Have you been obsessing over Starbucks' viral Iced Cherry Chai Latte but cringing at the price every time you order it? Girl, same! That's why I created this Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte that tastes just like the real thing but costs a fraction of the price. This spring inspired iced chai combines creamy chai concentrate, sweet homemade cherry syrup, and that gorgeous cherry cream cold foam topped with freeze dried cherry garnish that makes it look like it came straight from your favorite barista.
The best part? I'm already knocking out copycat version at home and it's become our weekend treat. Make Starbucks style iced cherry chai at home using homemade or store bought cherry syrup, chai concentrate, and a simple 2 ingredient cold foam that's easier than you think. This Starbucks iced cherry chai latte copycat recipe tastes even better than the original because you can customize the sweetness and spice level exactly how you like it.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- Ingredients for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- How to Make Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- My Top Tips for This Recipe
- Little Moments in the Kitchen
- Substitutions for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- Variations on Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- Equipment for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- Storage Tips for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- Olivia's Tip for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- FAQ about Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
- Conclusion
- Related
- Pairing
- 📖 Recipe
Why You'll Love This Iced Cherry Chai Latte
Tastes Like Starbucks: This iced cherry chai latte Starbucks copycat is so spot on, you'll think you ordered it from the drive through. The combination of spiced chai and sweet cherry is absolutely perfect for refreshing cold drinks.
Save So Much Money: Making this at home costs about $2 versus $7+ at Starbucks. That's a huge savings when you're craving it multiple times a week like we do for coffee treats!
Customizable Sweetness: Control exactly how sweet and spicy you want your drink. Make it with less sugar, more cherry, stronger chai, whatever you prefer for fruity coffee drinks and chai flavors perfection.
Ingredients for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
This starbucks cherry chai latte recipe uses simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. The key is using quality chai concentrate and making that cherry cold foam.
What You'll Need
For the Cherry Syrup:
- ½ cup fresh or frozen cherries (pitted)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Iced Chai Base:
- ½ cup chai tea concentrate (Tazo or homemade chai concentrate)
- 1 cup milk of choice (whole milk, oat milk, or almond milk)
- Ice cubes
- 2 to 3 tablespoons cherry syrup (adjust to taste)
For the Cherry Cold Foam:
- ¼ cup heavy cream (or use barista blend oatmilk foam for dairy free)
- 1 tablespoon cherry syrup
- Optional: 2 tablespoons milk for lighter foam
For Topping:
- Freeze dried cherries, crushed (for garnish)
- Extra cherry syrup drizzle
Why These Ingredients Matter
Chai Concentrate: Using chai concentrate instead of brewed chai tea gives you that strong, spiced flavor that doesn't get watered down by ice. Tazo is what Starbucks uses, but homemade works great too for this chai tea concentrate base.
Cherry Syrup: Making homemade cherry vanilla simple syrup gives you the freshest, most authentic cherry flavor. Store bought works (Combine Torani Cherry Syrup with heavy cream and froth until fluffy), but homemade tastes better and you control the sweetness for this cherry chai recipe.
Heavy Cream for Cold Foam: This is the secret to getting that thick, creamy cold foam that sits perfectly on top. The cream holds its structure better than milk for this cherry cold foam recipe and cherry cream cold foam texture. If you love copycat drinks, check out my Strawberry Iced Tea Recipe Starbucks Copycat too!
How to Make Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
Step by Step Directions
- Make the cherry syrup. In a small saucepan, combine cherries, water, and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until cherries break down and mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and let cool. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on solids to extract all the juice. Store in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Prepare your glass. Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of cherry syrup around the inside of the glass for that signature Starbucks look with Starbucks Cherry Powder visual effect.
- Mix the chai base. In a separate container, mix together the chai concentrate, milk, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of cherry syrup. Stir well to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed for this Make Starbucks' Cherry Chai at home by mixing milk foundation.
- Pour over ice. Pour the chai mixture over the ice filled glass. Leave about 1 inch of space at the top for the cold foam.
