Kat's Kitchen

Inspired by Starbucks’ tiramisu-flavored coffee creation, this delicious Tiramisu Velvet Iced Latte combines rich espresso, sweet vanilla syrup, creamy milk, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. But the real star of the show? A thick, velvety Mascarpone Cold Foam that tastes like the creamy filling of traditional tiramisu!

And of course, we can’t forget the dusting of cocoa powder on top!

The combination of chocolate, vanilla, espresso, and mascarpone creates a delicious dessert-inspired coffee that tastes like tiramisu in a cup.

The BEST PART?! You can make this coffee shop-worthy drink right in your own kitchen, customize the sweetness, and even make it dairy-free or lower in sugar!

I’m also sharing my single-serving mascarpone cold foam recipe AND a large-batch version so you can prepare enough for multiple coffee drinks throughout the week.

Let’s get started!

Why You’ll Love This Starbucks Tiramisu Velvet Latte

• Inspired by Starbucks! Recreate a delicious tiramisu-flavored iced latte without leaving your kitchen.
• That mascarpone cold foam! Rich, creamy, and slightly tangy, just like the mascarpone filling in traditional tiramisu.
• Creamy and delicious. Espresso and milk create a smooth, milk-forward coffee base with just the right amount of coffee flavor.
• Easy to make. No complicated techniques or barista experience required!
• Customizable. Make it dairy-free, lower in sugar, or adjust the sweetness to your liking.
• Perfect for meal prep. Prepare a large batch of mascarpone cold foam to enjoy with your homemade coffee drinks throughout the week.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Mocha Sauce — For Drizzling

Mocha sauce adds a delicious chocolate flavor that pairs beautifully with the espresso and mascarpone cold foam.

Drizzle it around the inside of your glass before adding the other ingredients to give your homemade latte that coffee shop-worthy appearance!

You can use homemade mocha sauce or your favorite store-bought chocolate sauce.

Vanilla Syrup — 1 Tablespoon

You can use homemade vanilla syrup, your favorite store-bought syrup, or sugar-free vanilla syrup if preferred. We’ll also use vanilla syrup in the mascarpone cold foam!

Espresso — 2 Shots (Approximately 2 Ounces)

Espresso gives this latte its rich coffee flavor and balances the sweetness of the vanilla syrup and chocolate sauce. I recommend using freshly brewed espresso for the best flavor, but don’t worry if you don’t have an espresso machine!

You can also use:

• Nespresso: Brew a double espresso capsule.
• Moka pot: Use approximately 2 ounces of strongly brewed moka pot coffee.
• AeroPress: Make an espresso-style coffee concentrate.
• Instant espresso: Dissolve 2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder in 2 ounces of warm water.

These alternatives won’t all taste exactly like traditional espresso, but they’ll still make a delicious homemade latte!

2% Milk — 6–8 Ounces

Starbucks uses 2% milk, but you can substitute whole milk, oat milk, almond milk, or your favorite milk alternative. For a stronger coffee flavor, start with 6 ounces. If you prefer a creamier, more milk-forward latte, use closer to 8 ounces.

Ice Cubes — As Needed

Use enough ice to chill your latte while leaving room at the top for the mascarpone cold foam.

Velvet Mascarpone Cold Foam — 1 Serving

THIS is what makes this recipe so special! The cold foam combines vanilla syrup, mascarpone cheese, 2% milk, and heavy cream to create a thick, creamy topping inspired by traditional tiramisu.

Mascarpone has a rich, buttery flavor with a subtle tanginess that pairs beautifully with espresso and chocolate. I’ll share the exact measurements below!

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder — For Topping

A light sprinkle of unsweetened cocoa powder adds a delicious chocolate finish without making the drink overly sweet.

WANT A LITTLE CRUNCH?! Add some crushed chocolate Teddy Grahams or chocolate graham crackers on top of the cocoa powder!

How to Make Starbucks Tiramisu Velvet Iced Latte at Home

Making this Starbucks-inspired iced latte is surprisingly simple!

