Kat's Kitchen

If you’re looking for a perfect dupe for the Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte, look no further. This easy homemade version tastes just as festive and delicious as Starbucks, but without the ridiculous coffee shop price tag. Whether you prefer it hot or iced, this latte combines warm, cozy flavors with a hint of sweetness, butteriness, and holiday sprinkles for a festive touch. So, grab your favorite mug and let’s whip up some holiday cheer!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Sugar Cookie Syrup: You can make your own Homemade Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup at home with just a few simple ingredients, or you could opt for the Torani Cupcake Syrup which is delicious and super similar to the Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup! For a sugar free option, I recommend making your own syrup using a sugar free substitute like monk fruit or stevia.

Blonde Espresso: All lattes require espresso as one of the ingredients, and this drink at Starbucks uses blonde espresso, meaning the espresso was made using a light roast coffee option. See my 5 Ways to Make Espresso at Home blog post for all the different ways you can make espresso at home, and see the section below for all my favorite light roast coffee options. It doesn’t matter which method you choose, simply follow the espresso making steps to get your espresso shots, and then use that to make your own hot or iced Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte at home!

2% milk: Starbucks uses 2% milk in this recipe, but feel free to use whatever milk you like. My personal favorites for this recipe are 2% milk, whole milk, or oat milk.

Holiday Sprinkles: Use whatever shape or type of holiday sprinkles that bring you joy! Starbucks uses red and green, so you can look for those for the most accurate aesthetic at home. You could also top your Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, cinnamon, crushed peppermint, chocolate shavings, or whatever your heart desires!

My Favorite Light Roast Coffee Options

• Press Coffee Spitball Espresso Blend – light roast coffee beans/grounds
• Double Espresso Dolce Nespresso Pods (double shot pods-great for blonde roast espresso lovers)
• Starbucks by Nespresso Vertuo Line Iced Double Espresso Blonde (double shot blonde roast espresso pods)
• Nescafe Gold Instant Espresso (light/blonde roast)

How To Make Espresso At Home

There are five ways to make espresso at home:

• Instant Espresso Powder
• Nespresso Machine
• Moka Pot
• Aeropress
• Espresso Machine

See my 5 Ways To Make Espresso At Home blog post for step by step instructions of each espresso making method!

What is a “Shot” of Espresso?

A common espresso term you’ll see a lot is a “shot” of espresso. When you brew espresso using an espresso machine, the liquid that comes out of the machine is considered a shot, since the machine pushes out the liquid at high pressure.

• A single shot or one shot of espresso is roughly 1.25 ounces of liquid.
• A double shot is roughly 2.5 ounces of liquid.
• A tripe shot is roughly 3.75 ounces of liquid.
• A quad shot is roughly 5 ounces of liquid.

How To Steam Milk For a Hot Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte

Hot lattes require steamed milk as one of the ingredients. To steam milk at home, you have a few options:

1. Steam Wand: If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand attached to it, watch this Milk Steaming Video Tutorial for how to steam milk! You simply add milk to a milk frothing pitcher, insert the tip of the steam wand into the milk, and create air bubbles, heat and texture to create perfect, velvety steamed milk at home!
2. Electric Milk Frother: Add your milk to an electric milk frother, and select the hot setting. The milk frother will heat the milk as well as create a thick and foamy texture. The texture will be a little different than a typical steam wand, but it’s very similar and pleasant, and a great option if you don’t have an espresso machine with a steam wand.
3. Handheld Milk Frother: Add cold milk to a large coffee mug and place the mug in the microwave for 60 seconds. Alternatively, you can heat up milk in a pot on the stove until warm, just make sure to constantly stir it so it doesn’t burn. Once your milk is warm, insert a handheld milk frother into the warm milk. Froth the mixture until the milk doubles in size and becomes bubbly and frothy, and you have steamed milk for your hot Sugar Cookie Latte!

Note, for an iced Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte, you do not need to warm or steam the milk. Simply skip this step, and use cold milk straight from the fridge.

Do You Have a Homemade Sugar Cookie Syrup Recipe?

Yes I do! See my Homemade Sugar Cookie Syrup recipe to make your own syrup from scratch in under 15 minutes!

