This creamy vegan iced latte recipe is smooth, chilled, refreshing, and completely dairy free!
The best vegan iced latte recipe
- Tastes like a fancy coffee shop drink, no expensive espresso machine required!
- The entire recipe takes under 5 minutes to make with just a few ingredients.
- Easy to customize for gluten free, sugar free, low carb, low calorie, or keto lifestyles.
- I whip up one of these cold vegan lattes almost every day in the summer. It’s an instant, energizing pick-me-up with minimal work and endless opportunities to create new flavors.
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Step by step video
Vegan iced coffee latte ingredients
You need just three ingredients plus ice to make your own basic vegan iced lattes at home.
Espresso – The recipe tastes best with brewed espresso or strong brewed coffee. Using cold brew or medium roast coffee will also work if you prefer a more mellow iced coffee instead of a robust iced latte.
Ice cubes – This will make up the middle layer of your latte. Use any shape and size ice cubes your heart desires.
For even creamier results, swap the ice for an equal amount of oat or coconut milk ice cubes. (Freeze milk in an ice cube tray in advance.) This simple, brilliant trick prevents the iced latte beverage from turning watery as the ice melts.
Nondairy milk – Pour a fourth cup of your favorite plant based milk or nondairy creamer over the coffee and ice for a smooth, creamy finish.
Vanilla syrup (optional) – Start with half a tablespoon of regular or sugar free vanilla syrup, and add more if you want a sweeter latte. Alternatively, sweeten the vegan coffee drink with pure maple syrup or unrefined sugar, or omit the added sugar entirely.
You can also make your own vanilla syrup at home, following the recipe directly below.
Homemade vanilla syrup for coffee
If you are feeling ambitious, it’s actually quite easy to save money by making vanilla syrup in your own kitchen instead of buying it at the store.
- Combine 1 cup white or light brown sugar (or an alternative without sugar) with 1 cup water in a small saucepan to make a simple syrup.
- Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Then remove from heat.
- Whisk in 1 tbsp of pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
- You can also add a few drops of almond extract, maple extract, or another extract of choice to create your own homemade flavored coffee syrups.
- Allow the mixture to fully cool, then store your DIY vanilla syrup in an airtight covered jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to one month.
What plant based milk works best for lattes?
At local cafes and mainstream chains like Starbucks, you will often see oat milk on the menu.
This is because oat milk is largely considered to be the best option to produce thick, creamy nondairy lattes and a frothy top. It foams well and is great for creating decorative latte art.
I like Oatly Barista Edition or Chobani Oatmilk, which comes in chocolate, vanilla, plain, unsweetened, or extra creamy.
Other dairy free choices that give you a rich and velvety iced latte include soymilk, coconut milk, pistachio milk, or many nondairy creamers or barista blends. Try a variety to find your personal favorites.
Of course, when it comes to iced lattes, froth and foam are much less important factors to consider. Therefore low fat options like almond milk work perfectly if you are looking for a healthier, low calorie vegan iced latte.
Also try this Pistachio Latte or Pumpkin Spice Latte
How to make a vegan iced latte
The recipe yields a single serving iced latte. Feel free to double all ingredients for two.
- Start by pouring your espresso into a tall glass. Some people believe that using freshly brewed espresso tastes best. Others prefer to chill the coffee ahead of time so it does not melt the ice. I am personally on team chilled espresso, but this is entirely your call.
- Stir the optional vanilla syrup or sweetener of choice into the coffee.
- Now carefully add a cup of ice over the vanilla espresso.
- Finally, slowly pour on your milk of choice and watch as it beautifully swirls into the glass.
That’s really all there is to it. No blender nor professional equipment are needed, and the total price clocks in at well under the $5 per serving (or more) that a similar iced drink might cost at places like Dunkin’ Donuts or Peet’s Coffee.
Vegan iced latte flavors
Mocha: Add a square or two of your favorite dark chocolate to the bottom of the glass before pouring the hot espresso over top. Garnish the finished drink with a drizzle of chocolate syrup.
Salted Caramel: Soak two Medjool dates in boiling water until soft. Drain, then blend with one tablespoon almond butter, a fourth teaspoon sea salt, plus the espresso and vanilla syrup from the base recipe below. Top with your ice and milk.
Nutella: Whisk a tablespoon of vegan Homemade Nutella into the espresso.
Matcha: Mix one teaspoon of matcha green tea powder into two tablespoons hot water to make a paste. Use this instead of the espresso in the recipe.
Other flavors: One of the most fun things about making your own iced lattes is that you get to control what ingredients to add. Try chai, cinnamon, protein powder, lavender, peppermint, cake batter, toffee, or ground cardamom.
What would be your dream dairy free iced latte flavor?
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1. Pour espresso into a tall glass. You may use freshy brewed espresso or chill it ahead of time if you prefer.
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2. If using, stir the vanilla syrup or sweetener of choice into the coffee.
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3. Add all of the ice to the glass.
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4. Finally, slowly pour the dairy free milk over everything and let it swirl into the espresso.
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5. Enjoy your homemade vegan iced latte cold.
More dairy free drink recipes
Orange Smoothie
Vegan Hot Chocolate
Avocado Smoothie
Piña Colada Smoothie
Vanilla Protein Frosty
Frozen Lemonade