Step 1: Prepare your glass.

Grab a 16-ounce glass and drizzle your homemade or store-bought mocha sauce around the inside.

Step 2: Add the vanilla syrup and espresso.

Pour 1 tablespoon of vanilla syrup into the glass, followed by 2 freshly brewed shots of espresso.

Stir until the vanilla syrup is fully incorporated.

Step 3: Add your milk.

Pour in 6–8 ounces of 2% milk, or your favorite milk alternative.

Step 4: Add ice.

Fill the glass with ice, making sure to leave enough room at the top for the mascarpone cold foam.

Step 5: Make the Velvet Mascarpone Cold Foam.

In a separate container, combine:

• 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
• 1 tablespoon mascarpone cheese
• 2 tablespoons 2% milk
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Using a handheld milk frother, froth until thick, creamy, and smooth.

You want a velvety, pourable consistency that will sit beautifully on top of your latte.

Step 6: Assemble and enjoy!

Slowly pour the mascarpone cold foam over your iced latte.

Finish with a light dusting of unsweetened cocoa powder.

For a little extra crunch, add crushed chocolate Teddy Grahams or chocolate graham crackers.

Grab a straw, give it a stir if you’d like, and ENJOY!

And just like that, you’ve made a delicious homemade Tiramisu Velvet Iced Latte!

Single-Serving Velvet Mascarpone Cold Foam

This recipe makes enough cold foam to generously top one iced latte or cold brew!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
• 1 tablespoon mascarpone cheese
• 2 tablespoons 2% milk
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to an 8-ounce mason jar or small container.
2. Using a handheld milk frother, froth until thick, smooth, and creamy.
3. Pour over your favorite iced latte or cold brew.
4. Finish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder and enjoy!

TIP: Mascarpone can be quite thick, so make sure it’s fully incorporated into the milk and cream before you finish frothing.

If you notice any small lumps, continue mixing until smooth.

Large-Batch Velvet Mascarpone Cold Foam

Want to make enough mascarpone cold foam for multiple coffee drinks?

GOOD NEWS! You can easily prepare a large batch and keep it in the refrigerator so your next homemade tiramisu latte comes together in minutes!

This recipe makes approximately 2 cups of cold foam base, or enough for about 5 drinks.

Ingredients

• ½ cup vanilla syrup
• ¼ cup mascarpone cheese
• ½ cup 2% milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a large mason jar.
2. Using an immersion blender, blend until the ingredients are fully combined and the mixture becomes thick, smooth, and velvety (about 15-30 seconds).
3. You’re looking for a consistency similar to pancake batter: thick and creamy, but still pourable.
4. Use the cold foam right away, or add the lid and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
5. When you’re ready to make your latte, give the jar a shake and pour 2–3 ounces over your prepared coffee or tea.

Storage: Keep the prepared mascarpone cold foam refrigerated and use within 5 days. Always check the original use-by dates of your dairy products, and discard sooner if the mixture develops an unusual smell, appearance, or texture.

IMPORTANT: Avoid overblending! You want the mixture to be thick and velvety, not whipped into stiff peaks.

How to Make a Dairy-Free Tiramisu Velvet Iced Latte

You can absolutely make a dairy-free version of this delicious iced latte!

The espresso and vanilla syrup are generally dairy-free, so most of the substitutions happen in the milk, chocolate sauce, and mascarpone cold foam.

Here’s what to swap:

• Milk: Replace the 2% milk in your latte with your favorite barista-style oat milk, almond milk, or another plant-based milk.
• Mascarpone: Use a dairy-free mascarpone alternative or plain dairy-free cream cheese.
• Cold foam milk: Substitute oat milk, almond milk, or your preferred plant-based milk.
• Heavy cream: Replace with dairy-free heavy whipping cream or chilled coconut whipping cream.
• Mocha sauce: Use a dairy-free chocolate or mocha sauce (many chocolate sauces are already dairy-free, but always double-check the label).
• Vanilla syrup: Most vanilla syrups are dairy-free, but always double-check the label.

