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This easy homemade Iced Brown Sugar Latte with shaken espresso is the sweetest iced coffee to cool off with this month. Homemade vanilla brown sugar syrup gets shaken up with triple shots of espresso and a couple dashes of cinnamon. Pour this sweet coffee over ice and add creamy oat milk. This iced latte is creamy, ice cold, and just perfectly sweet. Great for sipping while doing just about, well…anything!
Every Sunday night on Instagram, I put out an “ask me anything” sticker tag on my Instagram stories. I love doing these Q&A’s so much. I find they’re a really fun way for me to answer questions about things I might not be thinking to talk about, or that you’re all just generally curious about.
Most of the questions that come in are in regard to my lifestyle, beauty, fashion, travel, and of course, food.
This past weekend, I was asked if I’d ever tried to recreate the very popular Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Latte. I have not, and when I shared that with everyone I was flooded with direct messages requesting a recipe.
But the funny thing? I already had plans to make my own version of the iced brown sugar latte.
With the hot August weather and the thousands of requests for this recipe, I figured it really was the perfect time.
So here we are!
Onto the details
First off, huge shout out to a very kind reader, Tracey G. Tracey works at Starbucks and gave me the behind the scenes rundown of how they make the drink.
It is EASY.
I kept mine easy too, but added vanilla and cinnamon to the mix, to make things even better. And if you want, there is even a chai variation too.
Make the vanilla brown sugar syrup
This is really the key to the latte.
You’ll need brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla. If you don’t have cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon works too!
Simmer the syrup on the stove to dissolve the sugar and that’s it. Now you have homemade brown sugar syrup!
If you want to take the flavor up a bit and make the latte cozier, add a few chai bags and steep the tea in the syrup to infuse. This will give you the warming flavors of chai…which is insanely delicious. Totally optional though and up to you!
Now shake that espresso
Pour three shots of espresso over ice. Add as much of the brown sugar syrup as you’d like, and then a couple dashes of ground cinnamon.
Now shake, shake, shake.
Pour the sweet coffee over ice, then pour over the oat milk. I like to finish with a small dash of cinnamon. And then, just because I love a pretty drink, I always add a sprig of fresh lavender.
And voilà…just like Starbucks, but made with more flavor, and it’s SO GOOD.
I love that we can control just how sweet we want the drink to be. It’s so customizable, you can really make this drink into something you’re going to love.
So here’s my Friday tip, make the brown sugar syrup tonight…or over the weekend. Then make homemade lattes in minutes all week long.
Trust me, it’ll be the best move you made all week!
Looking for other fun summer recipes, try these:
Cinnamon Maple Brown Butter Blackberry Peach Crisp
Frothy Whipped Coffee White Russian
No Churn Fudge Brownie Coffee Ice Cream
Lastly, if you make this iced brown sugar latte with shaken espresso, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Iced Brown Sugar Latte with Shaken Espresso
Servings: 1 with leftover syrup
Calories Per Serving: 597 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
Vanilla Brown Sugar Syrup
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick (or 1 teaspoon cinnamon)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 chai tea bags (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Bring 1 cup water, the brown sugar, and cinnamon stick to a boil in a small pot. Simmer 2-3 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla. If using, add the tea bags, cover, and steep 10 minutes. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.2. In a shaker glass filled with ice, combine the espresso, 2-4 tablespoons syrup, and a couple dashes of cinnamon. Shake vigorously for 1 minute. Strain into a tall glass with ice. Pour over the milk. Stir to combine. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on August 6, 2021
It tastes delicious, but my syrup didn’t really ever thicken- not even a little bit – instead it looks more like brown water. Why is that?
Hi Abby,
Thanks for trying this recipe! That is totally normal, the syrup really isn’t meant to be thick. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Hey, recipe sounds great but I’d love to know how this is 596 calories.
Thanks Robin! Unfortunately, the calculator is accounting for all of the syrup. Please let me know if I can help in any other way!
I really don’t know how you can make SOO many ( good) recipes!! from all types, baking drinks cooking… so impressed how good they always turn out and how many you give out for free. thank you so much
Hi Estrella! Aw thank you so so much! That is so kind of you! I try to give a little mix of everything with my recipes so that there is something for everyone! Thank you for your kind words, have a great week! 🙂 xT
So yum, love! Tastes great with oat milk
Thank you so much Mackayla! I’m so glad you’re loving this latte! It’s such a fun one! 🙂 xT
This is my first time making a homemade syrup and it was excellent in taste! I kept it in the fridge but once it was cold, it was thick and wouldn’t separate. It was kind of slimy, sludgy and cohesive. What did I do wrong? Did I not boil it long enough? The flavor is spot on and delicious so I want to keep making it and figure this out. I Tisha e have chai tea bags on hand. It was amazing without them but I would like to try adding them! Thank you so much!
Hi Shannon,
Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback. I would just let the syrup come to room temp again before using it and it should be just fine! I hope this helps! xx
Thank you! I’ve been trying to pour it straight from the refrigerator (haha) so I bet that’s it! Thank you for the recipe and your help!
Oh my goodness, so amazing! Going to keep making this as a staple in my house. Does the syrup have to be refrigerated?
Love to hear this, Kylanne! Thanks a lot for making this recipe and your feedback! Yes, I would keep the syrup in the fridge. Have a wonderful week! xxT
This is amazing! Question… do you leave the cinnamon stick in when you refrigerate? Thanks!
Hey Kim,
Fantastic! Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and sharing your feedback! You can leave them:) XxT
Loved the idea of adding the tea bags! Definitely a favorite that i will try many times
Love to hear this Aisha!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your feedback:) xT
This brown sugar cinnamon syrup is my favorite! I keep some in my refrigerator at all times! So good in iced or hot drinks!
Hi Ashley! Thank you so so much! xT
I love this one. It’s become a go-to for me as soon as the weather warms up. Thank you!
Thanks so much Marsha! xT
My son decided to make this recipe for me and WOW!!! Just like Starbucks…actually BETTER!! He did modify it alittle and went with 2 shots of espresso, 1 tbls syrup (I like drinks less sweet) and 6 oz of oat milk.
So glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed! Have a great day! xT
Always come back to this recipe for my brown sugar syrup in the summer!!!
So glad you’re loving this syrup! xT