Sugar Cookie Latte
This copycat Sugar Cookie Latte is just like the Starbucks seasonal drink -and it’s sure to awaken your holiday spirit. This festive homemade hot drink classic captures the dreamy, sinfully sweet flavor of a Christmas sugar cookie and hot-brewed coffee in one grande-size sip!
Starbucks tends to discontinue its most sought-after holiday lattes the moment the season comes to an end. Each year we say so long to the peppermint mocha, gingerbread latte, eggnog latte, and our personal favorite -the sugar cookie almond milk latte.
Fortunately, here at A Blissful Sip, we’ve been busy crafting copycats of Starbuck’s limited-time offers, so you can make them at home and indulge in the deliciousness year-round. Our latest seasonal copycat creation, this Sugar Cookie latte, is rich, buttery, and delightfully sweet. It captures the essence of enjoying Christmas cookies alongside a good cup of coffee.
The “at home” Starbucks sugar cookie latte recipe uses flavoring extracts and white chocolate chips to achieve the classic sugar cookie flavor. Our version, however, uses sugar cookie simple syrup, which concentrates the irresistibly sweet and buttery sugar cookie flavor in a single ingredient, so there’s no need for a bunch of ingredients or melting white chocolate each time.
❤ Why Make A Sugar Cookie Latte At Home
- Like the 2021 Starbucks seasonal drink, this copycat version is like indulging in a batch of fresh-baked sugar cookies and a hot coffee simultaneously.
- Starbucks lattes cost between $4 and $5, which quickly adds up. DIY coffee shop recreations are much more cost-effective.
- Recreating Starbucks drinks at home expands the customization possibilities. For instance, if you prefer an iced sugar cookie latte, no one is stopping you.
- You will have more than enough homemade sugar cookie simple syrup leftover to use in cocktails, mocktails, desserts, and much more.
☕ Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for our take on the Starbucks sugar cookie latte:
- Espresso – True lattes start with espresso, a coffee concentrate made by pressing hot water through finely-ground espresso beans. If you do not have espresso, cold brew concentrate or strongly brewed coffee are the best substitutions.
- Milk – Starbucks uses almond milk, but feel free to use cow’s milk or other non-dairy milk alternatives like coconut, soy, or oat milk.
- Sugar cookie syrup – Don’t sell yourself short by making this with store-bought sugar cookie syrup. They simply cannot compare to making flavored syrups from scratch.
- Garnish – Topping your drink with whipped cream and festive sprinkles is optional, of course, but absolutely recommended.
- Recommended Tools:
- Espresso Maker or French Press
- Large Coffee Mug
- Spoon or Coffee Stirrers
📖 How To Make Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte
1️⃣ Step One: Brew espresso
Brew hot espresso according to your preferred method, and add it to a coffee mug.
2️⃣ Step Two: Warm milk
While the espresso brews, warm milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until hot. Make sure the milk doesn’t reach a full boil, or it may foam over the sides of the saucepan. You can also heat the milk in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl or mug.
Add the hot milk to the mug of espresso.
3️⃣ Step Three: Add sugar cookie flavored syrup
Finally, add the sugar cookie syrup to the mug, and stir until combined. Give your luscious latte a quick taste, and add more syrup, a teaspoon at a time, as needed.
4️⃣ Step Four: Garnish and serve
Garnishing is optional, but we encourage you to embrace the holiday theme and top your sugar cookie latte with a swirl of whipped cream and red and green Christmas sprinkles. Pretty easy, right? Happy holidays!
🤶 Recipe Tips
- Adjust creaminess to preference: You know better than anyone how creamy you like your lattes. The standard ratio is 1 part espresso and 3 parts milk, but we suggest using closer to 5 parts milk for this latte. If you prefer a more espresso-forward flavor, use less milk.
- Add sugar cookie syrup to taste: Start with a tablespoon, give it a taste, and then drizzle in an additional teaspoon at a time, until your drink is as sugar cookie-y as you like.
- Make it frothy: Add espresso, cookie syrup, and milk to a cocktail shaker. Be careful, as it will be hot, and shake for 10 to 15 seconds before pouring it into your mug. Likewise, you can use a handheld stick frother to make it nice and foamy.
🔄 Variations
The best part about DIY Starbucks drinks is the flexibility. Here are some of the many ways to personalize your sugar cookie latte.
- Decaf cookie latte – Swap espresso with a decaffeinated cold brew or strongly brewed decaf coffee.
- Keto cookie latte – To cut the carbs, infuse keto simple syrup with the same flavors used for the sugar cookie syrup (vanilla, almond, and butter extracts). Also, use heavy whipping cream as it has more fat and fewer carbs than milk.
- Vegan cookie latte – Use your favorite dairy-free milk alternative. We find oat milk delivers a creaminess you can’t get with other non-dairy creamers.
🧊 How To Store
Storing: This makes one 16-ounce “grande” size sugar cookie latte. If by chance you have extra, let it cool, and keep it in a covered container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Freezing: Leftover latte can also be kept in the freezer. We suggest freezing the liquid in an ice cube tray, then storing the frozen cubes in a freezer-safe zip-top bag for up to a month. Then, use the cubes to make an iced sugar cookie latte; they won’t water down your iced drink as they melt.
🗨 FAQ
When you order the sugar cooker latte in stores, it’s made with brewed espresso, almond milk, sugar cookie flavored syrup, and topped with red and green sprinkles. However, the company was nice enough to provide a “coffee at home” recipe that replaces sugar cookie-flavored syrup with granulated sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and white chocolate chips. That said, this at-home recipe is MUCH simpler.
Yes and no. The espresso flavor is detectable but not enough to overpower the drink. Super sweet and buttery sugar cookie is definitely the more pronounced flavor.
It was discontinued along with the rest of the 2021 holiday latte line-up, but rumor has it, the sugar cookie latte will return to the holiday menu in 2022.
Technically, no, as lattes are specifically made with espresso. However, you can use strongly brewed coffee or cold brew concentrate as an alternative with great tasting results.
☕ More Copycat Specialty Drinks
- Strawberry Frosty (Wendy’s Copycat)
- Chocolate Cream Cold Brew (Starbucks Copycat)
- Iced Matcha Lemonade (Starbucks Copycat)
- Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink (Starbucks Copycat)
- Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink (Starbucks Copycat)
- Frozen Matcha Latte (Dunkin Copycat)
Sugar Cookie Latte
Equipment
- 1 espresso machine or French press
- 1 large coffee mug
- 1 Small Saucepan or microwave-safe container
- 1 Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso hot
- 14 ounces hot milk cow's milk or a dairy-free alternative
- 2 tablespoons sugar cookie syrup
- 2 tablespoons whipped cream optional garnish
- 1 teaspoon holiday sprinkles optional garnish
Instructions
- Brew hot espresso according to your preferred method, and add it to a coffee mug.
- While the espresso brews, warm milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until hot, or microwave the milk in a microwave-safe bowl or mug. Add the hot milk to the mug of espresso.
- Add the sugar cookie syrup to the mug, and stir until combined. Taste and add more syrup if needed.
- Garnish with a swirl of whipped cream and top with sprinkles. Enjoy!