Keep in mind that dairy-free mascarpone alternatives can vary in texture and flavor, so you may need to adjust the amount of milk or cream to achieve your preferred consistency.

MY TIP: I recommend using a barista-style oat milk for the latte base because it creates a deliciously creamy texture that works especially well with espresso and chocolate!

How to Make a Lower-Sugar Tiramisu Velvet Iced Latte

One of my favorite things about making coffee shop drinks at home is being able to control exactly how much sweetness goes into them!

And this tiramisu latte is no exception.

Here are a few easy ways to make a lower-sugar or no-added-sugar version.

1. Use sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Replace the regular vanilla syrup in both the latte AND the mascarpone cold foam with your favorite sugar-free vanilla syrup.

This is one of the easiest ways to reduce the added sugar without sacrificing the vanilla flavor.

2. Choose a sugar-free mocha sauce.

Use your favorite store-bought sugar-free chocolate sauce or make a simple chocolate drizzle using unsweetened cocoa powder, water, and your preferred sugar-free sweetener (I like allulose).

3. Use unsweetened cocoa powder for topping.

GOOD NEWS! We’re already using unsweetened cocoa powder as our main topping!

It gives the latte that delicious tiramisu-inspired chocolate finish without adding sugar.

4. Choose your preferred milk.

You can use unsweetened almond milk or another unsweetened milk alternative to reduce the sugar and calories in the latte base.

You can also stick with regular 2% milk if that’s what you prefer!

Keep in mind: Regular milk, mascarpone, and heavy cream contain naturally occurring sugars, so these substitutions can make your latte lower in sugar or free of added sugar without necessarily making it completely sugar-free.

Starbucks Tiramisu Velvet Latte: Tall, Grande & Venti Sizes

Want to make your homemade Tiramisu Velvet Latte in your favorite Starbucks iced cup size?

Use this guide to customize the ingredients!

Ingredient	Tall (12 oz)	Grande (16 oz)	Venti (24 oz)
Mocha sauce	To taste	To taste	To taste
Vanilla syrup	1 ½ tbsp	2 tbsp	3 tbsp
Espresso	1 shot	2 shots	3 shots
2% milk	4 oz	6–8 oz	10–12 oz
Ice	As needed	As needed	As needed
Mascarpone cold foam	1-2 ounces	2 ounces	2-3 ounces
Cocoa powder	To taste	To taste	To taste

TIP: The amount of milk and ice you need may vary depending on how much cold foam you add and the size of your glass.

For a stronger coffee flavor, use less milk or add an extra shot of espresso!

Cold Brew vs. Latte: What’s the Difference?

Did you know you can use this exact same mascarpone cold foam to make a delicious Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew?!

Both drinks use vanilla syrup, mocha sauce, and mascarpone cold foam, but the biggest difference is the coffee base.

Tiramisu Cold Brew	Tiramisu Iced Latte
10 oz unsweetened black cold brew	2 shots espresso
No additional milk in the coffee base	6–8 oz milk
Bolder, more coffee-forward flavor	Creamier, milk-forward flavor
Topped with mascarpone cold foam	Topped with mascarpone cold foam

Which should you make?

If you love bold iced coffee with a thick, creamy topping, go with the cold brew!

If you prefer a smooth, creamy, coffee shop-style iced latte, I recommend this version.

Either way, you really can’t go wrong!

TRY THE COLD BREW VERSION: Starbucks Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew (Copycat)

Tips for the Best Homemade Tiramisu Velvet Latte

Use freshly brewed espresso. Espresso gives this latte its rich coffee flavor, so choosing beans you enjoy makes a big difference!

Don’t skip the mascarpone! This is what gives the cold foam its distinctive tiramisu-inspired flavor. Regular cream cheese is tangier and won’t taste quite the same.

