Strawberry Latte Recipe (Hot & Iced)

A strawberry latte layers sweet, fruity strawberry with creamy milk and the rich depth of espresso. It sounds like a specialty coffee shop treat, but it’s easy to make at home in about 10 minutes — and you can customize the sweetness and espresso strength to exactly how you like it.

This recipe covers both the hot and iced versions, a quick strawberry syrup from fresh or frozen berries, and a few popular variations including the iced strawberry oat milk latte.

What Is a Strawberry Latte?

A strawberry latte is espresso combined with steamed (or cold) milk and strawberry flavoring — usually a strawberry syrup, reduction, or purée. The result is pink, fruity, and sweet with the underlying boldness of espresso cutting through.

Unlike a matcha latte or chai latte, the strawberry latte is entirely fruit-forward. The espresso adds depth and caffeine without dominating the flavor — the strawberry is always the star.

Espresso version vs non-espresso version: Some strawberry lattes skip the espresso entirely and use steamed or frothed milk over strawberry — this is closer to a strawberry steamer. The recipe below covers the espresso version first, with a non-espresso alternative noted.

Ingredients (1 serving)

For the latte:

• 1–2 shots espresso (or 2 oz strong brewed coffee)
• 4–6 oz whole milk or oat milk
• 2–3 tablespoons strawberry syrup (see below)
• Ice (for iced version)
• Fresh strawberry slices, optional garnish

For homemade strawberry syrup (makes ~1 cup):

• 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled and halved
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Make the Strawberry Syrup

Fresh-tasting, vibrant, and far better than anything store-bought:

1. Combine strawberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan
2. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally
3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10–12 minutes, mashing the berries with a spoon as they soften
4. Add lemon juice and stir — this brightens the color and flavor
5. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes
6. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing the pulp to extract all the juice
7. Cool completely, then refrigerate in a jar for up to 2 weeks

Shortcut options:

• Strawberry jam: Stir 2 tablespoons of good-quality strawberry jam into 2 tablespoons of hot water until dissolved. Not as vibrant but works well in a pinch.
• Freeze-dried strawberries: Blend into a fine powder and whisk into simple syrup for an intensely colored, concentrated flavor.
• Store-bought: Torani or Monin strawberry syrup are widely available and consistent.

Strawberry Latte Recipe

Iced Strawberry Latte (most popular)

Time: 10 minutes | Yield: 1 serving

1. Add syrup to glass — Put 2–3 tablespoons of strawberry syrup in the bottom of a large glass
2. Add ice — Fill the glass with ice
3. Add milk — Pour 4–5 oz of cold milk over the ice. The pink syrup will swirl up through the milk — visually striking before mixing
4. Pull espresso — Brew 1–2 shots of espresso and let cool slightly (or use cold brew concentrate for a smoother result)
5. Add espresso — Pour the espresso over the milk. It will layer on top briefly before mixing
6. Stir and serve — Stir everything together. Garnish with a strawberry slice on the rim if you want

Hot Strawberry Latte

1. Pull 1–2 shots of espresso directly into your mug
2. Stir in 2 tablespoons of strawberry syrup while the espresso is hot
3. Steam 4–5 oz of milk to around 150°F (or heat in the microwave and froth)
4. Pour the steamed milk over the espresso-syrup mixture
5. Give a gentle stir and serve immediately

The hot version is subtler — the strawberry flavor integrates differently with heat, becoming softer and more jammy. Add a pinch of vanilla extract for a strawberry shortcake effect.

Milk Options

Oat milk is particularly good here — its mild sweetness complements the strawberry without competition, and it froths well for the hot version.

Sweetness Guide

Starbucks Strawberry Latte Dupe

Starbucks doesn’t officially sell a “strawberry latte” by that name, but you can recreate drinks like the Strawberry Cold Foam Cold Brew at home:

1. Make a vanilla sweet cream cold brew base (or strong cold brew + a splash of cream)
2. In a separate jar, combine ½ cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon strawberry syrup, and 1 tablespoon simple syrup
3. Froth until thick but still pourable (about 30 seconds with a hand frother)
4. Pour cold brew over ice, then spoon the strawberry cold foam on top
5. Do not stir — sip through the foam

Variations

Iced Strawberry Oat Milk Latte: Use oat milk instead of regular milk and serve iced. The oat milk adds a creamy, barista-style quality. This is the most popular version at independent coffee shops right now.

Strawberry Vanilla Latte: Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract or ½ tablespoon of vanilla syrup alongside the strawberry. The vanilla amplifies the strawberry without adding much sweetness. It’s like strawberry shortcake in a glass.

Strawberry Matcha Latte: Skip the espresso and combine strawberry syrup with a matcha latte instead. The earthy-sweet match pairs beautifully with fruity strawberry. This is one of the most viral coffee drinks on TikTok.

Strawberry Iced Coffee: Brew regular drip coffee (not espresso), chill it, and combine with strawberry syrup and milk. Lighter than a latte, more refreshing.

Strawberry White Chocolate Mocha: Add 1 tablespoon of white chocolate sauce alongside the strawberry syrup. Rich, sweet, and very dessert-forward.

Without an Espresso Machine

If you don’t have an espresso machine:

• Moka pot: Produces concentrated coffee that works well in lattes. Use 2 oz for a similar intensity to espresso.
• AeroPress: With a fine grind and short brew time, you can produce strong coffee close to espresso.
• Strong drip coffee: Double up the coffee grounds (2 tablespoons per 4 oz water instead of the usual 1) and brew to concentration.
• Cold brew concentrate: Mix 1 part cold brew concentrate to 1 part water, or use it straight for an extra-strong base.

See how to make iced coffee for more no-espresso-machine options.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Latte Recipes

• Iced Latte Recipe — the essential iced coffee guide
• Vanilla Latte Recipe — classic, simple, endlessly customizable
• Strawberry Matcha Latte — viral combination of strawberry + matcha
• Lavender Latte Recipe — floral and elegant
• Caramel Macchiato Recipe — layered and sweet