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Who’s dealing with some really frigid temperatures and buckets of snow on the ground? I am! At the time of writing this recipe, the snow is falling hard and it’s much too cold to go outside! I took this day to relax and stay indoors!
I can relate with many of you that this time of year will make you crave plenty of hot drinks to warm up. But what about the days like today where you just don’t want to get out of pyjamas and step outside? Trust me, it’s so cold that my face would freeze! Additionally, with the prices rising, if you constantly want to keep enjoying your favourite comforting coffee beverages, that’ll really burn a hole into your wallet!
Learning how to recreate your coffee shop’s favourite drinks can totally come in handy! This latte is a new Starbucks favourite, but you will no longer have to rely on the shop and spend close to $7 on a medium-sized drink! If you’re craving a sugar cookie in a cup, then this latte recipe is the one for you! To celebrate your relaxing Sunday, why not put your heart in a cup with this latte as part of my Live to Cook one-month challenge! Get started on your cooking journey with this motivational challenge and my free guide by signing up to my newsletter!
Check out how to brew up our delicious latte and getting a real-time comparison of our homemade drink versus the Starbucks beverage. If you’re not already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel, and hit the bell button so you’re notified when my recipe videos go live! I love to share videos along with the written recipes so you’ve got all the tools you need! Let’s get brewing!
What Is the Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte?
At Starbucks, the drink is called Sugar Cookie Oat Latte. Here is the description that’s on the Starbucks official website:
Sugar cookie-flavoured syrup combined with Starbucks Blonde® espresso and steamed oat beverage, topped with red and green sprinkles.
source: Starbucks.ca
This latte launched on the Starbucks menu in winter of 2021, and it’s a seasonal beverage. You can order this drink both hot and iced, and there’s even a Sugar Cookie Oat Frappuccino that I’ve had a couple of sips of!
I first tried this drink near the end of time on the menu in 2022 and really enjoyed it! I couldn’t wait to have it again, but I had to wait nearly a year for it to pop back on the menu! I could be wrong but I think it’s staying on the menu this winter, because at the time of writing this post, it’s still on the menu in Starbucks Canada.
What’s In the Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte?▼
When you go to order the drink on the Starbucks Canada app, you’ll see that by default, the drink is made with 4 pumps of the Sugar Cookie Syrup, Red and Green Sprinkles for topping, 2 shots of espresso, and milk.
In the United States, the beverage is actually Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte, and this is what the ingredients are:
ALMONDMILK [FILTERED WATER, ALMONDS, SUGAR, CALCIUM CARBONATE, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, SEA SALT, XANTHAN GUM, GUAR GUM, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D2 (ERGOCALCIFEROL)], BREWED ESPRESSO, SUGAR COOKIE FLAVORED SYRUP [SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, PRESERVATIVE: POTASSIUM SORBATE, SALT, CITRIC ACID], RED & GREEN SPRINKLES TOPPING [SUGARS (SUGAR, POWDERED SUGAR (SUGAR, CORN STARCH)), CORN STARCH, NATURAL FLAVOR, VEGETABLE JUICE FOR COLOR (PURPLE SWEET POTATO, SPIRULINA), CARNAUBA WAX, RIBOFLAVIN FOR COLOR, TURMERIC AND BETA CAROTENE FOR COLOR, PALM OIL]
source: Starbucks.com
For some reason, the ingredient list for the Canadian drink isn’t available at Starbucks.ca, but the idea should be very similar for the American and Canadian drinks. Fro above, we see that the primary ingredient being milk, followed by the espresso, then the sugar cookie syrup. That sugar cookie syrup is full of chemicals that we don’t really want! As you’ll soon see, we’ll make it with four simple ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Sugar Cookie Latte Recipe!
- Saves you money: I got a grande latte when I recorded this recipe to compare my drink and the Starbucks drink side by side. It was $6.72 CAD! Yikes, those prices really are rising! I guarantee that the total cost of making it yourself will be a small fraction of this!
- Simple process: Most of the work here actually comes in steaming and frothing the milk. Whipping up the sugar cookie syrup will be super straightforward, and other than that you just need to have some coffee or espresso ready!
- Fast: This is one of the quickest latte recipes I have on the blog! If you already have cinnamon sugar on hand (which to be fair only takes about 30 seconds to make if you do need to make on the spot), then this can come together in about 10 minutes!