- Make the cherry cold foam. In a small jar with a lid or a milk frother cup, combine heavy cream and 1 tablespoon cherry syrup. If using a handheld frother, froth for 30 to 45 seconds until thick and fluffy. If using a jar, seal tightly and shake vigorously for 45 to 60 seconds until doubled in volume and foamy. The foam should be thick enough to sit on top of the drink for this cherry cold foam starbucks recipe and Starbucks Iced Cherry Chai, Cherry Cream, Cold Foam, Cherry effect.
- Top with cold foam. Gently spoon or pour the cherry cold foam on top of the iced chai. It should float on the surface creating beautiful layers for this iced cherry chai starbucks presentation.
- Garnish and serve. Crush freeze dried cherries and sprinkle on top of the foam. Add an extra drizzle of cherry syrup if desired. Serve immediately with a straw and enjoy this Make Starbucks' Iced Cherry Chai at home with chai concentrate cherry cold foam, and a cherry crunch topping creation!
Hint: For the best foam, make sure your cream is very cold! Warm cream won't froth as well. Keep your cream in the fridge until you're ready to make the foam for perfect any recipe for cherry chai foam and topping in starbucks latte results!
My Top Tips for This Recipe
Don't skip making the homemade cherry syrup if you can help it. The flavor is so much fresher and more natural than store bought, plus you can control the sweetness. The vanilla extract is what really makes it taste like the Starbucks version.
Gold Tip: Make a big batch of cherry syrup at the beginning of the week and store it in the fridge. Then you can make these drinks in under 2 minutes whenever you want one. It keeps for 2 weeks, so you'll have fancy drinks all month long for iced cherry chai latte recipe convenience!
Little Moments in the Kitchen
When I first made this, Olivia watched me make the cold foam and said, "Mom, you're literally just shaking a jar. That's it? That's the fancy foam?" Yes, child. Sometimes the fanciest things are the simplest! When I poured it on top and it sat there in perfect pink layers, she gasped and grabbed her phone to take a picture before even tasting it.
She posted it on her Instagram story with "my mom is a barista now" and got about 50 messages from her friends asking if I'd make them one. Now every Saturday morning, she requests this instead of her usual hot chocolate. She's very particular about the freeze dried cherry topping and insists on crushing it herself because "presentation matters, Mom." She's not wrong. This drink is almost too pretty to drink. Almost.
Substitutions for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
Store Bought Cherry Syrup: Use Torani cherry syrup instead of homemade for quicker prep. You'll need about half as much since it's more concentrated for cherry chai latte starbucks style.
Dairy Free: Use oat milk or almond milk for the base and coconut cream for the cold foam. The coconut cream froths beautifully for barista blend oatmilk foam alternatives and iced cherry chai tea latte variations.
No Chai Concentrate: Brew 4 chai tea bags in ½ cup hot water, let steep for 5 minutes, remove bags, and chill before using. It won't be quite as strong but still delicious for iced cherry chai tea latte recipe options.
Variations on Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
Extra Spicy: Add a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom to the cherry syrup while it cooks for more depth. This creates amazing spiced drinks and chai coffee variations for cherry chai starbucks inspired flavors!
Vanilla Cherry: Add an extra teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cold foam for a vanilla cherry flavor bomb. This is perfect for cherry latte and iced cherry chai latte enthusiasts.
Chocolate Cherry: Add 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup to the chai base for a chocolate covered cherry vibe. So good for iced cherry chai recipe creativity! Try my Kashmiri Pink Chai Recipe for another beautiful chai variation!
Equipment for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
Milk Frother: A handheld milk frother makes the cold foam so easy. They're inexpensive and worth it for starbucks drinks recipes.
Small Saucepan: For making the homemade cherry syrup.
Fine Mesh Strainer: Essential for straining the cherry syrup to get a smooth, clear liquid.
Tall Glass: Use a clear glass to show off those beautiful pink layers for iced chai latte with cherry cold foam presentation!
Storage Tips for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
Cherry Syrup: Store in an airtight jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Shake before each use as it may settle.
