an easy & natural recipe for homemade starbucks salted cream cold foam cold brew with only 4 ingredients! cold brew coffee, lightly sweetened with maple syrup, topped with a creamy salty-sweet cold foam, this salted cream cold foam cold brew coffee is the perfect salty-sweet coffee drink!
pin this salted cream cold foam cold brew coffee recipe for later!!!
let’s talk about obsessions, because i’m currently obsessed, uhhhbsessed, OBSESSED with the salted cream cold foam cold brew.
have you tried it? do you love it? can you not stop thinking about it? do you find yourself craving one at 8 pm but you know you can’t have one because you’d be up all night, probably thinking about the laundry you accidentally left in your dryer & planning out the next time you’ll get a salted cream cold foam cold brew?
oh yeah. me. freaking. too. 
basically, i’ve had a salted cream cold foam cold brew every single day since i first tried it.
which, at $5 a pop, is kind of a problem.
but! i’ve fiddled around with a homemade version, & the good news is: my recipe just might be better than the original.
pin this salted cream cold foam cold brew coffee recipe for later!!!
homemade salted cream cold foam cold brew iced coffee recipe
pin this salted cream cold foam cold brew coffee recipe for later!!!
oh, hello, iced coffee lover.
this drink. it’s the coffee drink of my dreams! seriously! if you’re team year-round iced coffee (??♀️), you know that you can’t beat a cool & refreshing cold brew. but when you top your cool & refreshing cold brew off with a dollop of creamy salty-sweet foam? ???
salted cream cold foam cold brew = yes. puh-leeeeease.
if i have one complaint about starbucks’ salted cream cold foam cold brew, it’s how sweet they make theirs. they add a lot of caramelly sugar syrup that really, imho, takes away from the roasty, toasty coffee.
so! i changed things up a little bit. instead of adding that caramelly syrup, i use pure maple syrup. (in case you haven’t noticed…i have a major crush on all things maple.) it’s more DIY-friendly than making a caramel simple syrup, & it still has the caramelly notes without being so, so sweet & full of refined sugars.
a little maple. a little frothy salty sweet cold foam. a whole lotta cold brew coffee.
what more could you want?
how to make a homemade salted cream cold foam cold brew:
my salted cream cold brew is seriously so easy & cost-effective to make at home.
here’s what you need:
- cold brew coffee.
- milk. preferably skim for optimal froth-age. (or spring for half & half, or even heavy cream for optimal treat-age.)
- salt.
- maple syrup.
- optional: a milk frother.
4 ingredients, 1 optional gadget, & less than 5 minutes of prep time…that’s it!
first! brew your cold brew. my ultimate lazy girl cold brew hack is making a batch of cold brew in a french press. you add one cup of fresh coarsely ground coffee to a french press, then you fill it on up with water (about 4 cups, but seriously, who has time to measure these things?). let it sit overnight, then the next morning you’ve got yourself perfect cold brew that took about 2 minutes of active prep time to make.
(for the record, you can also just buy some cold brew at the store…no judgment here! this is my fave ready-made cold brew, and these cold brew coffee packs are a great convenience item.)
next! the salted cream cold foam. pop some skim milk(!) in a milk frother, with a little bit of salt & a little drizzle of maple for optimal salty-sweetness. i could seriously eat this stuff with my hands – it is SO freakin’ good!
i tested this recipe countless times with heavy cream & half & half, & while they were reallly good, they didn’t froth up the same way starbucks’ salted cream cold foam does. skim milk is the secret for a great, stiff cold foam.
if you don’t have a milk frother, you can replicate the foaminess by adding the milk to a jar & shaking it vigorously for a minute or two. it’ll be a little softer than by using a frother, but just as tasty. if you’re in the market for a milk frother, this is the one i use…it’s my favorite!
& last? you put the whole thing together. i add a little salt to my coffee, because my obsession for salty coffee is a little out of control now. & if i’m feeling fancy? a little extra maple syrup. 
if you like the sweetness levels of starbucks’ version, go ahead & add a little extra maple syrup (i share some thoughts on this in the Recipe Notes below!). & if you’re really looking for a total starbucks copycat recipe, know that you can buy their caramel syrup (or vanilla!) & use 4 pumps of it in 1 drink for an exact replica of a grande-sized drink at home.
& that’s it! seriously…5 minutes (if that!), 4 ingredients, & endless homemade salted cream cold foam cold brew coffees.
make, sip, repeat.
if you love this salted cream cold foam cold brew coffee recipe, here are a few other coffee recipes you have to try!
- bulletproof coffee protein latte
- fresh mint cold brew iced coffee with dark chocolate swirls
- blood orange cold brew iced coffee
- porter spiked cold brew iced coffee
- chocolate coconut cold brew overnight oats
- all pwwb drink & beverage recipes
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thank you so much for reading & supporting plays well with butter. this post includes affiliate links for products i truly love & use on the reg in my own home. all opinions are always my own! should you make a purchase using one of these links, pwwb with earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me continue to bring you great original content. ???