- Natural: I find that Starbucks drinks always have a strong aftertaste from the syrup, it’s like the Starbucks “thing.” I’m not necessarily complaining because as you can see I’ve made plenty of Starbucks-inspired drinks (more ideas at the bottom of this post!). However, when you taste a homemade drink side by side with a Starbucks drink, their syrups are always prominent compared to the homemade version. When I order Starbucks for enjoyment rather than “research,” I’ve started to reduce the number of pumps of syrup so I taste more beverage rather than just an artificial sugar bomb!
- Sugar cookie in a cup: With this recipe, I really wanted to have a really delicious sugar cookie flavour here. This comes as close as you can to actually tasting cookie in there! With our easy-to-make sugar cookie syrup and flavourful steamed milk, this drink is sure to satisfy those sugar cookie cravings when you don’t feel like actually baking!
How Do I make a This Sugar Cookie Latte Without an Espresso Machine?▼
A latte is traditionally made with espresso. I actually don’t have an espresso machine, and perhaps you don’t either! That’s no problem at all, you shouldn’t let that stop you from enjoying any latte you desire! As I describe in my 5 tips to explore your potential in the kitchen, Make Cooking Fun!, you should really use up what you have! Just because you don’t have a particular tool doesn’t mean you can’t find a way around it.
The best way to brew some strong coffee that will be comparable to espresso is to use a French press. You get a richer flavour than from a standard coffee machine because the coffee has time to have its flavours really develop and give a strong brew. No French press? Then don’t let that stop you either! Use your coffee machine and try to find dark roast coffee if possible.
What Milk Should I Use?▼
As the name of the Starbucks drink suggests, in Canada the standard version of the recipe is made with oat milk and it’s plant-based. Additionally, in the United States, the default milk used is almond milk, also making this a plant-based beverage. However, almond milk is not as creamy since it is low in fat, but if you’re looking to make the authentic American version of the drink and save your calories, then almond milk is an excellent choice. Furthermore, if you want to keep this drink as natural as possible (minus sprinkles!), then be sure to make your own almond milk.
Being in Canada, the first two times I had tasted the Sugar Cookie Oat Latte, I had it standard with oat milk. I enjoyed it the first time back in 2021, but then when I had it again in winter of 2022, I really learned that I’m not a fan of oat milk, and I’ve felt this same way towards the Red Velvet Latte that’s from Starbucks Asia, which is also an oat milk beverage! As a result, I tried the latte with dairy milk from Starbucks and I much preferred it. To be honest, I found I got more of a good sugar cookie flavour without the strong “oaty” taste of oat milk that’s in the drink. I’m using full fat lactose-free dairy milk for this recipe. If you’re going with dairy, I recommend full fat to get the creamiest latte.
However, if you still want to keep the drink vegan, then coconut milk and soy milk are other milk options that will be perfect for this latte recipe.
How Many Cups Will This Sugar Cookie Latte Recipe Yield?▼
This recipe will be enough to fill two 16-ounce glasses, which is the equivalent of two grande Starbucks cups. The measurements for the homemade Sugar Cookie Syrup will be exactly enough to make the two servings. However, if you want to double, triple, or even quadruple the amount of syrup for later, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. You can use the sugar cookie syrup in any coffee of your choice, or even add it to pancakes, smoothies, or stovetop oats or overnight oats!
Tools Needed
Tips for a Holiday Latte That’s Better Than Starbucks!
- Make sure you don't bring the milk to a boil, it only needs to be steamed for this recipe. Look for steam rising from the milk to know when it’s ready.
- Monitor the milk closely so it doesn’t boil over.
- You’ll have extra cinnamon sugar, so store it in a mason jar and enjoy it in your favourite treats such as Air Fryer Crescent Roll Cinnamon Buns!
- The sweetness level in the latte can be easily adjusted by adding more or less of the sugar cookie syrup. You can also sweeten the syrup by adjusting the amount of cinnamon sugar, if necessary.
- The best alternative to a freshly made espresso is to prepare coffee using a French press. This results in a richer, stronger coffee since the coffee has the chance to steep and release more flavour, when compared to coffee made from a filtered method.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the perfect milk foam!
Ingredients for Sugar Cookie Latte
The FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD is available at the bottom of this post, or you can press the “Jump to Recipe” button. Check that out to see full ingredient quantities and to save the recipe for later. You can even scale the recipe based on how many cups of this latte you want to make, and all ingredient quantities will automatically be adjusted for you!
For the Cinnamon Sugar
- Cinnamon: 1 part cinnamon.
- Brown sugar: 1 part brown sugar.
- White sugar: 2 parts white sugar.
