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This iced cherry chai latte is creamy, lightly spiced, and topped with a sweet cherry vanilla cold foam. It’s my take on Starbucks’ new iced cherry chai—but made dairy-free and easy to recreate at home with a quick homemade cherry syrup.
If you’ve tried my Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso or Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte, you already know I love putting a cozy spin on coffee shop favorites. This one’s just as simple and perfect for spring.
Emily’s Recipe Notes:
- Flavor: Lightly spiced with warm spices and notes of sweet cherries!
- Difficulty: Easy and fun to make.
- Time: About 10 minutes (or ~2 minutes if the syrup’s ready to go)
Why we love this cherry chai latte: I’m always experimenting with cozy coffee and tea drinks, and I love making simple syrups from scratch—like this strawberry syrup or my take on Starbucks’ brown sugar syrup. With cherry blossoms blooming all around me, I wanted a drink that feels just like spring. And this one does just that.
Why This Recipe Works
Starbucks released a cherry chai latte on their 2025 spring menu, made with 2% milk and a cherry vanilla-flavored cold foam. It’s creamy, lightly spiced, and sweet—but not dairy-free. I wanted to recreate the same cozy vibe at home, minus the dairy, using simple ingredients and a quick homemade syrup.
I first tested the recipe with regular cherries, but the flavor wasn’t nearly as bold, and the syrup turned a deep purple instead of that iconic pink. Swapping in maraschino cherries gave me a brighter color and that nostalgic cherry flavor I was looking for.
Ingredients for the syrup:
Ingredient Highlights & Some Swaps
Sugar
The base of the simple syrup. Cane sugar works best for a clean, sweet flavor. You can also use brown sugar for a deeper, caramel-like note.
Maraschino Cherries + Juice
You’ll use both the cherries and the juice straight from the jar. They add that iconic cherry flavor and pink color to the cold foam. You can also use frozen cherries (about 1 cup) in a pinch, but the syrup will be a darker purple and the cherry flavor will be a bit more muted.
Vanilla Bean Paste
Adds a rich, warm depth to the syrup. If you don’t have paste, pure vanilla extract works too. If you have one on hand, you could also use about 1/2 a vanilla bean pod. You’ll want to add it before you start simmering the syrup like in my vanilla simple syrup recipe.
Barista Blend Oatmilk
Used in both the latte and the cold foam. The Barista-style blend froths up beautifully and gives the drink a creamy texture without any dairy or heavy cream. I used Good Karma’s Barista Blend Oatmilk.
Chai Concentrate
I like to use a pre-made chai concentrate to keep things easy and give the drink that classic spicy chai flavor. It’s typically brewed with black tea and warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and clove.
Most come in a box or bottle and can be found in the coffee and tea aisle at the grocery store. Look for one that’s lightly sweetened or adjust the syrup in your latte to taste. If you’re vegan, double-check the ingredients—some chai concentrates use honey, so opt for one with a plant-based sweetener instead.
Step By Step Guide
Add the sugar, cherry juice, and maraschino cherries to a small saucepan.
Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Mash the cherries with a fork and simmer for 5–7 minutes until slightly reduced.
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla bean paste.
Strain the syrup into a jar or container and let it cool at room temperature.
Add the cherry syrup to the oatmilk and froth for 1–2 minutes, until light and foamy.
Pour the chai concentrate over a glass of ice, add oatmilk to taste, then top with the cherry cream cold foam.
Storage Tips
- For the Syrup: The cherry vanilla syrup can be stored in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- For the Cold Foam: The cherry cold foam is best fresh but can be kept in the fridge for 1 day. Just give it a good whisk or re-froth before using.
- For the Latte: The assembled latte is best enjoyed right away for the best texture and flavor.
Tips from Emily’s Kitchen
- Use maraschino cherries for the best flavor and color.
They add the most intense cherry flavor and give the syrup that pretty red color. Frozen or fresh cherries work too, but the flavor is more muted and the color turns out more purple than red or pink. You can also use dye-free maraschino cherries. - Choose a chai concentrate you actually like.
Most of the flavor in this drink comes from the chai, so pick one that isn’t too sweet and has a good balance of spice. If vegan, be sure to pick a store-bought version that doesn’t contain honey. - Go for a barista blend oatmilk.
To get that thick, frothy cold foam, you’ll want a barista-style oatmilk. I used one by Good Karma—it foamed up perfectly.
More Starbucks Inspired Drinks to Try
Iced Cherry Chai Latte with Oatmilk
Rate this RecipeIngredients
Cherry Oatmilk Cold Foam:
- ¼ cup barista blend oatmilk, chilled – I used Good Karma’s Oatmilk+ Barista Blend
- 1 ½ tbsp Homemade Cherry Vanilla Simple Syrup
Iced Cherry Chai Oatmilk Latte:
- 1 handful ice cubes
- ½ cup chai tea concentrate
- ½ cup barista blend oatmilk, chilled – I used Good Karma's Oatmilk+ Barista Blend
- 1 tbsp Homemade Cherry Vanilla Simple Syrup, to taste – see above
Instructions
- Make the Cherry Vanilla Syrup according to this recipe.
Make the Cherry Cold Foam:
- Froth the barista blend oatmilk with 1½ tbsp cherry vanilla simple syrup using a milk frother until doubled in volume and foamy.¼ cup barista blend oatmilk, 1 ½ tbsp Homemade Cherry Vanilla Simple Syrup
Assemble the Latte:
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Add chai tea concentrate, then top with the oatmilk. Spoon the cherry oatmilk cold foam on top and drizzle with cherry vanilla simple syrup to taste.1 handful ice cubes, ½ cup chai tea concentrate, ½ cup barista blend oatmilk, 1 tbsp Homemade Cherry Vanilla Simple Syrup
Recipe notes
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Categories:
10 Ingredients or Less, Coffee Shop Inspired, Drinks, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring, Summer,
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