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salted cream cold foam cold brew coffee
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: serves 1 (is easily multiplied!) 1x
- Category: coffee, beverages
- Method: no-cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
an easy & natural recipe for homemade starbucks salted cream cold foam cold brew with only 4 ingredients! cold brew coffee, lightly sweetened with maple syrup, topped with a creamy salty-sweet cold foam, this salted cream cold foam cold brew coffee is the perfect salty-sweet coffee drink!
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold brew coffee (see Recipe Notes)
- ¼ cup skim milk (see Recipe Notes)
- ⅛ teaspoon Kosher salt (see Recipe Notes)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, divided
Instructions
- Make the salted cream cold foam: Add the skim milk, Kosher salt, and ½ tablespoon of the maple syrup to a milk frother. Using the frother’s cold froth setting, froth the salted cream until thick and creamy. I do 2 cycles of cold frothing using my Nespresso frother, about 2 minutes. If you do not have a frother, you can also add everything into a jar and shake it until it gets whipped & frothy.
- Make the salted cream cold foam cold brew coffee: Add the cold brew to a glass, over ice. Stir in the remaining ½ tablespoon maple syrup. If you like a sweeter cold brew coffee, go ahead and add in a little extra maple syrup. If you like unsweetened cold brew coffee, feel free to leave it out. Pour or spoon the salted cream cold foam over top. Enjoy!
Notes
- A note on the sweetness level: I typically drink my coffee black and find the salted cream cold foam cold brew at Starbucks to be way too sweet to my liking. This recipe, as written, is a happy medium. If you like black coffee, go ahead and omit the added maple syrup in the cold brew. If you like a level of sweetness closer to Starbucks, add a full tablespoon of maple to the cold brew.
- Milk: I tested this recipe countless times with different milks, & time after time skim milk won out for the most Starbucks-like foam. It’s light + airy, and has the perfect amount of body. Using an alternative milk (nut milk, oat milk, coconut milk, etc.) may work, so long as you use a brand that you know froths well (e.g. “barista blend” style milks). Using heavy cream or half & half will result in a ridiculously creamy treat…so good, but not quite like the Starbucks version.
- Salt: This recipe, as written, uses Kosher salt, or another flaky salt, specifically. This is my favorite brand. If you are using table salt, do not use a full ⅛ teaspoon – it will be way too salty! Just use a pinch, then add more as needed!
- Cold vs hot: The salted cream cold foam is delicious over hot coffee too…just saying!
- DIY cold brew coffee: Cold brew is a staple in my kitchen, & it’s super easy to make: Add 1 cup whole coffee beans to a coffee grinder and coarsely grind. Add your coffee grounds to a French Press, along with 4 cups of water. Let it sit at room temp overnight, then enjoy all week long! This is a great coffee for cold brew. This is the grinder I’ve owned & loved for the past decade. For French presses, I’m obsessed with this one, though I also used this one for a long time!
- Other cold brew coffees: Cold brew is readily available in LOTS of different ways at the grocery store these days. This is my fave ready-made cold brew, and these cold brew coffee packs are a great convenience item.
Just got a milk frother can’t wait to try this . Thanks so much i wasn’t sure I should use skim milk but I will now
Hi Debbie! Yes, when we tested this recipe skim milk worked best for a light & airy foam. Hope you loved it!
Delicious! New daily favourite!
So glad you enjoyed Laura! It is the perfect daily pick-me-up!
Made this and taste exactly the same as starbucks!! I love it!!
So glad you enjoyed & could easily make at home! 🙂
Salty & sweet perfection, great for a work from home afternoon pick me up!
Hey Hannah! Yes! This is absolutely the perfect afternoon pick-me-up! So glad you’ve enjoyed!!
Love this straight up recipe! Now I am able to curve my excuses to grab star bucks in the morning.
We agree! Why not when you can make it at home?! So glad you enjoyed, Aleigh!
Too many ads. Can’t follow the recipe steps. You’ve gone overboard with advertisements to the point of interfering with a smooth user experience.
I just have to say wow! Love your simple recipe thank you for sharing. I have perfected my home made cold brews! Where can I buy some of the glasses pictured on this post. Just love them.
Hi Joe! Thanks so much for your review – we are so glad you enjoyed! The glasses pictured are actually these 16oz. Beer Can Glasses from Crate&Barrel. I’ve included an affiliate link here, if you’d like to check them out!
Is there a link for those glasses? Love them!
