Starbucks Copycat Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte

The Starbucks iced cinnamon dolce latte stole my heart the moment I tried it. I'm talking finished the cup, immediately thought about ordering another one, and then drove home already planning how to recreate it myself.

Cinnamon in coffee sounds simple, but getting it right took more rounds of testing than I expected. My best friend is the biggest coffee critic, and once she started making this herself on weekend mornings without asking, I knew I nailed the recipe.

I tried it in Starbucks a few years ago, when a friend convinced me to swap my usual oat cappucino for something a little more indulgent. The barista rattled off the name so fast I almost missed it, but one sip of that iced cinnamon dolce latte and I was completely sold. It's cold, sweet, and tastes like cinnamon and espresso actually belong together, which they just might.

The problem with falling in love with a Starbucks drink is the price tag that comes with it. At nearly seven dollars a cup, my new obsession was going to get expensive fast. So I did what any reasonable person would do: went home, pulled out every spice in my cabinet, and started testing until I figured out how to make it myself.

I make this whenever I want something better than plain iced coffee, or when my friend asks for "the cinnamon one" instead of her usual black coffee.

Making drinks is something I truly love, especially coffee. The process is so therapeutic for me. Whenever my husband requests coffee, I make two cups, one for him and one for me, and we sit together while I talk about how the batch turned out or what I'd adjust next time.

But this recipe actually got her to ask me how to make it herself, which never happens because she usually just waits for me to handle recipes with more steps. The first time I caught her in the kitchen in the middle of our hang-out, pulling out the cinnamon and milk, I thought she was making breakfast. Then I heard the French press clicking and realized she was making her own iced cinnamon dolce latte without any help.

She looked up when she saw me watching and just said "you were busy and I didn't want to wait." Now she makes it herself at home at least once a week, and sometimes she texts my husband to tell him to make me one too. I find it sitting in the fridge with a note that says "made extra."

That's when I knew this recipe was truly foolproof, because if my husband F can make it himself and it still tastes right, anyone can.

Ingredients

The coffee you start with changes how strong this tastes. Espresso gives you deeper, more concentrated flavor that stands up to the cinnamon and milk, while regular brewed coffee keeps it lighter and easier to drink. Let it cool completely before mixing so it doesn't melt the ice too fast and water everything down.

Cinnamon is what makes this drink what it is, but the amount matters more than you'd think. Too little and it disappears into the background, too much and it takes over the coffee completely. Mix it directly into the drink instead of just sprinkling it on top so it blends evenly instead of clumping.

Liquid sweetener works best in cold drinks because it actually dissolves. Carob syrup adds slightly deeper sweetness that pairs well with cinnamon, while honey keeps the flavor lighter and more floral. Start with less and add more if you need it.

Milk rounds everything out and softens the coffee edge. Almond milk keeps it lighter with a subtle nutty flavor, but any milk works depending on how creamy you want it. Thicker milk gives it more body, while lighter options keep it refreshing.

See the recipe card for exact quantities.

How to Make Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte?

This iced cinnamon dolce latte is smooth, lightly sweet, and full of warm cinnamon flavor with a cold, refreshing finish. It’s a simple way to get that café-style drink at home.

Brew the coffee

• Brew coffee using a French press or your preferred method
• Or pull 1–2 shots of espresso depending on how strong you want it
• Set aside and let it cool to room temperature

Mix the latte

• Stir well until fully combined and evenly mixed

Top the latte

• Add whipped cream on top if using
• Sprinkle a little cinnamon over the whipped cream

Serve

Other Lattes to Try

If you like this drink, it’s easy to rotate in other café-style options that focus on similar flavors and textures. Something like the iced caramel coffee keeps that same cold, smooth coffee base but leans a bit sweeter, while the Starbucks copycat apple crisp oat milk latte recipe adds a slightly spiced note that pairs well with cinnamon. For something a little softer and more floral, the vanilla lavender oat milk latte recipe gives a lighter contrast without feeling too heavy.

If you want to branch out beyond coffee, a few matcha options fit in nicely alongside this. The iced raspberry matcha latte with coconut milk keeps things cold and refreshing with a fruit layer, while the matcha latte with pistachio spread is thicker and slightly richer. For something more dessert-style, the smores latte recipe and cozy gingerbread latte recipe bring in deeper, sweeter flavors, and thepumpkin spice latte with syrup rounds things out with a more spiced profile that works well when you want a stronger flavor next to your usual iced drinks.