The iced toasted vanilla oatmilk shaken espresso is Starbucks new addition to their spring drink menu and it’s dairy free and vegan! And we’re going to learn how to make this copycat Starbucks recipe at home. No fancy tools needed!
I love that Starbucks is starting to create more vegan/allergy friendly drinks!
What does It taste like?
This shaken espresso has a toasted caramelized vanilla flavour to it. It’s not overly sweet so you can savour the richness of the espresso as it melds with the oatmilk.
I have already heard mixed reviews though. It seems to be one of those drinks that people either love or hate. I love it!
What Is In An Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso?
The ingredients are: the espresso shots, ice, toasted vanilla syrup and oat milk.
As listed on their website, the ingredients to an iced toasted vanilla oatmilk shaken espresso are:
“Ice, Oatmilk [Oatmilk (Water, Oats), Canola Oil, Contains 2 Or Less Of Dipotassium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Riboflavin, Vitamin A, Vitamin D 2, Vitamin B 12], Brewed Espresso, Toasted Vanilla Flavored Syrup [Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Preservative Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid]”
Ingredients Needed To Make An Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Why is the name so long?!? Talk about a mouthful! Anyways, this drink requires you make a toasted vanilla bean syrup. Which you can easily accomplish!
Here’s everything we need to create this drink:
- Whole Vanilla Bean – Toasted to create that unique flavour
- White Granulated Sugar – Toasted (toasting optional but recommended) to give light caramel taste
- Vanilla Extract – Adds more vanilla taste
- Salt – Add a bit to the syrup to bring out the flavours
- Espresso – Use a light roast, or the Starbucks Veranda Blend
- Oatmilk – Use any kind you have or buy the Oatly Barista blend to achieve an authentic Starbucks taste
- Ice – Self explanatory!
What Type of Espresso Does Starbucks Use?
Starbucks uses their Veranda Blend blonde roast to create this drink. Their blonde is a light roast with a smooth sweet taste that isn’t bitter.
I recommend using a light or medium roast to achieve a similar taste to that of Starbucks. I used a medium roast Arabica bean since I had it on hand.
What Type Of Oatmilk Does Starbucks Use For Their Shaken Espresso?
Starbucks uses Oatly, Oat Drink Barista Edition, which is available for purchase on Amazon. I used my favourite kind, Oatsome Barista, that I buy from Kroger or you can purchase it from Amazon. It tastes great and froths well.
Calorie Content
In a tall iced toasted vanilla oat shaken espresso (14 oz) there are 100 calories. In a grande (16 oz) drink there is 140 calories. And the largest venti (24 oz) there are 190 calories.
It’s a very calorie friendly option compared to other drinks at Starbucks.
What is a Shaken Espresso?
Basically it’s espresso that has been shaken with ice to give a nice foam and cold rich taste.
It’s pretty much Starbucks’ new version of a double shot on ice.Which is espresso over ice with a splash of milk and classic syrup.
How Starbucks Prepares An Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
For a grande size, the barista first adds 4 pumps of toasted vanilla syrup into the shaker cup. Then prepares 3 blonde espresso shots and pours them into the syrup.
Ice is then added and the cup is shaken vigorously. The barista tops off the drink by pouring it into a serving cup and adding oatmilk.
Components Needed For A Toasted Vanilla Syrup
In order to make a true toasted vanilla syrup you need to toast a vanilla bean! I also like to use a toasted sugar to add that slight caramel taste.
Toasting the sugar is optional. However, I have tested this recipe with regular sugar and it doesn’t have the same depth as with the toasted sugar. It still makes a lovely syrup though!
Toast The Sugar
Preheat the oven to 300F. Then spread 1/2 cup of white granulated sugar onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake for about 30 minutes and see how it’s doing. The sugar will start to turn a light yellow and may form a few clumps. Stir it every ten minutes. Remove from the oven and use in recipe.
How To Toast The Vanilla Bean
Step 1: First we grab our vanilla bean to toast.
Step 2: Split it in half and scrape out the seeds.
Step 3: Chop it up into small pieces.
Step 4: Then cook on medium heat stirring fairly often for about 1-2 minutes. When they are done they will smell very fragrant and will have lightened a bit in colour.
Step 5: Remove from the heat.
Step 6: Use a spice grinder, pestle and mortar or a cutting board and a rolling pin to crush it into fine pieces.
How To Make A Toasted Vanilla Syrup
Step 1: Add the sugar and water to a small sauce pan and place over medium high heat. Bring to a boil and stir occasionally.
Step 2: Once it has boiled and all the sugar is dissolved, turn down the heat to low. Add in the vanilla bean powder and the salt. Let it simmer for 6 minutes.
Step 3: Remove from the heat and add in the vanilla extract. Pour into glass container and store in fridge until ready to use. Make sure to strain it when you add it to a drink!
