Sugar Cookie Simple Syrup (Starbucks Copycat)

This homemade sugar cookie syrup recipe is what you’ll need to make an iced sugar cookie latte at home! This easy homemade syrup is made with six simple ingredients to create that perfect sugar cookie flavor for all of your favorite holiday beverages. 

During the holiday season, stopping into Starbucks at least once to grab one of their seasonal drinks is a must. And if you’ve ever tried their popular iced sugar cookie almond milk latte you’ll understand why I wanted recreate a homemade version.

This sugar cookie simple syrup brings that vanilla-packed sugar cookie goodness and buttery flavor to your homemade sugar cookie latte, and has potential to be used in a variety of other ways too! You could simply add it to hot coffee to give it a festive twist. Use it for holiday mocktails or cocktails. Try using it the next time you’re making homemade whipped cream in lieu of powdered sugar to top a holiday treat with (*runs to buy heavy whipping cream to do this*). You could also use it for topping pancakes, French toast, or waffles if desired!

What is Simple Syrup?

Simple syrup is a liquefied form of sugar that is often used to sweeten cocktails, teas, coffees, and other cold beverages. If you’ve ever gone to a coffee shop and ordered a latte with “2 pumps of vanilla”…you just ordered a latte with vanilla simple syrup! Using a simple syrup sweetens your drinks without adding grainy sugar which creates a more enjoyable sip. A traditional simple syrup is made with equal parts sugar to water.

Ingredients Needed to Make Sugar Cookie Flavored Syrup

Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar. We use both brown sugar and white sugar in this delicious syrup recipe to mimic a great cookie recipe! This also adds a nice depth of flavor to you syrup. Both light brown sugar and dark brown sugar work in this recipe. Light brown sugar has a more subtle flavor than dark, due to a lower molasses content, so choose per your preference. 

Water. Water is a key ingredient for making simple syrup. 

Vanilla extract, almond extract, and butter extract. These three extracts combine to create the perfect sugar cookie flavor. I know butter extract may seem strange…but it really takes this DIY Starbucks sugar cookie syrup recipe to the next level because one of the main characteristics of a good sugar cookie is a buttery dough. All of these extracts can be found in your grocery store’s baking aisle. 

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Instructions for Sugar Cookie Syrup

Step 1: Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to a medium saucepan. 

Step 2: Top with water and stir.

Step 3: Over medium heat, simmer the sugars and water together, stirring frequently, until the sugar dissolves and there are no grains visible.

Step 4: Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla, almond, and butter extracts.

Step 5: Allow the syrup to cool and then transfer it to a sealable glass container. Once your syrup cools to at least room temperature, store in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Possible Dietary Restrictions?

This recipe is vegetarian as written.  Here are a few ways you can modify this recipe to make it friendly for various dietary restrictions:

• To make this into a dairy-free simple recipe, skip the butter extract. If you do this, you may want to add just a smidge more vanilla extract to your coffee syrup to help amp up the flavor.
• To make this into a vegan simple recipe, replace the brown sugar and white sugar with coconut sugar AND skip the butter extract. Please note that I have not done this myself, but believe it would still be a lovely option if you maintain a vegan diet.
• If you are serving this to someone with a nut allergy, make this nut-free by skipping the almond extract. 

Expert Tips

Don’t skip the butter extract! To be honest, I was a little skeptical about this ingredient before I began testing this recipe, but it is worth it! The butter extract really makes your cookie syrup taste like the perfect holiday sugar cookie. 

We didn’t use real butter for this one on purpose. While I love the idea of using regular butter for this recipe, there are a few issues with doing so in a simple syrup recipe. If you use real butter, it will harden when stored in the fridge. This doesn’t make your liquid sweetener very convenient, as you’d have to warm it up every time you want to use it. It’s also common to use simple syrups in cold drinks. If this was made with real butter it would harden in the drink itself, creating an unpleasant drink experience. Butter extract is the way to go for this recipe.

Sugar Cookie Syrup Storage

Homemade sugar cookie syrup can be stored in an airtight container in your fridge for up to two weeks. I like to use sealable glass bottle when making my own simple syrups. However, you can use a simple glass jar or mason jar too!