My Starbucks copycat Eggnog Cold Foam is basically the Santa hat of iced coffee and tea drinks. This dreamy drink topper is rich, creamy, and fluffy as a fur pom-pom, and is loaded to the brim with warmly spiced seasonal flavors—perfect for all your frosty holiday favorites!
When I first learned how to make cold foam for iced coffee drinks, it was like a whole new flavor horizon appeared before my very eyes. No longer limited to the wonders of whipped cream, my garnish game felt completely reinvigorated.
From salted caramel cream to chocolate cream, non-dairy matcha cream to Irish cream, Starbucks’ cold foam’s flavor potential is wide-reaching. And, while there are some autumnal options to explore (like pumpkin cold foam, caramel apple cold foam, and salted pecan cold foam), this eggnog-flavored number is the first of what I hope to be a whole wintry suite.
A decadent dollop is the perfect accompaniment to everything from basic cold brew to Starbucks holiday drinks like the iced gingerbread chai latte. And, with just 3 simple ingredients, this eggnog cream cold foam is well within reach of even the most casual home baristas!
Jump to:
- What is eggnog cold foam?
- What does it taste like?
- Why You’ll Love This DIY Cold Foam Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions
- How To Make Cold Foam With Eggnog
- Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Success Tips
- FAQs
- Homemade Eggnog Cold Foam Nutrition
- Other Starbucks Holiday Copycats
- Eggnog Cold Foam
What is eggnog cold foam?
Making cold foam is the closest way to replicate the fluffy, frothy, milky topper you’d find on a classic hot latte made with steamed, frothed milk. To achieve the same tight bubble structure found in steamed milk, a mix of cream and half & half is typically used—the extra fat is necessary for holding the texture.
Here, we swap in rich, thick eggnog and creamy whole milk for the typical mix. The result is nothing short of sublime, boasting the warmly spiced, deliciously custardy flavor of winter’s favorite milk punch.
What does it taste like?
Imagine the cozy essence of holiday cheer, blended into a rich, creamy cloud! Eggnog cold foam adds a smooth, velvety layer of festive sweetness to anything it touches. It’s packed with warm spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and a touch of vanilla.
As it hits your palate, it’s light and frothy, but decadent, melting slowly into your coffee with a burst of creaminess. It’s nostalgic, indulgent, and has just the right balance of spice and sweetness, turning any iced café-style drink into an instant winter treat!
Why You’ll Love This DIY Cold Foam Recipe
- Just 3 Basic Ingredients - No long grocery lists or prep required. All you need is eggnog, milk, and vanilla syrup!
- Quick & Easy - Just pour, froth, and voila! An instant upgrade to any iced coffee or tea latte is at your fingertips in 3 minutes or less.
- Bougie & Budget-Friendly - Not two words you normally hear together! While this eggnog cold foam screams quiet luxury, making it at home costs mere pennies.
Ingredients Needed
As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this Christmas-y cold foam:
- Eggnog - This is no time to get bashful; make sure you’re getting the full-fat kind for the best frothability.
- Whole Milk - It’s important to keep the fat content high for the proper emulsion, so stick with full-fat 5% milk.
- Vanilla Syrup - While you’re welcome to use store-bought, my homemade version takes just a few minutes to make using only sugar, water, and vanilla extract.
Substitutions
Need to make some edits? Not to worry. Here are a few things you can try instead:
- Eggnog - Feel free to swap in your favorite vegan nog to keep things dairy-free. You can also get a little boozy by using Puerto Rican coquito instead.
- Whole Milk - If you’re using plant-based nog, swap in full-fat canned coconut milk to amp up the fat content. For regular eggnog or coquito, you can use full-fat oat milk, soy milk, or half n’ half if you prefer it even richer.
- Vanilla Syrup - Feel free to swap in other coffee syrups with complementary flavor profiles like gingerbread syrup, toasted cinnamon syrup, or sugar cookie syrup.