For the Sugar Cookie Syrup
- Almond extract: When I first tried this recipe, I didn’t make the syrup with almond extract simply because I didn’t have it. I tried again after purchasing it and I really recommend you make your latte with it! Make sure to really follow the recipe and use a small amount - it’s some pretty strong stuff!
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla is always incredible in a latte! Make sure to use PURE vanilla extract and not the artificial or imitation varieties.
- Butter: One of the most crucial ingredients in a real sugar cookie is butter! Some recipes use butter extract, but what’s the point when you could use the real stuff? If you’re vegan, simply use your favourite plant-based alternative.
- Cinnamon Sugar: As described above.
For the Latte
- Milk: I’m using whole dairy milk here for a creamy latte. If you want it even creamier, feel free to add in a splash of half and half (10%) cream. Use your favourite dairy-free alternative if you want a vegan beverage.
- White chocolate chips: These will be melted into the milk to make the drink sweeter and richer. You can also use a white chocolate bar if you don’t have white chocolate chips. They’ll melt right in there, so it doesn’t really matter what you use! Just make sure it’s a good quality white chocolate!
- Coffee: I’m using a French vanilla ground coffee here so that it helps give a more pronounced cookie essence to the drink.
- Water: You’ll need boiling water to brew your coffee or espresso.
- Sugar Cookie Syrup: We’ll be adding the homemade sugar cookie syrup in the steamed milk and some at the bottom of the cup so you’ve got the sugar cookie syrup throughout the drink. At first, I only put it at the bottom of the cup, but I didn’t get much of a cookie taste throughout the drink. Adding this into your steamed milk will give that nice sugar cookie flavour in every sip!
- Sprinkles: For topping to really make it feel like you’re enjoying a sugar cookie in a cup! The Starbucks drink uses red and green sprinkles, but I don’t think you can go wrong with a rainbow flair like I have here!
How to Make the Best Sugar Cookie Latte
For the Cinnamon Sugar
Prepare the cinnamon sugar by mixing all of the ingredients together. The ratio of cinnamon to white sugar to brown sugar is 1 : 2 : 1.
For the Sugar Cookie Syrup
Prepare the sugar cookie syrup by melting 1 1/2 Tbsp butter in a small bowl. To the bowl, add 2-4 Tbsp of the cinnamon sugar, almond extract and vanilla extract.
Mix well to combine.
For the Latte
Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar to a shallow plate and prepare the serving cups by dipping the lip of the cup in a bowl/jug of water and then pressing it lightly on the plate with the cinnamon sugar.
If using a French press, pour 4 Tbsp of ground coffee (2 servings) to the jug and then add boiling hot to the French press. Cover the French press with the included lid and allow the coffee to steep for 4 minutes. If using an espresso maker, make a strong shot of espresso for each serving.
In the meanwhile, add milk to a saucepan and bring to a steam. Once steaming, add half of the sugar cookie syrup and 1 heaping Tbsp of white chocolate chips. Mix well to combine and then use a frother to froth the milk. Add the remaining sugar cookie syrup to the serving cups.
Once the coffee is done steeping, gently press down on the plunger and pour the coffee in the serving cups. It should enough to fill half the cups. Then add the frothed milk over the top to fill the cups and top with any remaining froth.
Garnish with sprinkles and enjoy.
Other Topping Ideas
If you want to switch up your drink, here are some ways you can be creative with the toppings:
- Whipped cream (from a can or homemade)
- Crumbs of an actual sugar cookie
- Extra cinnamon sugar
- Pumpkin Pie Spice or Apple Pie Spice
What to Pair with This Latte?▼
This festive wintery latte will be amazing on its own as a comforting winter treat to make you feel good and warm inside! However, if you want to have this with breakfast or a sweet treat, here are some perfect pairing ideas:
- Brioche Bread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel Sauce
- HUGE New York Black & White Cookies
- Perfect French Toast for Two
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes
- Deep Dish Pumpkin Pie
- Espresso Brownies with Peppermint Mocha Cream
Nothing stops you from enjoying this drink with a savoury breakfast, as you may do if you have the drink at Starbucks! To make a balanced breakfast and create a true Starbucks at home experience by contrasting the sweetness of this drink with a McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin or a Tim Horton’s Farmer’s Wrap! Other excellent breakfasts that will go well include a Cheesy Mushroom Omelette, Bacon, Egg and Guacamole Breakfast Bagel, or Mashed Avocado Toast with Fried Egg. In fact, Indian breakfasts such as Paneer Bhurji, North Indian Poha, or North Indian Potato Brunch Rolls will be an excellent complement to the cookie latte!
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