Skip the Starbucks drive-thru and make the Best Vanilla Iced Coffee at home! Made with iced coffee and vanilla sweet cream, this just might become your new obsession!

A tall glass of vanilla iced coffee with a green striped straw in it.

What you’ll love about this recipe:

Easy – This is an easy iced vanilla drink that is ready in 5 minutes or less.
Economical – With Starbucks charging upwards of $5 for a venti, you can make it far cheaper at home.
Delicious – This sweet cream iced coffee is so yummy you’ll want to make one every day!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Ingredients for best vanilla iced coffee starbucks copycat measured out and placed on a wooden table.

Coffee. I used regular brewed coffee chilled in the refrigerator. You can also use Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee or Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, which comes in cans. You can even use strong coffee or espresso shots.
Half and half. This adds a creamy texture, but you could also use heavy cream or any kind of milk.
Vanilla simple syrup. I used homemade Vanilla Simple Syrup, which is easy to make in about 3 minutes, or you could use store-bought.

See the printable recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

How to make Starbucks Vanilla Iced Coffee

Quick overview

Make the vanilla simple syrup.
Add cream and simple syrup to a tall glass.
Add cold coffee and ice cubes.
Stir and serve.

Step by step instructions

A bottle of homemade vanilla simple syrup on wooden coasters.

Step 1: Make the vanilla simple syrup by combining 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and stir. Cool before using. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Vanilla simple syrup being poured into a tall glass with heavy cream.

Step 2: Add half-and-half and vanilla simple syrup to a tall glass. Use a frother, straw, or spoon to mix.

Cold coffee being poured into a tall glass with vanilla sweet cream.

Step 3: Add cold coffee and ice cubes. Stir to combine the flavors. Take a sip, and add more vanilla simple syrup if you want it sweeter.

Ice cubes added to the glass of vanilla iced coffee.

Step 4: Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Expert tips

Top with vanilla cold foam or whipped cream.
Use pure vanilla extract or a vanilla bean for the best flavor.
Adjust the amount of vanilla syrup to suit your taste.
Use coffee ice cubes to prevent dilution.

Additions and variations

Drizzle caramel sauce over top.
Dust with cinnamon or cocoa powder for extra flavor.
Add a cinnamon stick.
Use extra milk for an iced vanilla latte.
Add some chocolate syrup for a mocha version.
Use cold brew for a vanilla sweet cream cold brew.

FAQs about Best Vanilla Iced Coffee

You can use freshly brewed coffee or espresso – just let it cool down to room temperature before using. I recommend brewing it strong to prevent it from becoming diluted once ice is added.

Yes. Choose a non-dairy milk like almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.

Use your favorite sugar substitute when making homemade vanilla simple syrup.

Of course! Use decaffeinated coffee instead of regular coffee to make a decaf version.

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