How To Make Cold Foam With Eggnog
Making cold foam at home is as easy as 1-2-3!
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a small container.
Step 2: Froth with a milk frother for 15-20 seconds, or until thick and foamy.
Step 3: Pour over an iced chai or cold brew, and drink up!
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Dairy-Free/Vegan - There are lots of different types of vegan nogs on the market these days, so don’t dismay if you can’t do dairy. That said, you’ll need to pay a bit closer attention—some will be much thinner and less fattening than classic eggnog, so you’ll need to choose a milk substitute to make up the difference (e.g. vegan whipping cream or canned coconut milk).
- Reduced Sugar - Use sugar-free syrup to cut back on the calories. If you can find sugar-free eggnog, you’re welcome to use that as well!
Serving Suggestions
There are plenty of ways to put this deliciously frothy eggnog foam to work. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- Cold Brew with Cold Foam - The most classic pairing of them all. Feel free to sweeten your cold brew first with a seasonal syrup or coffee creamer.
- Iced Tea Lattes - Don’t feel like cold foam coffee is your only option. This creamy foam topper is equally delicious on iced chai lattes as it is on java.
- Breakfast & Desserts - Cold foam drinks aren’t your only avenue, either. Try adding a dollop of this eggnog-flavored garnish to warmly spiced gingerbread overnight oats, sweet chocolate chip waffles, or cozy pumpkin crisps.
Recipe Success Tips
- Wait For It. Don’t froth your eggnog cold foam until you’re ready to drink it. Like whipped cream, it will lose volume over time.
- Get A Headstart. Not much of a morning person? Set yourself up for success by adding all the cold foam ingredients to a small mason jar, then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When you’re ready for a fancy café style drink, just bust out your milk frother and get to work!
- Keep It Chilly. While you technically can use cold foam on hot drinks, it won’t last for very long without melting. Your best bet is to stick with cold drinks and desserts to help it hold its shape.
FAQs
Not quite. Whipped cream is made with just heavy cream (or slightly lighter whipping cream) and often, some kind of sweetener like powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Cold foam is slightly less rich, typically made with a blend of cream and half & half, and sweetened with some flavor of coffee syrup. As such, it won’t ever whip into stiff peaks, rather maintains a frothy sort of consistency.
Generally speaking, yes! Since it’s much richer and thicker than milk, it does a great job frothing. Some vegan versions may be less inclined to whip into a thick foam, but you can doctor them by adding extra fat via vegan cream or coconut milk.
Um, right out of the container? Not unless you just shook it before opening! Eggnog should have a somewhat thick, viscous consistency, akin to melted ice cream or creme anglaise. If it is frothy without having incorporated air via shaking or a milk frother, it may be a sign of spoilage.
Heck yeah, they do! Eggnog adds sweetness and creaminess in one go. This eggnog cold foam is particularly delightful—since it floats on top, you’ll get a strong eggnog flavor with each sip.
Homemade Eggnog Cold Foam Nutrition
This decadent coffee addition may taste like a dream, but it’s relatively tame on the nutrition front. With just 113 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving, it adds richness to your drinks without busting your budget. It also offers a surprising 2 grams of protein—not a ton, but every little bit helps. Sodium is negligible at just 40 milligrams, so nothing to worry about there.
The real thing to keep an eye on here are the carbs—each serving provides 18 grams, 16 of which come from added sugars. So long as you’re not oversweetening your coffee or tea base, it’s not outlandish—just make sure to keep an eye on your sugar intake for the rest of the day.
All in all, eggnog cold foam is the perfect way to turn your basic iced coffee into a snow day special! Enjoy every creamy, dreamy sip. 😉
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 113 calories
- Total Fat: 4 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Carbohydrates: 18 grams
- Sugar: 16 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 Starbucks Holiday Copycats
Eggnog Cold Foam
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon eggnog
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small container and froth with a milk frother for 15-20 seconds, or until thick and foamy. Pour over an iced chai or cold brew, and drink up!
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
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