How To Make An Iced Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte

1. Brew two blonde espresso shots using your preferred espresso making method. See my 5 Ways To Make Espresso blog post for various espresso making methods.
2. Add Homemade Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup (or Torani Cupcake Syrup) to a glass, and pour the espresso over the top. Stir together the espresso and syrup until fully combined.
3. Next, pour in the milk, and fill the cup up with ice. Stir everything together to combine the flavors and chill the entire drink.
4. Top with holiday sprinkles (or your desired toppings), and enjoy your homemade Iced Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte!

How To Make A Hot Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte

1. Brew two blonde espresso shots using your preferred espresso making method. See my 5 Ways To Make Espresso blog post for various espresso making methods.
2. To a mug, add in the Homemade Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup (or Torani Cupcake Syrup), and the brewed espresso, and stir to combine.
3. Next, steam your milk using a steam wand, aerroccino, or warm the milk in a pot or in the microwave, and froth with a handheld milk frother until foamy. Pour the steamed/frothed milk over the sugar cookie-espresso mixture.
4. Top with holiday sprinkles (or your desired toppings), and enjoy your homemade Hot Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte!

What Ratios Does Starbucks Use?

I like my lattes to be a bit more coffee tasting than milky tasting, so my ratios are a slightly different from Starbucks. If you want to most accurately replicate the Starbucks ratios for a sugar cookie latte, follow these ratios:

ICED SUGAR COOKIE LATTE

	TALL	GRANDE	VENTI
SYRUP	3 PUMPS (1.5 TBSP)	4 PUMPS (2 TBSP)	6 PUMPS (3 TBSP)
BLONDE ESPRESSO SHOTS	1	2	3
2% MILK	8 OUNCES	10 OUNCES	12 OUNCES
ICE	TO TOP OF CUP	TO TOP OF CUP	TO TOP OF CUP

HOT SUGAR COOKIE LATTE

	SHORT	TALL	GRANDE	VENTI
SYRUP	2 PUMPS (1 TBSP)	3 PUMPS (1.5 TBSP)	4 PUMPS (2 TBSP)	6 PUMPS (3 TBSP)
BLONDE ESPRESSO SHOTS	1	1	2	2
2% MILK	6 OUNCES	8 OUNCES	10 OUNCES	12 OUNCES

How Can I Make This Dairy Free?

Simply use a dairy free milk like oat, almond, or coconut instead of the 2% milk.

How Can I Make This Lower Sugar/Lower Calories?

To lower the sugar and calories for this drink:

• Make your own Homemade Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup using a sugar free substitute like allulose.
• You could also simply use less syrup for less calories and sugar.
• Use sugar free sprinkles or swap the holiday sprinkles for ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
• Use a lower calorie milk like unsweetened almond milk.

More Holiday Recipes to Try

• Starbucks Peppermint Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
• Starbucks Holiday Drinks
• Starbucks Holiday Cold Foams
• Homemade Starbucks Caramel Brûlée Sauce

How To Make This As A Cold Brew or Iced Coffee

If you prefer iced coffee or cold brew instead of lattes, I recommend the following recipe:

• 1-2 tablespoons Homemade Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup (or Torani Cupcake Syrup)
• 12-14 ounces cold brew/iced coffee
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream, half & half, or milk
• Ice
• Holiday sprinkles

Add everything to a cup and enjoy your Sugar Cookie Cold Brew or Iced Coffee!

How To Make This As A Frappuccino or Blended Coffee?

For a Frappuccino or Blended Sugar Cookie beverage, follow this recipe:

• 1-2 tablespoons Homemade Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup (or Torani Cupcake Syrup)
• 1 cup whole milk (or your milk of choice)
• 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1/2 tablespoon instant coffee (or 1-2 shots of espresso)
• 1 1/4 cups ice
• Whipped cream
• Holiday sprinkles

Add everything EXCEPT whipped cream and sprinkles to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the blended Frappuccino into a cup, and top with whipped cream and holiday sprinkles.

How To Make Sugar Cookie Cold Foam:

For a delicious sugar cookie cold foam at home, add the following ingredients to a cup:

• 1 tablespoon Homemade Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup (or Torani Cupcake Syrup)
• 2 tablespoons 2% milk
• 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Froth the mixture together with a handheld milk frother until thick (15-30 seconds), and pour the cold foam over any drink you’d like!

See my Starbucks Holiday Cold Foams blog post for more holiday cold foam options!

This Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte is quick, budget-friendly, and totally customizable! Plus, it’s a fun way to bring some festive flavor into your daily coffee routine. With this easy recipe, you’ll enjoy the magic of Starbucks’ sugar cookie drinks all season long without having to leave the house.