Vegan Sweet Cream Cold Foam

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This Starbucks copycat sweet cream cold foam is the vegan coffee topper you’ve been looking for! Made with oat milk and homemade maple cream, this frothy topping offers a decadent twist to your daily coffee ritual. Save the lineups and hefty price tags and make this budget-friendly option instead!

Sweet cream cold foam pouring a over iced coffee glass.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Quick & easy: This recipe is so simple and can be prepared in less than 30 minutes.
Coffee shop quality: Enjoy the luxurious texture and taste of Starbucks-style sweet cream cold foam without leaving your house.
Allergen-friendly: Made with full-fat oat milk and maple cream, this recipe is completely dairy and gluten-free.
Customizable sweetness: Adjust the amount of maple cream to suit your taste for the perfect balance of sweetness.

What is sweet cream cold foam?

Sweet cream cold foam is very similar to whipped cream, but it’s slightly softer, creamier, and more pourable. The result? It’s much easier to stir into your favorite coffee and tea beverages, making each sip decadent and velvety smooth.

I’m upgrading this Starbucks recipe by making a dairy-free version! It’s perfect if you have allergies or don’t consume dairy. Trust me, it’s just as rich and creamy as the original. Full-fat oat milk is combined with the unique sweetness of maple cream, creating a frothy topping for hot or cold coffee or tea beverages.

If you like experimenting with coffee shop recipes at home, like this pumpkin cold foam, or you want to impress guests with barista-level beverages, this sweet cream cold foam is a quick, easy, and delicious choice!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Coffee grounds: Use your favorite coffee grounds as the base for your cold brew. If you don't have time to make cold brew, use a strong brewed coffee cooled to room temperature. You can also use instant coffee dissolved in water in a pinch.
Oat milk: Provides the creamy foundation for the cold foam. Soy or coconut milk can be used as alternatives, but full-fat versions are best for a richer consistency.
Maple cream: Adds a subtle sweetness and unique flavor to the foam. I like to make my own maple cream, but you can use store-bought if you prefer.

How to make sweet cream cold foam

Step 1: Start by steeping your coffee grounds in cold water for 20 to 24 hours in the fridge. You can use a French press or wide-mouthed mason jar, but make sure the lid is screwed on tight if you use a mason jar. Strain the coffee concentrate after steeping.

An electric hand frother whisking milk in a mason jar.

Maple cream pouring into a mason jar of frothed milk.

Step 2: Pour the oat milk into a wide-mouthed cup and use a hand-held frother to whisk it until the consistency is frothy. Add the maple cream and whisk again until frothy.

Sweet cream cold foam pouring into a glass of iced coffee.

Step 3: If you’re using ice, add it to the bottom of a serving glass. Then, pour over the cold-brew coffee. Finally, top it off with sweet cream cold foam, and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

In addition to cold-brew coffee, you can enjoy your sweet cream cold foam with other coffee drinks like Oat Milk Chai Latte, matcha chai lattes, pumpkin spice lattes, or Iced Lavender Latte.

If you drink tea, you can try this topping on ginger milk tea, rose milk tea, chai hot chocolate, Indian Masala Chai, or caramel milk tea.

Storage

If you have leftover sweet cream cold foam, follow these storage guidelines to keep it fresh:

Fridge: Store any unused sweet cream cold foam in an airtight container, like a mason jar with a lid, for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing this cold foam as it will alter the texture too much. Keep it in the fridge for the best results.

Variations

Vanilla: Add a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract for a classic Starbucks flavor twist.
Caramel: Incorporate 2 tablespoons of vegan caramel into the foam for a rich, decadent element.
Chocolate: Blend in 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder for a chocolate version.
Coconut: Substitute oat milk with full-fat coconut milk for a more tropical flavor.
Orange Cream: Drizzle in a spoonful of my Orange Syrup - it adds a sweet, citrusy lift that pairs perfectly with creamy cold foam coffee.

Top tips

Use full-fat oat milk: The higher fat content helps achieve a creamier, frothier foam. Whichever milk you use, make sure it’s a barista blend or full-fat.
Cold brew concentration: Adjust the coffee-to-water ratio based on your taste preference for a stronger or milder cold brew.
Whip to the perfect frothiness: Use a hand-held frother, rather than a stand mixer, to achieve the ideal airy texture for your cold foam.
Chill your tools: Pre-chill the frothing cup to help the foam stay frothy for longer.

A glass of iced coffee topped with sweet cream cold foam.

FAQ

How can I make my cold foam frothier?

Make sure your oat milk is very cold and use a high-powered frother. Due to its higher fat content, full-fat oat milk tends to froth better.

What if I don't have a frother?

An immersion blender or electric mixer can also work to create foam, but it may require more effort to achieve the desired frothiness.

Why is my cold foam not mixing well with the cold brew?

Cold foam is denser than cold brew, so it sits on top as a layer rather than mixing in. Stir it gently before drinking to incorporate the cold foam.

More drink condiments

If you enjoyed this sweet cream cold foam recipe, try adding some more flare to your coffees or teas with these other flavor enhancers:

Chai Concentrate: A quick recipe for easy chai lattes all week long.
Cardamom Syrup: A unique recipe that will enhance all your favorite dishes.
Lavender Simple Syrup: Simple syrup infused with sweet, aromatic, and floral flavors.

Sweet Cream Cold Foam

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time: 30

Total Time: 30

Serving Size: 1

Author Puja Verma

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DESCRIPTION

This vegan sweet cream cold foam is a rich and creamy condiment for your favorite coffees or teas. It has a soft and smooth velvety texture and the taste of Starbucks-style sweet cream cold foam. Featuring full-fat oat milk combined with the unique sweetness of whipped maple cream. It's a quick, easy and delicious, dairy-free choice.

INGREDIENTS

Cold Brew Coffee (Optional)

▢ 1 ounce coffee ground
▢ 1 cup water

Sweet Cold Foam

▢ ¼ cup oat milk full fat
▢ ¼ cup maple cream whipped

METHOD

To make cold brew coffee (Optional)

Combine the water and coffee together in a french press or wide-mouth mason jar. Make sure the lid is screwed on tightly if using a mason jar. Refrigerate to steep coffee for 20 to 24 hours.
Strain coffee concentrate after steeping.
Note: If using a mason jar to brew coffee, then use a coffee strainer or metal strainer to strain the coffee.

To make sweet cream cold foam

Note: Have the whipped maple cream ready before making sweet cream cold foam. The recipe to make maple cream takes about 25 minutes.
Place oat milk into a wide mouth cup and use a hand-held frother to whisk till frothy.
Next add whipped maple cream in with the frothed milk, and whisk again till everything is frothy.

To assemble sweet cream cold foam coffee

If using ice, then add it to the bottom of the glass first. Then pour over the 1 cup of cold brew coffee. Next top it off with sweet cream cold foam.
Note: I use a 12 ounce serving glass to assemble.
Note: You can skip the cold brew coffee and use the sweet cream cold foam to top on any beverage.

NOTES

Use full-fat oat milk: The higher fat content helps achieve a creamier, frothier foam. Whichever milk you use, make sure it’s a barista blend or full-fat.