Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup Copycat Recipe

Sugar Cookie Simple Syrup for Drinks

Homemade Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup for coffee is a flavorful way to turn an everyday latte into a sweet holiday treat.

Cut out sugar cookies, decorated with frosting and sprinkles, are part of my family’s holiday traditions.

This simple syrup recipe captures the sweet buttery and vanilla notes Christmas sugar cookies are known for.

For an added dimension of flavor, I also add a touch of almond. After all, Christmas spritz cookies are the inspiration behind this Starbucks holiday syrup.

Why You’ll Love Homemade Sugar Cookie Syrup

• Sugar Cookie Syrup is easy to make in about 10 minutes with ingredients you may already have on-hand.
• Making sugar cookie simple syrup allows you to adjust flavors to your taste. Plus, homemade simple syrup does not contain additives like store-bought coffee syrups.
• Make any drink holiday-flavored with the addition of sugar cookie syrup, from lattes to hot chocolate and cocktails. You can even use it to sweeten and flavor homemade whipped cream!

Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup Copycat Recipe

This copycat Starbucks Sugar Cookie Syrup is a basic simple syrup recipe made on the stove that gets its flavor from three extracts.

Ingredients

• Granulated White Sugar
• Light Brown Sugar
• Water
• Vanilla Extract
• Butter Extract
• Almond Extract

Sugars: Make this syrup with a combination of granulated white cane sugar and light brown sugar.

Do not use dark brown sugar. It has too much of a molasses flavor!

If preferred, you may use only white sugar, just like the baked cookies. It’s delicious!

But when developing this Starbucks copycat syrup recipe, I found that the white sugar and light brown sugar combo gave it another flavor dimension that more closely resembles the real syrup.

Water: Why mention water, you might wonder.

Water is a key component in homemade simple syrup and drink recipes. For this reason, I always recommend using filtered water, free of impurities.

If you need a way to filter water, this Brita water filter pitcher is a great option.

Flavor Extracts: This recipe calls for 3 extracts: vanilla, butter and almond.

The vanilla and butter extracts are a must. (If your grocery store does not carry butter extract, it’s available at Walmart.)

The almond is optional, though I do recommend it.

I find that almond is a love-it or hate-it type of flavor. If you do use it, start with the recipe and add more in small amounts if desired.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water to a boil. Stir in both sugars and immediately reduce heat to low.
2. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Remove simple syrup from heat and whisk in all three extracts: vanilla, butter and almond.
4. Transfer the hot syrup to a glass jar and cool. Store in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks.

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

Recipe Notes

Do not boil the simple syrup.

Boiling causes water to evaporate. If too much water evaporates, the sugar may re-crystallize when cooled.

The goal is simply to dissolve the sugar in hot water.

Add extracts after removing syrup from heat.

All the flavor in this syrup (besides the sugar) comes from alcohol-based extracts. To avoid flavor burn-off, only add extracts after removing the base simple syrup mixture from the stove.

Adjust the flavor according to your taste.

Tweak the flavors in small increments and taste test. The syrup needs to stand out in coffee, so keep that in mind when tasting it straight.

Store homemade syrup in a sterilized jar.

Sugar is a preservative, so this syrup should last for 2-4 weeks when stored in the refrigerator.

For best results, keep it in a jar that’s been sterilized in boiling water.

Ways to Use Sugar Cookie Syrup

There are many fun and delicious ways to use sugar cookie syrup.

Drinks: Make a Starbucks Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte at home or use it in lattes, mochas, hot chocolate and cocktails.

Christmas Coffee Creamer: Make homemade sugar cookie coffee creamer by combining the syrup with heavy cream and milk.

Flavored Toppings: Make sugar cookie flavored whipped cream for the finishing touch on Christmas drinks and desserts.

Here’s how to make Starbucks whipped cream. Just swap vanilla syrup with sugar cookie and voilà, you’ve got a delicious holiday topping.

You can also make sugar cookie sweet cream cold foam by making the same switch.

Sprinkle Rimmed Cups: Make sugar cookie drinks extra festive with a sprinkle rimmer.

Just dip the rim of the glass in a small bowl of sugar cookie syrup followed by holiday sprinkles.

Can I make sugar cookie syrup with real butter?

This sugar cookie simple syrup recipe is for coffee and drinks and cannot be made with real butter.

Stick to butter extract to capture the melt-in your-mouth sugar cookie flavor.

Real butter will re-solidify in cold drinks and when stored in the refrigerator.

More Coffee Syrup Recipes

• 3-Ingredient Cookie Butter Syrup (Biscoff Syrup)
• How to Make Brown Sugar Simple Syrup Like Starbucks
• Starbucks Apple Brown Sugar Syrup Copycat Recipe