Cold Foam: Cold foam should be made fresh right before serving. It doesn't store well as it deflates within minutes.
Prepared Drink: This drink is best enjoyed immediately while the foam is fluffy and the ice is fresh. Don't try to make it ahead for cherry iced chai latte quality.
Olivia's Tip for Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
"When you put the cold foam on top, pour it really slow and gentle so it doesn't just mix in with the drink. You want it to sit on top like a cloud. And don't forget to crush the freeze dried cherries super fine or they're hard to drink through the straw. Also, take a picture before you drink it because it's so pretty!"
FAQ about Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
How to make Starbucks iced cherry chai latte at home?
To make this iced cherry chai latte starbucks copycat, you need chai concentrate, milk, homemade cherry syrup, ice, and cherry cold foam. Mix chai concentrate with milk and cherry syrup over ice, then top with cold foam made from heavy cream and cherry syrup. Garnish with crushed freeze dried cherries. The key is using Starbucks Iced Chai Latte and tops it with a sweet cherry cold foam made with homemade cherry cream cold foam technique for authentic results!
What does Starbucks put in their iced chai tea latte?
Starbucks uses Tazo chai tea concentrate (which contains black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and vanilla), milk, ice, and liquid cane sugar. For the cherry version, they add cherry flavoring and top it with cherry flavored cold foam and freeze dried cherry pieces. You can recreate Starbucks Iced Cherry Chai: Ingredients using these same components at home for iced cherry chai tea latte recipe success!
Is the cherry chai from Starbucks seasonal?
Yes, the Iced Cherry Chai was a limited time spring seasonal drink at Starbucks. Many people ask is the iced cherry chai still at starbucks and unfortunately it's often discontinued after the season ends. That's why making it at home is perfect because you can enjoy it year round whenever you want it and is discussed frequently in iced cherry chai latte reddit threads!
What does Starbucks cherry chai taste like?
It tastes like a perfect blend of warm chai spices (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom) with sweet, fruity cherry flavor. The cherry adds a bright, slightly tart sweetness that balances the warming spices beautifully. The creamy cold foam adds richness and the freeze dried cherries on top add a concentrated cherry burst. It's refreshing, creamy, slightly sweet, and perfectly spiced all at once for cherry chai latte and iced cherry chai perfection! Try my Homemade Boba Milk Tea Recipe for another fun drink!
Conclusion
This Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte is proof that you don't need to spend a fortune on fancy coffee drinks when you can make them at home for a fraction of the cost. The combination of spiced chai and sweet cherry is absolutely addictive, and that pink cold foam makes it feel like such a special treat. Plus, there's something so satisfying about recreating your favorite Starbucks drinks in your own kitchen.
If you loved this starbucks cherry chai latte recipe and starbucks drinks recipes copycat ideas, you'll want to try my Blue Moon Milk Tea Recipe for another stunning drink, or check out these Pumpkin Chai Latte Bars for a chai dessert. This iced cherry chai latte recipe, iced chai latte with cherry cold foam technique, and cherry iced chai latte variations will become your go to spring and summer drink all season long!
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Iced Cherry Chai Latte:
📖 Recipe
Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a small saucepan, combine the cherries, water, and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes until the cherries break down. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract, then strain and let cool.
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes and drizzle a tablespoon of cherry syrup around the inside.
- In a separate cup, stir together the chai tea concentrate, milk, and remaining cherry syrup. Taste and adjust sweetness.
- Pour the chai mixture over the ice, leaving room at the top for foam.
- Add heavy cream and cherry syrup to a frother or jar. Froth or shake until thick and fluffy.
- Gently spoon the cold foam on top, then sprinkle with crushed freeze-dried cherries. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Notes
- You can use store-bought cherry syrup to save time, but homemade gives the best flavor.
- For dairy-free, use oat milk and coconut cream for the foam.
- The cherry syrup keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, perfect for quick weekend treats.
- This is a seasonal Starbucks favorite, but making it at home means Olivia and I enjoy it year-round.
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