How To Make an Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Step 1: Add Syrup
First I add 2-4 tablespoons of the toasted vanilla syrup to my shaker cup or glass heat proof jar. Starbucks uses 4 oz (4 TBSP) for a 16 oz drink.
Step 2: Prepare Espresso
Then prepare your 3 espresso shots, homemade espresso without machine or ½ cup double strength coffee.
Step 3: Add Ice & Espresso
Add about 10 ice cubes/2 cups ice to the shaker cup and pour espresso on top.
Step 4: Shake
Close the lid and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. Pour into your serving glass.
Step 5: Top With Oatmilk
Top with chilled oatmilk and enjoy.
How To Store
Store in the fridge in an airtight container. This lasts for about 6 weeks in the fridge. Since it has a high sugar content it lasts a good while!
Tips & Tricks
- Double the syrup recipe to make 4-6 drinks
- Try using different types of plant milk to switch up the taste
- This syrup is great for using in regular lattes, as a sweetener for coffee & I even use it to sweeten my plain yogurt
- If you don’t have a way to make espresso use this method that requires no machine or
- Use 1/2 cup double strength brewed coffee
- For instructions to make an espresso without a machine scroll past the recipe.
Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Equipment
- Kettle
- Saucepan
- Knife
- Cutting Board
Ingredients
Toasted Vanilla Syrup
- ½ cup toasted white sugar or white sugar
- ½ cup + 2 TBSP water
- 1/2 tsp crushed vanilla bean toasted
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- 2-4 TBSP toasted vanilla syrup*
- 2 cups ice cubes or 10 cubes
- 3 Espresso shots**
- 1/4-1/2 cup Chilled Oatmilk Starbucks uses Oatly
Instructions
Toast & Crush Vanilla Bean
- Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape out the seeds. Chop into small pieces.
- Toast by cooking in a saucepan for about 2 minutes. Stirring constantly. When it is done it will look dried and browned. It will also be very fragrant.
Toast Sugar
- Preheat the oven to 300F. Toast the sugar by spreading it onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and baking for 30-50 minutes. Stir it up every 10-15 minutes until it looks slightly yellowed and some of it is starting to melt. Remove from oven and use to make your syrup.
Toasted Vanilla Syrup
- In a small saucepan bring to boil the toasted sugar (or white sugar) and water. Cook and stir until all the sugar has been dissolved.
- Then turn the heat down to low and add in the ½-¾ tsp toasted vanilla bean powder. Let simmer for about 6 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the salt & vanilla extract. Pour into a glass container. When you use it make the shaken espresso be sure to strain it using a fine mesh strainer. While it’s in storage, leave the vanilla bean powder in the syrup so it can continue to infuse.
Preparing Iced Shaken Espresso
- Add 2-4 tablespoons of the toasted vanilla syrup to a shaker cup or a glass heat proof jar.
- Then prepare your espresso (Starbucks uses 3 shots for 16oz cup) or use ½ cup of double strength coffee. I use my homemade espresso shot for this recipe.
- Add 2 cups of ice to the shaker cup and Pour espresso shot over top
- Close the lid and shake vigorously for 15 seconds then pour into your serving glass.
- Top drink with chilled oatmilk and enjoy.
Notes
How to make an espresso shot without a machine
If you don’t own an espresso machine (like me), you’re going to love this simple immersion method!
To make an espresso without a machine boil water and be sure to let it cool for about 20 seconds
Place 3 tablespoons of medium fine ground coffee into a small glass. Pour about ½ cup hot water over it. Stir to combine.
Cover with a saucer or a lid and steep it for 3-4 minutes. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain into a cup. I like to let it settle for about 30 seconds before using. Then it’s good to use in your recipe.
This may be a dumb question, but what do you do with the scraped vanilla bean seeds? Looking forward to trying this recipe out since this drink is my latest obsession 😅
That’s actually a great question! You can keep them and add it to sugar to make it vanilla flavoured. Or use it in cupcakes or a frosting. You want to use it soon as I don’t think it stores well once it’s scraped out.
Thank-you! It’s one of my favourites too :).
so tasty – i see no reason to buy from five bucks now
Thank-you Nancy!
First of all, thank you for doing all of the research and for explaining everything. And second, THANK YOU for this delicious recipe! Never going to Starbucks again!
Thank-you and you are welcome! I enjoy being able to share all the information to make it the best it can be 🙂
new favorite drink! love how silky yet creamy it turned out! so so good!
Thanks Andrea!
So refreshing and delicious. A must-do recipe.
Thank you for sharing
I’m obsessed with this toasted vanilla bean syrup. So so good, thanks for the detailed instructions.
Thank-you, the toasted vanilla syrup is so good! Starbucks comes up with some great drink creations for us to make at home 🙂
thanks for the reco of oatmilk, never thought I can make my own vanilla espresso.
You are welcome Jean!
This oat milk espresso was so so good! I loved it. Thanks for the detailed instructions.
Thank-you!