Pistachio Cream Cold Brew

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This pistachio cream cold brew is a simple sweet treat for coffee lovers made at home with just a few simple ingredients. Made with Highground Instant Coffee, this robust cold brew boasts hints of vanilla and pistachio, crowned with a luscious pistachio cream cold foam and garnished with buttery cookie crumbles. It tastes even better than the coffeeshop and without the coffeeshop lines or prices.

This recipe is sponsored by my friends at Highground Instant Coffee.

Why you'll love it

If you've tried the Starbucks pistachio cream cold brew, then you know is it one of their best limited time offerings around this season. Starbucks calls this drink, "signature cold brew sweetened with vanilla syrup, topped with a silky, pistachio cream cold foam and finished with salted brown-buttery sprinkles for a sweet treat to start up any winter day" and this homemade version meets all that and so much more thanks to delicious, simple ingredients you can feel better about.

While it is a popular drink during the winter season, I think it is great all year round, which is why it is important to know how to make your own at home without relying on a coffee chain and their schedules.

Ingredient overview

ingredients in bowls for coffee beverage

You don't need a ton of ingredients to make this pistachio cream cold brew. These are the main ingredients. You can find the full list of ingredients with the measurements in the recipe card below.

Coffee - You can use your favorite high - quality coffee, but I personally recommend Highground Coffee. It's organic, free-trade, and has a bold, smooth flavor all while remaining budget-friendly. It also means you don't need to plan ahead and make your cold brew in advance, so a last minute craving can be satisfied quickly.
Cream - To create the cold foam, you need heavy cream (also sold as heavy whipping cream) and milk. You can use any percentage, but I recommend whole milk because it carries the flavor of that cozy flavor of sweet pistachio better.
Pistachio - There are a few different ways people like to infuse pistachio flavor into their sweet cream cold foam. Popular ways include using pistachio sauce or pistachio butter. I personally am a fan of making pistachio syrup because it does not affect the final creamy texture you want.
Cookies - You can finish the pistachio cold brew with brown butter cookie sprinkles for added depth and some texture. I recommend biscoff cookies.

How to make

Making this pistachio sweet cream cold foam cold brew is a very simple process. If you are making your own pistachio syrup and/or vanilla syrup, I recommend making them ahead of time and keeping them available whenever you want to make this simple cold brew.

Make the brown butter cookie crumbs, if you want to use them. Quickly brown butter in a small skillet. Cook the butter until it bubbles and then the milk solids turn brown and begins to smell nutty. Immediately add your crushed cookies and cook them in the butter until they are lightly toasted. Set aside to cool.
Prepare your coffee. If you're using Highground coffee, I recommend dissolving the coffee in a few tablespoons of warm water and then use cold water for the remaining water to get the correct volume.
Lightly sweeten the coffee with a little vanilla syrup and a touch of pistachio syrup. Add ice.
Make the pistachio sweet cream cold foam. Whisk together the heavy cream, milk, pistachio syrup using a hand mixer or a hand frother until the mixture is foamy and light.
Top the coffee with the foam and decorate the top with the brown butter sprinkles.

close up of glass full of beverage showing layers in the drink

Amanda's expert tips

If you want to add more depth, instead of using vanilla syrup, you can use brown sugar syrup or for a more intense pistachio flavor, only pistachio syrup.
To heighten the flavors, I recommend using salted brown butter instead of unsalted as it will help enhance the flavors of the pistachio and the sweet cream cold foam. Or you can top the drink with a pinch of flaky sea salt.
This is meant to be a comforting cold drink, but you can turn it into something that is more like a cozy latte by using brewed coffee and a steam frother.
If you are having trouble getting your heavy cream mixture to foam, you can try adding it to a food processor and pulsing a few times.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make any of the drink ahead of time so I can pour and go in the morning?

Yes! You can make the syrups in large batches and store for as long as you need. You can even make the toasted cookie topping and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Making the coffee fresh is always recommended, but you can also prepare it the night before so it is ready in the morning.

Recipe Card