Sugar Cookie Latte

5 from 48 votes

Celebrate the season with a festive Sugar Cookie Latte. Make it with almond milk to make it taste just like a classic Spritz Cookie.

A holiday latte sits on a red plate with gold spots. Evergreen foliage and frosted cookies are out of focus in the background.

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Every holiday season, the thing I love to do with my family is bake Christmas cookies and decorate them. If only I could bottle that kind of joy and enjoy it throughout (and beyond) the season…

Oh wait, I can — with sugar cookie syrup! It’s a buttery vanilla- and almond-flavored syrup that tastes just like sugar cookies! It is so easy to make, too.

You can add it to espresso with steamed milk to make the holiday favorite Sugar Cookie Latte but you can even mix it into cocktails like an old-fashioned.

Let’s get into how to make this delicious latte full of Christmas flavor.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Sugar cookie syrup is the perfect addition to espresso, turning the classic latte into a holiday favorite.

  • Start your day by sipping the season with a sweet coffee drink reminiscent of the holidays.
  • You can make your own sugar cookie syrup at home with just a few ingredients.
  • Make it hot or iced — it’s up to you!

Enjoy warm it in the mornings and iced in the afternoon. It makes a great after-dinner drink, too (make it decaf if needed!).

An overhead view of a latte in a gold mug with a partially eaten cookie covered in white frosting with green and red sprinkles. Red and green ornaments sit beside along with another plate of more cookies.

In 2021, Starbucks introduced two new drinks to its seasonal menu: the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte and the Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte.

The new holiday drink was inspired by Spritz Cookies, which are classic holiday cookies made from soft dough that is piped into shapes and decorated with sprinkles.

Their non-dairy beverage can be made hot or cold. Both of these holiday drinks are made with sugar cookie-flavored syrup, Starbucks blonde espresso and almond milk and have a topping of red and green sprinkles.

My copycat version of the Starbucks drink uses a homemade sugar cookie coffee syrup that you can add to cold brew coffee or espresso to make your own latte drink.

A jar of sugar cookie simple syrup sits on a white marble surface with a gold spoon in the jar. There are cookies dusted with sugar set around it and holiday foliage.

Ingredients

Though you can buy sugar cookie syrup, it is very easy to make at home by making a standard simple syrup with sugar, water and adding to it a few baking extracts! To make it, you’ll need:

  • Sugar: Granulated sugar will taste the most like sugar cookies, but you can use brown sugar instead (though the syrup will have a darker color).
  • Water: Tap water works great, but if you have access to filtered water, that will give you even purer results.
  • Vanilla extract: Use a high-quality vanilla extract for the best vanilla cookie flavor in your simple syrup.
  • Almond extract: Almond extract gives this syrup a tiny hint of nutty, almond flavor.
  • Butter extract: Used to give cakes a stronger butter flavor, butter extract gives this syrup the flavor of cookie dough.

Espresso

Next you’ll need espresso. I recommend a darker or medium roast to pair with this bright and sweet syrup.

  • If you’re using a Nespresso machine, the Ristretto capsules are my favorite. If you’d like to keep decaf on hand, try these decaf capsules.
  • If you’re using another method (more on that below), you’ll need a high-quality ground espresso.

Milk

Choose your favorite milk for your sugar cookie latte. Almond milk helps to bring more almond cookie flavor into the latte, but you can also make it with other kinds of milk like whole milk or any non-dairy milk.

Oat milk lattes are actually really good because oat milk froths really well. Almond milk, soy milk or any other non-dairy would also be just fine!

A gold mug containing a Sugar Cookie Latte is surrounded by red and green Christmas ornaments with a plate of holiday cookies and evergreen boughs in the background.

Topping ideas

Jazz up your Sugar Cookie Latte with your favorite toppings. Here are a few ideas:

Variations and substitutions

Iced sugar cookie almond milk latte: Let the espresso cool slightly before pouring it over ice, then top it with slightly-cooled steamed almond milk.

Sugar-free sugar cookie latte: Use your favorite sugar-free substitute such as Stevia instead of sugar. Check out this sugar-free syrup recipe, then add the extracts as you would for the syrup.

Vegan sugar cookie latte: Make sure to use plant-based milk and make sure the butter extract is vegan. You can omit the butter extract if needed.

Decaf sugar cookie latte: Use decaf espresso instead of regular.

Snickerdoodle latte: Use cinnamon simple syrup with a splash of vanilla extract to make a delicious cinnamon version of this latte.

A mason jar of golden syrup sits beside a stack of sugar cookies and a gold spoon

Making homemade simple syrups is so easy, just like the name suggests. Here’s how to make a homemade version of the Starbucks sugar cookie syrup:

First, grab a medium saucepan and add ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water. Warm them up over medium heat.

Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then remove from heat. No need to boil it.

Once the mixture has cooled slightly, stir in the three extracts. You’ll need:

  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ teaspoons butter extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract

Store in an airtight, food-safe container like a glass bottle or mason jar.

See my sugar cookie syrup recipe for more details and substitutions.

Espresso dripping out of an espresso machine into a glass espresso shot glass with a handle. .

How to make espresso

The easiest way to make lattes at home is with an espresso machine. Personally, I use this Nespresso machine (I have it in black).

I love having this on hand for easy lattes and cappuccinos. It is definitely the easiest way to make lattes at home. But if you don’t have an espresso machine, you’re not out of luck. Here are a few methods to try:

  • Aeropress: Learn how to use this easy method for making coffee and espresso. I have tried this before and it’s really delicious!
  • Stovetop espresso maker: You can make your pumpkin spice latte on the stove by making your espresso in this cute little pot!
  • Instant espresso powder: This is probably my least favorite method because =fresh is better, but the instant stuff can still be good in a pinch, especially if you are traveling or can’t access these other methods.

Check out these tips for making a latte without an espresso machine.

How to steam milk

After you make your espresso, or while you are making it, it’s time to steam your milk. There are a few ways you can steam your milk of choice:

A festive cookie latte sits on a red and gold plate with green and red holiday ornaments surrounding it.

Now that you have espresso brewing and milk steaming, you can get your latte ready to assemble. Here’s what to do:

  1. The first thing to do is add the sugar cookie syrup to a latte mug. (I have these latte mugs.)
  2. Top with hot brewed espresso.
  3. Pour in the steamed milk and layer on as much froth as you like.
  4. Dust with sprinkles or other toppings, if desired.

If you desire a Sugar Cookie Iced Latte instead of the hot version of this recipe, no problem. Here’s what to do:

  1. First, brew your espresso and let it cool slightly.
  2. Pour sugar cookie syrup over ice, then top with espresso.
  3. Top it with slightly-cooled steamed milk.
  4. Dust with sprinkles or other toppings, if desired.
A gold mug sits next to frosted sugar cookies and red and green ornaments. Evergreen branches sit in the background.

FAQ

Is Starbucks’ sugar cookie latte gluten-free?

According to the Starbucks, the latte does not contain any ingredients with gluten. When made with almond milk, the latte is also dairy-free.

What is in Starbucks’ sugar cookie latte?

The Starbucks Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte contains almond milk, brewed espresso, sugar cookie syrup and a topping of festive sprinkles.

Can you make Starbucks’ sugar cookie latte at home?

Yes! You can easily whip up your own sugar cookie syrup with sugar, water and a few baking extracts, then add it to homemade espresso drinks.

More Starbucks Copycat Recipes

Try another Starbucks copycat drink or treat recipe. Here are a few favorites:

A festive cookie latte sits on a red and gold plate with green and red holiday ornaments surrounding it.

Sugar Cookie Latte

Yield: 1 latte
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
The festive Sugar Cookie Latte brings in all the flavor of holiday cookies into one creamy espresso drink.
5 from 48 votes
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ingredients

  • cup espresso or very strong coffee
  • ½ ounce sugar cookie syrup to taste
  • ½ cup whole milk almond milk or your favorite milk
  • 1 pinch sprinkles

instructions

  • Make your espresso. Then add to a latte mug and add sugar cookie syrup. Stir to combine.
  • Make steamed milk. Use a milk frother machine or a milk frother tool to froth warm milk.
  • Pour the milk over the espresso.
  • Top with sprinkles, if desired.

notes

Iced sugar cookie almond milk latte: Let the espresso cool slightly before pouring it over ice, then top it with slightly-cooled steamed almond milk.
Sugar-free sugar cookie latte: Use your favorite sugar-free substitute such as Stevia instead of sugar. Check out this sugar-free syrup recipe, then add the extracts as you would for the syrup.
Vegan sugar cookie latte: Substitute your favorite plant-based milk and make sure the butter extract is vegan. You can omit the butter extract if needed.
Decaf sugar cookie latte: Use decaf espresso instead of regular.
Snickerdoodle latte: Use cinnamon simple syrup with a splash of vanilla extract to make a delicious cinnamon version of this latte.

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nutrition information

Yield: 1 latte

amount per serving:

Serving: 12ounces Calories: 123kcal Carbohydrates: 18g Protein: 4g Fat: 4g Saturated Fat: 2g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 15mg Sodium: 66mg Potassium: 282mg Sugar: 17g Vitamin A: 198IU Vitamin C: 0.2mg Calcium: 153mg Iron: 1mg
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