Kat's Kitchen

If the Starbucks Iced Pecan Crunch Latte is one of your favorite fall coffee orders, let me show you how easy it is to make it at home- with or without an espresso machine!

This cozy iced latte combines blonde espresso, sweet and nutty pecan syrup, vanilla sweet cream cold foam, and a crunchy candied pecan topping.

And while it may sound like there are a lot of components, it’s actually SO easy to put together, especially if you already have a batch of my Homemade Pecan Syrup in the fridge.

BONUS: If you make your own homemade pecan syrup, save those sweet pecans you strain out! We’re crushing them up and using them as the perfect pecan crunch topping.

Why You’ll Love This Iced Pecan Crunch Latte

• Sweet, nutty pecan flavor that’s perfect for fall
• Easy to customize the sweetness and coffee strength
• Topped with homemade vanilla sweet cream cold foam
• A great way to use the leftover pecans from homemade pecan syrup
• Can easily be made dairy-free or lower in sugar
• Tastes like a coffee shop drink without leaving home!

Ingredients

For the Iced Pecan Latte

• 1 tablespoon homemade pecan syrup or store-bought pecan syrup
• 2 shots espresso (see 5 Ways to Make Espresso at Home)
• 6–8 ounces 2% milk, or milk of choice
• Ice cubes
• 2 ounces Vanilla Sweet Cream, recipe below
• Crushed candied pecans, for topping

For the Vanilla Sweet Cream

• 2 ounces vanilla syrup
• 4 ounces 2% milk
• 6 ounces heavy cream

This makes a larger batch of Vanilla Sweet Cream that you can keep in the fridge and use for several coffees throughout the week. Simply add 2 ounces to a separate cup and froth until thick to make Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam.

Store any leftover sweet cream in the fridge for up to 5 days.

*For a single serving of vanilla sweet cream cold foam, froth together: 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup, 2 tablespoons 2% milk, and 3 tablespoons heavy cream.

What Espresso Does Starbucks Use?

Starbucks makes its Iced Pecan Crunch Latte with Blonde Espresso, which has a less bold flavor that than their signature dark roast espresso, and pairs really nicely with the sweet and nutty pecan syrup.

If you’re making this at home, brew two shots of espresso using a blonde or light-roast coffee to get the closest taste to Starbucks. My favorites include:

• Press Coffee Spitball Espresso Blend – light roast
• Starbucks by Nespresso Vertuo Capsules Iced Double Espresso Blonde Light Roast Coffee Pods 

No espresso machine? You can also make a strong blonde roast espresso-style coffee using a 2 teaspoons of blonde instant espresso powder mixed with 2 ounces warm water.

How to Make Vanilla Sweet Cream

One of my favorite things to keep in the fridge is a batch of homemade Vanilla Sweet Cream. Once it’s made, you’re only a couple of minutes away from adding fresh cold foam to your coffee!

Add the vanilla syrup, 2% milk, and heavy cream to a mason jar.

Secure the lid and shake everything together until thoroughly combined.

Store the Vanilla Sweet Cream covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to make cold foam, shake the mixture and pour 2 ounces of the sweet cream into a small glass or jar. Froth with a handheld milk frother until thickened and fluffy and then pour over your latte or any drink of choice.

You don’t need to froth the entire batch at once. Frothing individual portions gives you freshly made cold foam whenever you’re ready for a coffee.

Store the sweet cream in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How to Make a Starbucks Iced Pecan Crunch Latte

1. Add the pecan syrup

Add 1 tablespoon pecan syrup to your serving glass.

2. Brew the espresso

Brew two shots of espresso directly over the pecan syrup. Stir to combine.

3. Add milk and ice

Pour in 6–8 ounces of 2% milk or your milk of choice, depending on how strong or creamy you like your latte.

Add ice and stir.

4. Make the cold foam

To a mason jar, combine the vanilla syrup, milk, and heavy cream. Add a lid and shake until combined.

Pour 2 ounces of your prepared Vanilla Sweet Cream into a small jar or glass.

Use a handheld frother to froth until thick and fluffy to create Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam.

*For a single serving of Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold, froth together: 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup, 2 tablespoons 2% milk, and 3 tablespoons heavy cream.

5. Finish your latte

Pour the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam over your iced pecan latte. Finish with a generous sprinkle of crushed candied pecans (you can crush up the candied pecans from the homemade pecan syrup recipe or crush up store-bought candied pecans).

That’s it! You have a homemade Starbucks Iced Pecan Crunch Latte.

Don’t Throw Away the Pecans From Your Homemade Syrup!

If you’re making my Homemade Pecan Syrup for this latte, don’t toss the pecans after straining your syrup! The pecans become sweet and candied as the syrup cooks, making them PERFECT for the crunchy topping on this drink.

After straining your syrup, bake the pecans on a parchment lined baking sheet at 375 degrees Fahrenheit  for 10-12 minutes. Allow them to cool, then chop or crush them into smaller pieces and sprinkle them over your cold foam.

If you’re using store-bought pecan syrup, no problem! You can use store-bought candied pecans instead.

Can I Make This Dairy-Free?

Yes! Starbucks previously offered a dairy free version of this drink. See my Dairy-Free Starbucks Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte recipe you can follow if you’d prefer that version.

For this recipe, you can also swap the 2% milk in the latte for your favorite dairy-free milk and make a dairy-free cold foam using plant based milk and dairy free heavy cream.

Oat milk is especially delicious with the maple-y, nutty flavors in a pecan latte.

How to Make a Lower-Sugar or Sugar-Free Pecan Crunch Latte

One of the biggest advantages of making coffee shop drinks at home is being able to customize the sweetness!

For a lower-sugar or sugar-free version:

• Make a Homemade Sugar-Free Pecan Syrup using allulose in place of sugar.
• Choose a lower-sugar or unsweetened milk.
• Use sugar-free vanilla syrup when making your cold foam.
• Omit the candied pecan topping, since it contains added sugar.

You can replace the pecan crunch with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon for an easy sugar-free finishing touch.

You can also simply use less pecan syrup if you’re looking to reduce the sugar without making the drink completely sugar-free.

More Starbucks Drinks to Make at Home

If you love recreating Starbucks drinks at home, try some of my other fall favorites:

• Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso
• Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
• Pumpkin Cream Chai
• Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Pecan Oatmilk Cortado

Once you start making these drinks at home, you’ll realize just how customizable they can be. Adjust the espresso, milk, syrup, and toppings until your drink tastes exactly how YOU like it.

Happy fall coffee making! 🍁☕️