Mix the mascarpone thoroughly. Mascarpone can be thick, so make sure it’s fully incorporated into the milk and cream before frothing.

Don’t overfroth your cold foam. You’re looking for a thick, creamy, pourable consistency, not stiff whipped cream.

Adjust the sweetness. Between the vanilla syrup, mocha sauce, and cold foam, this drink has several sources of sweetness. Feel free to reduce the syrup if you prefer a less sweet latte.

Dust with cocoa powder just before serving. This gives your latte that beautiful tiramisu-inspired finish!

Want a little crunch? Sprinkle crushed chocolate Teddy Grahams or chocolate graham crackers over the cocoa powder right before drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mascarpone cheese?

Mascarpone is a rich, creamy Italian cheese commonly used in desserts like tiramisu.

It has a smooth, buttery texture and a mild, slightly tangy flavor that pairs beautifully with coffee and chocolate.

Can I use cream cheese instead of mascarpone?

Yes, although the flavor will be different!

Regular cream cheese is tangier and firmer than mascarpone. If substituting, soften it first and blend thoroughly to prevent lumps.

Can I make the mascarpone cold foam ahead of time?

Absolutely!

You can prepare the large-batch mascarpone cold foam ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

When ready to serve, give it a shake and pour it over your iced latte.

Can I make this latte without an espresso machine?

YES!!

You don’t need an expensive espresso machine to make delicious coffee shop drinks at home!

You can use a Nespresso machine, moka pot, AeroPress, or even instant espresso powder to create a concentrated coffee base.

For an easy instant espresso alternative, combine 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder with 2 ounces warm water.

Stir until dissolved and use in place of the two espresso shots.

Can I make this Tiramisu Velvet Latte hot?

Yes! You can absolutely turn this into a cozy hot latte.

Combine the vanilla syrup, freshly brewed espresso, and steamed milk in your favorite mug.

Make the cold foam the same way, keeping in mind that it will melt into the hot latte.

Finish with a dusting of unsweetened cocoa powder and enjoy!

Can I use a different type of milk?

Of course!

You can use whole milk, skim milk, oat milk, almond milk, or your favorite milk alternative.

Just keep in mind that the type of milk you use can affect the creaminess and flavor of your finished latte.

Can I use the mascarpone cold foam on other drinks?

ABSOLUTELY!

This mascarpone cold foam is delicious on iced lattes, cold brew, iced americanos, chai lattes, and even iced mochas.

You can also experiment with adding it to your favorite homemade coffee creations!

More Starbucks-Inspired Drinks to Make at Home

If you love recreating your favorite Starbucks drinks at home, here are a few more delicious recipes to try!

Starbucks Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew

A bold, smooth cold brew topped with the same delicious mascarpone cold foam and chocolate flavors.

Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte

A delicious combination of sweet sugar cookie flavors, espresso, and creamy milk. Perfect for making your favorite holiday sugar cookie latte right at home!

Starbucks Caramel Brulée Latte

Rich caramel flavor, espresso, and creamy milk come together for a delicious coffee shop-inspired holiday latte.

Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Chai

Warm gingerbread spices, creamy oat milk, and chai create a cozy holiday drink that’s just as delicious iced as it is hot.

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

Chocolate, peppermint, and espresso combine for one of the most recognizable holiday coffee flavors!

Starbucks Chestnut Praline Latte

A sweet, nutty, and cozy holiday latte inspired by the flavors of caramelized chestnuts and warm spices.

Final Thoughts

If you love tiramisu, iced lattes, or delicious homemade coffee shop drinks, you HAVE to try this Starbucks-inspired Tiramisu Velvet Iced Latte!

The combination of rich espresso, sweet vanilla, chocolate, creamy milk, and velvety mascarpone cold foam makes this such a fun dessert-inspired coffee.

And whether you prefer the bold cold brew version or this creamy iced latte, you can easily customize the ingredients to make it exactly how YOU like it.

Because you know what I always say: The BEST coffee shop is inside your own kitchen!