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Bring a little holiday magic home with this cozy Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte, a copycat of the seasonal drink everyone’s obsessed with. It’s sweet, nutty, and perfectly festive, made with a buttery sugar cookie syrup, espresso, and creamy almond milk (or your favorite milk). The best part? You can make it hot or iced in just a few minutes, no long Starbucks line required!
If you love recreating your favorite drinks at home, you’ll also want to try my Starbucks Irish Cream Cold Brew, Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew, and Hot Vanilla Latte Copycat Recipe next.
Let’s Chit Chat!
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time I tried Starbucks’ Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. But after one sip, I totally got the hype. It’s like Christmas sugar cookies and coffee had a cozy, buttery baby.
Of course, the $6-$8 price tag and endless lines at Starbucks weren’t as sweet. So, I went home determined to make the same festive drink for a fraction of the cost, and honestly, this homemade version hits even harder. The almond milk keeps it light and nutty, the syrup gives that perfect sugar cookie flavor, and the sprinkles? They’re pure joy in a cup.
If you’re the kind of person who starts playing holiday music in November, this is your drink. Make it iced when you’re feeling fancy or hot when you need something cozy to sip on by the tree. Either way, it’s the holiday hug you didn’t know you needed.
Why you need to make this recipe!
- Espresso + sweet syrup + milk, need I say more?
- It is very festive, I would say that this drink is definitely more festive than the one you would get from Starbucks.
- It is topped with sprinkles!!
- This recipe will help you avoid the long lines and make your newest favorite drink at home.
- Save that money baby! This recipe will also help you save a few extra bucks per drink as well.
Table of Contents
- Why you need to make this recipe!
- Ingredients for this Starbucks sugar cookie latte
- How to make this sugar cookie simple syrup for your Starbucks copycat drink?
- EXPERT TIPS
- Frequently asked questions – FAQ
- How to make Starbucks sugar cookie almond milk latte step by step video
- Starbucks Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte Copycat Recipe (Hot or Cold)
Ingredients for this Starbucks sugar cookie latte
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this Starbucks winter menu sugar cookie latte. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.
- Brown & granulated sugar- This recipe uses brown and granulated sugar for the sugar cookie simple syrup.
- Vanilla extract, almond extract, and butter extract- To make this simple syrup taste like a sugar cookie we will be using a mix of three different extract, the butter one being optional because I know it can be hard to find.
- Espresso– I use the Starbucks blonde roast nespresso pods but you can use any espresso shots that you prefer. You can also substitute it with instant coffee if you don’t have espresso at home. Checkout the FAQ for more detail on this.
- Almond milk– The traditional Starbucks drink asks for almond milk so we are gonna stick with that for this recipe but feel free to use whatever you’d like!
- Christmas sprinkles– Starbucks has red and green sprinkles for their drink but you can use the regular red white and green sprinkles for yours.
How to make this sugar cookie simple syrup for your Starbucks copycat drink?
- Make the Sugar Cookie Syrup:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Stir until dissolved. Add vanilla, almond, and butter extracts, then simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Assemble the Latte (Iced):
Fill a glass with ice, add 2–3 tablespoons of syrup, pour in espresso shots, and top with almond milk. Stir gently and finish with festive sprinkles.
- Make It Hot:
Steam the almond milk (or any milk of choice), add 2–3 tablespoons of syrup to a mug, pour in espresso, then top with the steamed milk and sprinkles.
EXPERT TIPS
- Store leftover syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- For extra creaminess, use half oat milk + half almond milk.
- Add whipped cream or sweet cream cold foam for a decadent twist.
Frequently asked questions – FAQ
Keep your homemade sugar cookie syrup in a sealed jar or bottle in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, freeze in an ice cube tray and thaw cubes as needed for single servings.
Yes! Make a large pitcher of syrup and keep the milk and espresso separate until serving. Guests can mix their own festive drinks.
Absolutely. Use decaf espresso or strong brewed decaf coffee, you’ll still get all the buttery, sugar cookie flavor without the caffeine.
Yes! While the Starbucks version uses almond milk, you can also use oat, soy, coconut, or dairy milk. Oat milk gives extra creaminess, and almond milk keeps it light and nutty. For a fully dairy-free version, just skip whipped cream or cold foam.
Yes! For iced, pour espresso and syrup over ice and top with milk. For hot, steam the milk first, pour over espresso and syrup, and finish with sprinkles.
Try crushed shortbread cookies, cinnamon sugar, or even edible glitter for a fun twist.
Mix 2–3 teaspoons of instant coffee with 3 tablespoons of hot water as a quick espresso swap, or use strong brewed coffee for a café-au-lait feel.
