a blonde roast coffee, this latte will still be delicious with any roast.
How to Make Sugar Cookie Syrup
This syrup is very important because it's what turns this latte into a sugar cookie latte! Luckily, it's quite easy. For a full tutorial on the syrup, plus more ideas on how to use it, check out my separate recipe post.
All you have to do is bring the water and syrup to a boil and then let it simmer for about 10 minutes, so the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens.
Then you can stir in the three extracts: vanilla, butter, and almond. I tried a few different combinations with the extracts and came up with the ratios that I thought worked best to mimic a sugar cookie.
If you don't have butter extract and don't want to wait to get it, this latte will still be yummy without, but it really does add a nice buttery flavor that gets this drink one step closer to a sugar cookie!
The first time I made this syrup, I actually made it with a tablespoon of real butter and that was also delicious! But the butter will separate and harden with the syrup chills, so it will be a little grainy when you add it to an iced latte.
It's still delicious and I happily drank it, but it's just not as visually appealing as the extract makes it.
How to Make Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
Now that your sugar cookie syrup is cooled, you're ready to make your iced latte! My version is a grande and I followed the typical ingredient ratios to the standard Starbucks Grande Iced Latte.
To start, fill a glass with ice and add in 1 ½ oz. of your sugar cookie syrup.
Then add in 2 oz. of your brewed and cooled espresso. 2 oz. equates to the 2 shots Starbucks typically uses.
Then pour in your almond milk! Starbucks typically uses about 12 oz. of almond milk.
Do I Have to Use Almond Milk?
Of course, Starbucks calls this an Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte... But that doesn't mean you have to use almond milk. You can use any dairy or nondairy alternative that you want!
In fact, Starbucks was out of almond milk one day when I went and the barista recommended oat milk instead. I later read this article about how some people are disappointed with the new latte and say that oat milk makes it creamier and better!
So, do some experimenting if you want and use the milk that you like best.
What if This Drink is Too Sweet or Not Sweet Enough for Me?
No problem! This iced latte is so easy to customize to your tastes. I find that 1 ½ oz. of sugar cookie syrup is perfect, but that might be too sweet for some people. Simply use less.
And if you like your lattes super sweet and find yourself always ordering extra pumps, feel free to add more!
Two shots of espresso never seems like enough for me, so I often find myself adding more espresso and less milk.
Once you learn the basics of how Starbucks makes their iced lattes, you can do whatever you want with them and customize them for yourself.
Can I Make This Drink Hot?
You can definitely make this a hot sugar cookie almond milk latte. Here's what I would use:
- 1 ½ oz. sugar cookie syrup
- 2 oz. hot blonde roast espresso
- 12 oz. frothed almond milk
More Starbucks Copycat Recipes
If you love making Starbucks drinks at home, I have several more copycat recipes for you! Here are my favorites:
- Apple Crisp Macchiato
- Homemade Starbucks Pink Drink
- Shaken Watermelon and Passion Tea
- Strawberry Puppuccino
- Gingerbread Puppuccino
- Green Tea Frappuccino (from Lord Byron's Kitchen)
- Ice Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaker (from I Am Baker)
It may not even be Thanksgiving yet, but I feel like with the advent of Starbucks holiday drinks, the holiday season is in FULL force!
I hope this Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte recipe allows you to cuddle up at home and enjoy a holiday drink with your loved ones!
What's your favorite Starbucks holiday drink?
Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte {Starbucks Copycat}
Ingredients
- Ice
- 1 ½ oz. sugar cookie syrup (recipe below)
- 2 oz. light roast espresso or strongly brewed coffee, cooled
- 12 oz. almond milk
Sugar Cookie Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp butter extract
- ⅛ tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Pour sugar cookie syrup into a glass filled with ice.
- Add espresso or coffee.
- Fill remainder of glass with almond milk. Enjoy!
Sugar Cookie Syrup
- Put water and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, lower heat and let simmer for about 10-15 minutes, until sugar is completely dissolved and mixture has thickened.
- Add vanilla, butter, and almond extracts and stir.
- Pour syrup into a mason jar or bowl and place in fridge to cool completely before using. Syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.
Notes
- If you don't have butter extract, you can melt 1 Tbsp unsalted butter into the syrup. But note that when the syrup cools, the butter will harden and get a bit grainy. You can also make the syrup without the butter extract and it will still be tasty!
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Lisa says
This was nice and simple to make and I actually already had all the ingredients. I used regular espresso instead of blonde but it ended up being great. I actually like this one better than the original!