Starbucks Copycat Salted Caramel Cold Brew Recipe
Today we are making a Starbucks Copycat Salted Caramel Cold Brew Recipe! If you’re a fan of Starbucks’ Salted Caramel Cold Brew but want to recreate it at home with a vegan twist, this recipe is just what you need! This Starbucks Copycat Salted Caramel Cold Brew is made with a smooth cold brew base, a creamy vegan creamer, and a homemade caramel sauce crafted from coconut milk and coconut sugar. It delivers all the rich, indulgent flavors you love from the original, with a plant-based spin that’s easy to whip up at home.
Unlike Starbucks’ version, which uses caramel-flavored dairy creamer and caramel cold brew, this homemade recipe relies on coconut-based ingredients for the caramel sauce (but it doesn’t taste like a coconut drink)! The vegan caramel sauce, made from coconut milk and coconut sugar, offers a naturally sweet, luscious flavor that mimics the classic caramel, with the added bonus of being completely dairy-free. The coconut creamer adds a rich, velvety texture to the drink, balancing out the boldness of the cold brew coffee and complementing the caramel’s sweetness with a hint of sea salt.
This homemade version allows you to enjoy the same sweet and salty flavor profile that Starbucks offers, but with the flexibility to customize it to your taste. Whether you like your cold brew extra creamy or prefer a little more caramel, you can easily adjust the recipe to suit your preferences. Plus, by making it at home, you’ll have full control over the ingredients, offering a more natural and vegan-friendly alternative to the Starbucks classic.
Why You’ll Love This Starbucks Copycat Salted Caramel Cold Brew
Homemade Caramel Magic: One of the standout features of this copycat recipe is the homemade caramel sauce, which is made with coconut milk and coconut sugar. Unlike traditional caramel, which uses dairy and refined sugars, this vegan version offers a natural sweetness and deep, rich flavor that’s hard to beat. The coconut milk adds a luscious creaminess, while the coconut sugar gives the caramel a subtle, caramelized depth. Plus, making your own caramel at home gives you a fresh, pure flavor that store-bought versions can’t replicate. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory, elevating your cold brew to a whole new level.
Simple and Budget-Friendly: This recipe not only allows you to recreate your Starbucks favorite at home, but it also saves you money in the process. Buying a cold brew from a coffee shop every day can add up quickly, but with just a few basic ingredients, you can make this drink in the comfort of your kitchen. Plus, the ingredients—like coconut milk, coconut sugar, and cold brew—are easy to find and often more affordable when bought in bulk. With this recipe, you’ll get the same indulgent flavors for a fraction of the price, all while knowing exactly what goes into your drink. It’s a win-win for both your wallet and your taste buds!
Substitutions
Coconut Milk: Use fall-fat canned coconut milk, not carton. You can usually find this at your local grocery store in the Asian food aisle. I like to use Thai Kitchen brand because they don’t have chemical ingredients in their canned milks. This is needed for the caramel to be thick, and doesn’t have a strong coconut flavor when cooked.
If you are looking for a nut-free version, or are just averse to coconut anything, use a creamy plant-based milk instead. I recommend Silk brand of oat milk.
Coconut Sugar: This sugar turns the color of the caramel dark. You can substitute brown sugar (dark brown sugar or light brown sugar should work).
Cold Brew: Starbucks uses their caramel-flavored cold brew concentrate for this recipe, but we use regular cold brew with a homemade caramel sauce. If you have the original Starbucks caramel concentrate on hand, you can use that instead (it’ll taste much more caramel-y this way), but it’s not as easy to find everywhere so I opted for a homemade sauce for that flavor.
Creamer: Choose your favorite brand of (unflavored or vanilla) vegan creamer. I like Silk brand, which doesn’t leave a weird aftertaste.
Salted Caramel Cold Brew Recipe Notes
- Depending on how strong you like your coffee, adjust the ratio of cold brew concentrate to creamer. For a bolder coffee flavor, use more concentrate, but if you prefer a lighter brew, dilute it with a tablespoon or two of creamer.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Recipe (Dairy-Free)
Starbucks Toasted Vanilla Shaken Espresso Recipe
Starbucks Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
If you make this Starbucks Copycat Salted Caramel Cold Brew Recipe, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Starbucks Copycat Salted Caramel Cold Brew Recipe
Equipment
- Small skillet
- Spatula
- Milk Frother handheld or machine
Ingredients
For the Salted Caramel
- 3 tbsp coconut sugar
- ¼ cup full-fat, canned coconut milk shake well before using to avoid separation
- sea salt
For the Drink
- 6 tbsp vegan creamer
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup cold brew
- ½ cup ice cubes
Instructions
For the Salted Caramel
- In a skillet over low heat, add the coconut milk and coconut sugar.
- Continue to stir with a spatula for a few minutes, until thickened.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the salt. Start with one pinch, then taste test. Add in more as desired, to give it a "salted" flavor.
For the Drink
- Add the ice to a glass.
- Mix the cold brew with the vanilla in a separate glass, then pour it over the ice.
- In another glass, add the creamer and the coconut milk. Use a milk frother to froth until creamy, reserving a little bit for the drizzle on top.
- Pour the frothed caramel-milk mixture over the ice and cold brew.
- Use a fork to drizzle any remaining caramel over the drink. Enjoy!