Yes, you can use Monin Sugar Cookie Syrup or Jordan’s Skinny Mixes Sugar Cookie Syrup in a pinch, though the homemade version tastes richer and more authentic.
Definitely! Store the syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for longer storage so it’s ready for quick holiday drinks anytime.
Have another question about this Starbucks Sugar Cookie Latte recipe? Drop it in the comments below, I update this post each holiday season with new reader tips.
How to make Starbucks sugar cookie almond milk latte step by step video
Starbucks Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte Copycat Recipe (Hot or Cold)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 2 drops butter extract optional
Starbucks iced sugar cookie almond milk latte
- 3/4 cup Almond milk
- 2 oz blonde espresso shot use any espresso shot you'd like. Feel free to add more.
- Christmas sprinkles
- Ice
- whipped cream optional for hot drink
Instructions
Starbucks Sugar Cookie Simple Syrup
- In a medium saucepan add in the water, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and the butter extract if you have it.
- Heat up on medium heat until the sugar is fully dissolved then remove from the heat.
- You can either transfer this to an air-tight jar and store it for later or continue reading the directions to make your Starbucks copycat drink immediately.
Make the iced sugar cookie almond milk latte
- In a large glass, add some ice, 2-4 tablespoons of the homemade sugar cookie syrup, almond milk, and top it with freshly brewest espresso shots.
- Decorate with the sprinkles, give it a good stir and enjoy!
Make the hot sugar cookie almond milk latte
- Start by steaming the milk, then pour it into a tall mug, add in 2-4 tablespoons of the sugar cookie syrup, top it with the espresso shot, add whipped cream if you'd like, decorate with sprinkles and enjoy!
Notes
Can I make this holiday sugar cookie latte recipe ahead of time?
You can make everything up until the coffee addition in advance. This holiday simple syrup stores really well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can literally pull out the jar, use some in your coffee then put it back.Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Loved it
So glad you loved it!!
The only butter extract I can find has dairy in it (McCormick). Is there dairy free version?
there should be I believe
Just tried this and I won’t be going to Starbucks anymore! I used the minimum amount of almond extract, as some comments suggested, and it was perfect! I like how you can just make the syrup ahead of time and then store it until whenever you need it. The only thing is next time I’ll probably add a little more butter extract or try real butter, as another commenter did.
I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the recipe and found a way to make it just right for your taste! The flexibility to make the syrup ahead of time is indeed convenient. Experimenting with a bit more butter extract or even real butter sounds like a tasty addition!
It’s delicious! We substituted the same amount of regular brewed coffee since we had no espresso and stored the extra syrup in a canning jar in the fridge. A triple recipe makes plenty for three 16-oz mugs with some syrup left over.
Thank you so much for sharing so glad you enjoyed it!
I liked this overall, however I found the almond flavor was too strong for my liking. I’m not a huge fan of almond flavor, so I would cut that in half/only use a few drops.
Thank you for sharing Dylan
Wow this recipe is fantastic! I love almond extract so much and this is such a tasty and fun way to incorporate it into my love for coffee 🙂 Not to mention the savings from not spending 6ish dollars at Starbucks! One thing I also added was sweet cream cold foam on top. Made it by frothing 1/4 cup of milk, two tablespoons of powdered sugar and a bit of the syrup to taste. Thank you so much!
Glad to hear you liked the recipe Ellie! Thank you for the comment!!
What kind of almond milk did you use? Sugar free, vanilla, etc. ? Thanks!!!
Btw: THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK AND I AM STOKED TO FIND THIS RECIPE ♥️
I used regular almond milk! You can use the unsweetened vanilla almond milk as well.
Hi! When making the syrup, how much water, vanilla extract, almond extract, butter extract, brown sugar, and granulated sugar would I use (for each ingredient) if I wanted to make a venti-sized latte daily for 2 weeks?
I guess I am wondering the amounts for each ingredient for bulk-sized syrup storage.
Thank you!
Hi Kay! I am not totally sure about how much you’d have to make to last you two weeks. I would triple the recipe and go from there 🙂
Just used this recipe to make homemade ice cream 🍨 so yummy!! 2 cups heavy cream… I cup milk, two eggs, and 3/4 cup sugar (( I made mine using country crock non-dairy heavy cream and oat milk so it was dairy free))
That sounds delicious Jayla!
How much is 2 drops butter extract? I don’t wanna add too much or not enough! Lol thanks!!
about 1/8 tsp 🙂
Chahinez
Very good, tastes very similar and I will be making it again! Another recipe that has not failed me on your blog! 😍🎉