Hi Helen! The glasses are these 16oz. Beer Can Glasses from Crate&Barrel. I’ve included an affiliate link here, if you’d like to check them out! 🙂
I’ve been craving this Starbucks order for three weeks now (due to shelter-in-place)!! This is THE recipe. Others I’ve tried call for caramel syrup in the foam and it doesn’t give it the same flavor. All I have is half and half and 2% milk, so I’m excited to see how frothy it can be when I try with skim. Perfect balance of sweet and salty. I love having this recipe now, because certain days I like it sweeter than others 🙂
This is the first recipe from Jess that I ever found and what brought me into the PWWB world, and I’m so glad! The perfect touch of saltiness and sweetness without going overboard, and good points/research on type of milk – I usually use half and half but her note about skim milk frothing better was key!
you just saved me so much money, this is DELICIOUS I’m completely hooked
RIGHT?! I hardly ever need to buy them anymore! =) I’m so glad you like this version – thanks for commenting, Jessica!
I am obsessed with cold brew with salted cream cold foam, so thank you for this. I am going to whip it up your way this weekend! And maple is a perfect touch to anything. I have to ask about the glasses in your photos – I love them!! Any chance you can direct us to them??
Hi Lisa! We couldn’t agree more, maple always adds just the right amount of sweetness!! The glasses pictured are actually these 16oz. Beer Can Glasses from Crate&Barrel. I’ve included an affiliate link here, if you’d like to check them out!
Recently stumbled on this recipe. Thank you, this worked amazingly well! My wallet also thanks you as those $5 a pop was adding up. Great recipe!
haha, that’s exactly why i wanted to create this recipe, because SAME. =) so glad you’re enjoying them!
The real question is, where did you get those cups?!
they are crate & barrel’s beer can glasses. super cute, right?!
I easily could’ve written this post, because I’m freaking addicted to this drink at Starbucks. It doesn’t help that all my possessions are currently in another state, so I technically don’t have the option of making my own quite yet. But you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be saving my own bucks once I get my cold brew pitcher back in my hands. Thanks so much for this recipe; I can’t wait to try my hand at making it myself. I have a Whipped Cream Maker that I’m going to see if I can get some foam out of it before buying a frother.
hahaha, i totally know what you mean, jessica! they are addictive. =) hope you get to try my homemade version soon! xo
Wait, hold on. If it’s way too sweet for you at Starbucks, and you bought it a bunch…then how do you order it?
hi! i’ve ordered it without modifications several times, & with half the caramel syrup several times. it’s not that i find their drinks undrinkabley sweet, i just don’t care for that amount of sweetness, especially if i’m making something at home.
Gotcha! I’m on team most-starbucks-drinks-are-annoyingly-sweet. So I was wondering the best way to order it when I try it 🙂 Giving it a go at home sounds better!
half sweet is not bad, but YES definitely give it a try at home & spend the $5 on something fun! xo
This sounds awesome! I’ve been making my own version of SBux Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Latte topped with cold foam. I’ve always used half and half for my foam and had success getting optimal “foam-age” but I will have to try skim milk now! Too bad its after 8 PM, as I have to wait until tomorrow AM to try this recipe since it sounds so good! Thanks for sharing!
your latte sounds amazing too, christy!!! i tried several times with half & half and it got frothy, but it wasn’t quite right…might have to do with the humidity here in minnesota this time of year! hope you try this salty version! xo
I, too, am obsessed! Had one yesterday and talked myself out of stopping on the way home from work today but the vision of me satisfying that craving wouldn’t leave my head! I found your blog after searching and immediately made me one! It was great and I saved $! THANK YOU!
yayyy! i’m so glad you liked it yolanda! thanks for letting me know!!! xo
My wife makes this for me and she did it with maple (of course!) and it is wonderful. One thing, she is unable to keep the foam and coffee separated for even a few seconds… any suggestions? Just for “the pretty” , the flavour is perfect! Thx
hey kay! so, so glad to hear you like these cold brews! regarding the cold foam – starbucks has patented technology that keeps their foam a little stiffer than what you’d get making it homeade. if you’re going for the aesthetic of separate layers, use LOTS of ice to help support the foam, and spoon the foam into your drink rather than pouring, limiting just to the really nice & frothy layer of foam in the frother. this should work!
Super yummy. Thanks for the recipe. May I ask where the glass in the pictures is from. It is beautiful.
Of course, Kimberly! The glasses are from Crate & Barrel: https://rstyle.me/n/c8sr5xcd5e7 I have the 16-oz size, & love them!
Sounds delicious! I too may have a pre-flight drink ritual… though usually it involves alcohol 😉 Timing of day plays no part of it either!
hahahahaha, you sound just like my husband. pre-flight beer, no matter what. xoxo
This looks so dreamy! I can’t wait to try it!
yesss!!! i hope you do – report back! xo
I watched them make one at Starbucks this week, and they whipped up the cream in the blender. Delicious! Can’t wait to try this!
yes! that definitely works too! i hope you give it a try – let me know what you think! xo