Quick answer: stir together 1 cup of heavy cream, ½ cup of 2% milk and 3 tablespoons of vanilla syrup. Chill and pour a splash into iced coffee or cold brew. Froth it for a few seconds to make sweet cream cold foam.
Vanilla sweet cream recipe
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) 2% milk
- 3 tbsp vanilla syrup, or 2 tbsp sugar plus 1 tsp vanilla extract
Whisk or shake in a jar until the syrup is fully mixed in. Store covered in the fridge and stir before using.
Ways to use it
- Pour into iced coffee or cold brew in place of milk.
- Froth it into cold foam and spoon it over the drink.
- Add a little to hot coffee for a richer, sweeter cup.
Flavor variations
- Caramel: swap the vanilla syrup for caramel syrup.
- Cinnamon: add ½ tsp ground cinnamon and whisk well.
- Brown sugar: use brown sugar syrup instead of vanilla.
Prefer a topping that holds peaks? Use whipped cream; see our whipped cream dispenser recipes.
Sweet cream vs creamer
Homemade vanilla sweet cream is simply cream, milk and a sweetener, so you control the ingredients and the sweetness. Store-bought flavored creamers often contain oils, thickeners and flavorings instead of cream.
Make it in bulk for the week
Multiply the recipe and keep it in a sealed bottle in the fridge, shaking before each use. Use it within a few days and never past the dates on the cream and milk.
Sweet cream for cafés
Cafés usually prepare sweet cream in batches at the start of a shift and keep it chilled. For whipped toppings on the same drinks, see whipped cream for coffee.
Sweet cream cold foam
Sweet cream cold foam is vanilla sweet cream frothed until it is thick but still pourable. Froth about ¼ cup of cold sweet cream with a handheld frother for 20-30 seconds, or shake it hard in a jar, and pour it slowly over cold brew or iced coffee so it floats. For other tools see how to make cold foam, and for more flavors see cold foam flavors.
What is sweet cream?
The term has two meanings. In coffee shops, sweet cream is a mix of cream, milk and vanilla syrup used in cold brew and cold foam. On dairy labels, sweet cream simply means fresh cream that has not been cultured or soured, as in sweet cream butter.
Frequently asked questions
What is sweet cream made of?
Coffee-shop style vanilla sweet cream is a mix of heavy cream, milk and vanilla syrup, poured into iced coffee or cold brew.
How long does homemade sweet cream last?
Keep it covered in the fridge and use it within a few days, and never past the use-by date of the cream or milk.
How do I make sweet cream cold foam?
Froth the same sweet cream with a handheld frother until it is thick but pourable, then float it on the drink.
Can I make sweet cream with half-and-half?
Yes. Replace the cream and milk with half-and-half for a lighter version; it will not froth as thick.
