Iced Crème Brûlée Latte

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If you love a creamy iced latte and crave the caramelized crackle of crème brûlée, this one’s for you. This Iced Crème Brûlée Latte with torched cold foam brings together bold espresso, silky milk, and a sweet caramel-vanilla base, all topped with a cloud of cold foam and a brûléed sugar crust you torch yourself. Dessert in a cup? Yes, please. This would be a perfect pairing to go with my Crème Brûlée Cheesecake.

This café-style drink is easier to make than it looks and absolutely worth the few extra steps. It’s impressive, rich, and customizable for any season. You can skip the long coffee shop lines and whip up something even better right in your own kitchen. If you are more of a tea gal, make sure to check out my Matcha Chai Tea or my Garden Tea recipes!

Why You’ll Love This Version

• It’s a true crème brûlée experience – That crackly sugar topping? It’s real. The foamed milk acts like custard, and the torch brings the magic.
• Cold and refreshing – Perfect for warmer days when you want something sweet but iced.
• Elevated but easy – All you need is espresso (or strong coffee), milk, a jar or frother, and a kitchen torch.
• Fun to serve – Guests will be wowed by the bruléed topping. You can even prep the base ahead of time for entertaining.

What Is an Iced Crème Brûlée Latte?

At its core, a crème brûlée latte takes the warm, toasted vanilla-caramel flavor of the classic dessert and folds it into a latte. The iced version uses cold milk instead of steamed, and this elevated take includes a thick cold foam that mimics the custard layer; and yes, it’s torched to give you that signature crack.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Latte base:

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• ¾ cup milk (any kind)
• 2 Tbsp caramel simple syrup (See below for my recipe)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, or 1 vanilla bean, scraped
• Ice

Cold foam:

• ¼ cup cold milk (2% or whole milk work best)
• 2 Tbsp cream
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, or 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
• 1–2 teaspoons caramel simple syrup or maple syrup

Brûlée topping:

• 1–2 teaspoons granulated sugar (cane or turbinado sugar work well)
• Kitchen torch

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How to Make an Iced Crème Brûlée Latte with Brûléed Cold Foam

That First Sip…

The result is magical: a rich iced latte that starts with bold coffee and creamy milk, topped with cool, sweet foam and a brittle sugar crust you have to crack with your straw or spoon. Just like dessert, only caffeinated.

Homemade Caramel Simple Syrup

This is the recipe I use for caramel simple syrup. It is so easy and yummy!

Combine 1 cup cane sugar and ½ cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer without stirring until golden brown. Carefully add another ½ cup water and stir gently. Add a split vanilla bean and let steep for 15–20 minutes before removing. Typically, I will let it steep for 1-2 hours, or even longer!

Variations and Customizations

Dairy-Free Version
Use oat milk or almond milk for both the latte and the foam. Oat milk foams the best without dairy.

Salted Caramel Twist
Add a pinch of flaky sea salt to the foam before torching for a more elevated twist on caramel brûlée.

Spiced Crème Brûlée Latte
Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the brown sugar base for cozy fall flavor.

Hot Version
Skip the ice, steam your milk, and top with whipped cream or warm foam instead.

Tips for Success

• Use cold milk for foam – It froths better than room temp or warm milk.
• Torch with care – Keep the flame moving so you don’t burn the foam. A golden brown finish is what you want.
• Don’t over-sweeten – The sugar topping adds plenty of sweetness, so keep the base balanced.
• Prep ahead – You can brew the coffee and chill it in advance to save time.

FAQs

Can I use instant coffee?

Yes! Mix 1 tablespoon instant espresso with ¼ cup hot water for a quick espresso replacement.

Can I make the cold foam in advance?

It’s best fresh, but you can froth and refrigerate it for up to 30 minutes before using. Just give it a quick whisk or shake before topping.

What’s the best sugar to torch?

Granulated white sugar works great, but turbinado or raw cane sugar gives a deeper caramel flavor and crunch.

Iced Crème Brûlée Latte vs Starbucks

The Starbucks Crème Brûlée Latte is a seasonal winter drink made with caramel brûlée syrup and whipped topping. It’s warm and cozy, but lacks the satisfying crack of actual caramelized sugar.

This homemade iced version gives you the creamy vanilla, the bold coffee, and the torch-blistered top; made with ingredients you trust

Print This Recipe

Save this iced crème brûlée latte recipe to enjoy anytime. Perfect for printing and keeping in your recipe collection or sharing with friends who love a sweet, creamy coffee treat!

Iced Crème Brûlée Latte

Yield: 1 drink

Brew Time: 5 minutes

Assemble Time: 5 minutes

Torch Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes

This iced crème brûlée latte blends rich espresso with sweet caramel and vanilla, topped with creamy cold foam and a crunchy caramelized sugar crust. It’s a deliciously refreshing coffee treat with all the flavors of the classic dessert.

Print

Ingredients

Latte Base

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• ¾ cup milk (any kind)
• 2 Tbsp caramel simple syrup
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, or 1 vanilla bean, scraped
• Ice

Cold Foam

• ¼ cup cold milk (2% or whole milk work best)
• 2 Tbsp cream
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, or 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
• 1–2 teaspoons caramel simple syrup or maple syrup

Brûlée topping:

• 1–2 teaspoons granulated sugar (cane or turbinado sugar work well)
• Kitchen torch

Instructions

Step 1: Brew Espresso Pull 2 shots of espresso or brew ½ cup strong coffee. Let cool slightly. (Instant espresso or cold brew works too.)

Step 2: Mix Sweet Vanilla Base In a 12–16 oz glass, combine 2 tbsp caramel syrup, ½ tsp vanilla extract, and milk. Stir.

Step 3: Add Ice & Milk Fill glass with ice. Pour in ¾ cup cold milk and stir gently.

Step 4: Make Cold Foam In a jar or frother, mix ¼ cup cold milk, 2 tbsp cream, ½ tsp vanilla, and 1–2 tsp caramel or maple syrup. Froth until thick and pourable.

Step 5: Add Foam Spoon foam over the latte to form a smooth, floating layer.

Step 6: Sprinkle & Torch Sprinkle 1–2 tsp sugar on foam. Torch first layer until sugar melts, then add a second layer. Torch again until golden brown, like a classic crème brûlée.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1919Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 565mgCarbohydrates: 448gFiber: 0gSugar: 446gProtein: 11g

Save This Recipe!

Keep this iced crème brûlée latte handy for when you want a sweet, creamy coffee treat anytime.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never made a coffee drink with a brûléed sugar top, you’re in for a treat. This Iced Crème Brûlée Latte with Torched Cold Foam is like sipping a fancy dessert while still getting your caffeine fix. It’s smooth, a little dramatic, and totally worth torching some sugar for.

Whether you make it for guests or just for yourself on a slow morning, this latte brings a little café magic into your kitchen.