This Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew is my copycat of the Starbucks holiday drink, and it's smooth, creamy, and tastes like a slice of tiramisu! It's vanilla-sweetened cold brew over ice, topped with a velvety mascarpone cold foam and a dusting of cocoa and espresso powder. You only need 5 minutes to make it!
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The Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew is part of the Starbucks holiday menu, right alongside the Tiramisu Velvet Latte. It’s the perfect pick if you love a bolder, smoother coffee flavor with all that dreamy cold foam on top. It’s even easier to make at home than the latte, since there’s no espresso to pull!
For the vanilla syrup, I love using my homemade toasted vanilla bean syrup, which adds a warm, toasty vanilla flavor. If you’d rather have the latte version, my Iced Tiramisu Velvet Latte uses the same mascarpone cold foam!
And when you’re craving something warm, my Perfectly Creamy Tiramisu Latte is the coziest hot version. Grab your frother and let’s make this cold brew!
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What Does the Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew Taste Like?
This cold brew tastes like tiramisu you can sip through a straw! The cold brew is bold and smooth, the vanilla syrup adds a soft sweetness, and the mascarpone cold foam brings that rich, creamy dessert flavor.
The cocoa and espresso dusting on top makes every sip taste like the top layer of tiramisu. It’s a less milky tiramisu coffee than the latte, so the cold brew flavor really shines through!
Why You'll Love This Tiramisu Cold Brew Recipe
- Even easier than the latte: There’s no espresso to pull and no milk to froth for the drink itself. Just cold brew, syrup, ice, and foam!
- Smooth and bold: Cold brew is naturally smooth and less bitter, so it pairs perfectly with the creamy mascarpone foam.
- A Starbucks holiday favorite at home: Make this Starbucks holiday cold brew in your own kitchen whenever the craving hits. It tastes just like the real thing!
- Lighter than the latte: With no milk in the drink, it has fewer calories than the iced latte version. More room for cold foam!
- Make-ahead friendly: Keep a batch of cold brew in the fridge and you can have this ready in 5 minutes any morning.
Ingredients Needed
- Cold brew coffee: This is the bold, smooth base of the drink, and it’s naturally less bitter than regular iced coffee.
- Vanilla syrup: It sweetens both the cold brew and the cold foam, turning the base into a smooth vanilla cold brew. My toasted vanilla bean syrup is perfect here!
- Mascarpone cheese: The star of the show! This rich, creamy Italian cheese gives the cold foam its true tiramisu flavor.
- Heavy cream and whole milk: Together with the mascarpone, they make a fluffy, velvety cold foam that floats right on top.
- Instant espresso and cocoa powder: A light dusting on top gives you that classic tiramisu finish.
Substitutions
- Vanilla syrup: Any vanilla syrup works, homemade or store-bought. Caramel syrup also tastes amazing with tiramisu flavors!
- Mascarpone cheese: Softened cream cheese works if you can’t find mascarpone, though it’s a little tangier. Let it come to room temperature first so it froths smoothly!
- Heavy cream and whole milk: For a dairy-free cold foam, use full-fat coconut milk and oat milk, plus a dairy-free cream cheese in place of the mascarpone.
- Instant espresso: No instant espresso? A little extra cocoa powder on top works just fine.
How to Make The Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew
- Step 1: Make the mascarpone cold foam. Add the heavy cream, whole milk, mascarpone, and vanilla syrup to a small glass. Froth until smooth and foamy with no lumps, then set it aside.
- Step 2: Build the cold brew. Pour the cold brew and vanilla syrup into a tall glass. Add ice and give it a good stir.
- Step 3: Top it off. Spoon the mascarpone cold foam over the cold brew and dust it with instant espresso and cocoa powder. Drink up!
Optional Variations
- Chocolate Tiramisu Cold Brew: Stir a drizzle of chocolate sauce into the cold brew for a mocha twist. It’s extra decadent!
- Salted Tiramisu Cold Foam: Froth a pinch of sea salt into the cold foam for a sweet-and-salty finish. It makes the mascarpone taste even richer.
- Amaretto Tiramisu Cold Brew: Add a splash of almond or amaretto-flavored syrup for that classic tiramisu flavor.
- Shaken Tiramisu Cold Brew: Shake the cold brew, vanilla syrup, and ice in a jar with a lid before pouring for a frothy, extra-chilled cold brew.
- Tiramisu Cold Brew Float: Add a small scoop of vanilla ice cream before topping with the foam for a dessert-style treat. It’s so fun for a weekend pick-me-up!
Recipe Success Tips
- Soften the mascarpone: Wondering how to make mascarpone cold foam without lumps? Let the mascarpone sit out for a few minutes first so it blends in smoothly.
- Make your own cold brew: The secret to how to make Starbucks cold brew at home is steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. Strain it and keep it in the fridge for up to a week!
- Stir before adding foam: Mix the vanilla syrup into the cold brew really well so it doesn’t settle at the bottom of the glass.
- Use a small sieve: Dust the cocoa and espresso powder through a small mesh sieve for an even, pretty layer on top.
FAQs
It’s a Starbucks holiday drink that’s basically cold brew with mascarpone cold foam and a dusting of cocoa and coffee on top. It’s inspired by the classic Italian dessert!
The latte is made with espresso and milk, while the cold brew uses smooth cold brew coffee with no milk in the drink itself. Both get the same mascarpone cold foam on top!
Yes! Store-bought cold brew works perfectly. If you’re using a concentrate, dilute it with water first so it isn’t too strong.
Nutritional Info
This cold brew comes in at 253 calories, and nearly all of the fat comes from the heavy cream and mascarpone in the cold foam.
The sugar comes from the vanilla syrup, which goes in both the cold brew and the foam. To lighten it up, use a little less syrup or a less of the cold foam!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 253 calories
- Total Fat: 18 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Sodium: 22 mg
- Carbohydrates: 22 grams
- Sugar: 22 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Other Cold Brew Recipes
Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew (Starbucks Copycat)
Equipment
Ingredients
Mascarapone Cold Foam:
- 2 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 tablespoon mascarpone cheese
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew:
- 1 ½ cups cold brew coffee
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- ice
- ⅛ teaspoon instant espresso
- ⅛ teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Make the cold foam. Add the heavy cream, milk, mascarpone, and 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup to a small glass or container and froth until smooth and foamy. Set aside.
- Pour your cold brew and 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup in a tall glass. Add ice and stir.
- Top with mascarpone cold foam and a dusting of the espresso powder and cocoa powder if desired. Drink up!
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
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