Flavored cold foam is the simplest way to give iced coffee, tea, or even apple cider a silky, café-style finish. In this guide, we’ll cover what cold foam is, how to make it at home, and the best fall flavors to give a seasonal spin to your favorite drink recipes.
What Is Cold Foam?
Cold foam is made by aerating milk or cream, and floats on top of cold drinks. It’s light and easy to spoon on top of cold brews, matcha, and other iced drinks, adding another layer of aroma, flavor, and texture that elevates every sip without making the drink too heavy.
Why people love cold foam in fall: Seasonal favorites like pumpkin, maple, and cinnamon add warmth and rich flavor to cold foam, giving it a dessert-like quality that takes iced drinks from refreshing to indulgent and perfect for the season.
How to Make Cold Foam at Home
You don’t need an espresso machine to make cold foam! This drink topping is easy to make with limited tools. Start with cold dairy or dairy alternative, add your favorite Monin syrup, and whisk to add air. That’s it.
A note: a blend of heavy cream and 2% milk is our go-to and will provide a velvety cold foam similar to sweet cream. This offers a cold foam that is on the thicker side but won't quickly turn into whipped cream. You may also experiment with using just milk, skim milk, or oat milk, but the texture and creaminess of your cold foam will vary depending on the type of milk you use.
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Our perfect cold foam ratio:
When making cold foam, we like to stick to the 3/2/1 ratio:
- 3 oz. (90 mL) cold heavy cream
- 2 oz. (60 mL) 2% milk
- 1 oz. (30 mL) Monin syrup (Premium, Sugar Free, or Natural Zero)
Why we love it: this cold foam ratio is sweet, rich, and ultra-silky, making it great for dessert-inspired cold foams paired with stronger coffees, milk teas, or even dessert cocktails.
Other ways to make cold foam:
- Want a lighter, more bubbly cold foam? Swap all the cream for skim milk.
- Prefer dairy-free cold foam? Try oat milk instead of heavy cream.
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Choose your mixing tool
To get a perfectly smooth and light cold foam, we recommend using one of the following methods:
- Hand frother: Fast and fluffy. Froth for about 30 seconds or until your cold foam reaches the desired thickness.
- Cocktail shaker (no ice): Dry shake the heavy cream and syrup in a cocktail shaker without ice. Simply add ingredients, cap, and shake hard for 30–45 seconds or until your cold foam is the desired consistency.
- Shaker bottle with a whisk/blender ball: A protein shaker bottle doubles as a brilliant way to make cold foam! Just add ingredients, the blender ball, and shake for 30-60 seconds or until cold foam reaches desired thickness.
The Best Cold Foam Tips From Monin’s Beverage Innovators
- Colder is better. In addition to using cold heavy cream, chill your container for 5–10 minutes prior to use.
- Flavor first, then foam: stir the syrup (or sauce) into dairy before frothing for even flavor.
- If you prefer a thinner cold foam, try using whole or skim milk instead of heavy cream. This will give you an airier cold foam that will dissolve faster once you pour it over your drink. Heavy cream will hold together longer and offer a thicker, creamier texture.
- If your foam too liquid-y? Add a touch more cream and aerate for a few seconds longer.
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Cold Foam Tip: You Can Use Monin Gourmet Sauces, Too
Looking for rich, flavored cold foam with added depth? Monin Gourmet Sauces like Sea Salt Caramel Toffee, Sugar Free Dark Chocolate, and White Chocolate also make decadent cold foams, and can be paired with your favorite syrups to create an elevated flavor experience.
- For a rich texture, start with ½ oz. sauce, 2 oz. 2% milk, and 3 oz. heavy cream.
- For a sweeter, more dessert-like foam, go up to 1 oz. sauce but keep the milk and cream ratios the same.
- Stir sauce into the dairy until smooth before frothing.
Popular Cold Foam Flavors for Fall
You’ve mastered how to make the perfect cold foam at home. Now, it’s time to add in the best fall flavors for cold foam! Here are our top Monin flavors for adding autumn flair to your classic cold foam recipe.
- Pumpkin Spice Syrup: Classic pumpkin with the warmth of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Exceptional when poured over cold brew, an iced malty black tea, or even an espresso martini.
- Pumpkin Pie Syrup: Rich pumpkin and buttery pie crust notes. This flavor is perfect for crafting a cold foam similar to pumpkin sweet cream.
- Maple Spice Syrup: Classic maple with notes of spicy ginger, cinnamon, and clove. Delicious in fall or winter, maple spice cold foam instantly warms up iced coffees, chai lattes, or chilled apple ciders.
- Caramel Apple Butter Syrup: Spiced apple butter and rich caramel are a top-tier seasonal flavor combo. Add this syrup to cold foam to elevate cold brews, mocktails, and even iced matcha.
- Toasted Marshmallow Syrup: The ultimate fall cold foam flavor? It just might be! When frothed with heavy cream, the classic flavor of campfire treats never tasted so good. A creamy compliment to mochas, frozen hot chocolates, or espresso tonics.
- Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup: Add the taste of rich brown sugar and cinnamon to cold brews, iced hojicha lattes, and dirty sodas. A tip from us: a tiny pinch of sea salt in your spiced brown sugar cold foam will really make it pop.
- Cinnamon Bun Syrup: The perfect blend of warmth and indulgence. Finish off iced lattes or nitro cold brews with a dollop of creamy cold foam infused with swirled cinnamon and fresh-baked pastry flavor.
- Butter Pecan Syrup: Pecan is having a moment this fall, and this blend of buttery richness and toasted pecan notes makes an excellent cold foam to add to cold brews or iced cappuccinos. For another delicious autumn upgrade, add a little caramel drizzle.
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Fall Cold Foam Recipes to Try
Now that you’ve got the basics down, try adding these flavored cold foams to your favorite fall drink recipes.
Each recipe below uses the featured ratio: 1 oz. Monin syrup + 2 oz. 2% milk + 3 oz. heavy cream.
The following four recipes also use the same method to make your cold foam. How to make cold foam with Monin syrup:
- Stir your syrup into heavy cream, then froth or shake to create an airy, creamy cold foam.
- Pour your base drink over, then spoon the cold foam on top.
- Finish with a simple garnish (cinnamon dust, apple slice, or caramel thread).
Caramel Apple Butter Cold Foam
Fruity and indulgent? Yes, please. Caramel Apple Butter Syrup adds layered flavor to any iced drink. Add it to black tea or cold brew for a sip that’s creamy on top and refreshingly light underneath.
Salted Caramel Cold Foam
Sweet, salty, and oh so satisfying. Cold foam made with Monin Salted Caramel Syrup turns espresso martinis and iced lattes into easy, dessert-inspired treats without feeling too heavy.
Toasted Marshmallow Cold Foam
Add toasty flavor treat to your next dirty soda with this Monin Toasted Marshmallow Syrup-infused cold foam. Equal parts frothy and creamy, its nostalgic flavor perfectly captures how delicious it is to enjoy a hot, gooey marshmallow on a cold fall night.
Cinnamon Bun Cold Foam
Fresh baked-cinnamon buns are a classic fall dessert, and Cinnamon Bun Syrup captures their warm, spiced aroma and flavor perfectly. Spoon this cold foam atop cold brew coffee and finish with a quick dusting of cinnamon.
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More Fall Cold Foam Recipes
Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam
A classic fall flavor, remixed. Spoon Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam over cold brew or malty black tea for a creamy cap that tastes like fall from the first sip.
Apple Crisp Cold Foam
Orchard-bright and dessert-leaning in the best way. Apple Crisp Cold Foam blends Monin Apple Syrup and Cinnamon Bun Syrup for an indulgent topping you'll want to use to garnish coffee, black tea, or chilled cider.
Cold Brew Cold Foam Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin pie and whipped cream, in drink form? This Cold Brew Cold Foam Pumpkin Spice Latte gets close! Star with a base of Monin Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate infused with Vanilla Creme, and finish it off with a Pumpkin Pie cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin pie spices for a decadent treat.
Horchata Cold Foam Cold Brew
Made with Monin Cinnamon Syrup and Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup, this Horchata Cold Foam Cold Brew is frothy, creamy, and offers just the right amount of spice to start the day off with a kick of seasonal flavor.
Dirty Chai Cold Foam Cold Brew
You new favorite fall drink has arrived. The Dirty Chai Cold Foam Cold Brew layers the aromatics of Monin Chai Concentrate and Monin Espresso Syrup over rich cold brew for a two-texture sip that’s both energizing and indulgent.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special equipment?
No. A hand frother is ideal, but a cocktail shaker or a protein shake bottle with a whisk/blender ball works just as well.
Can I use Sugar Free or Natural Zero flavors?
Yes. Both add delicious flavor on par with our Premium Syrups, and you can always customize the sweetness level to your personal preference.
Can I make it dairy-free?
Yes. Barista-style oat milk is the best substitute for heavy cream. You can try using almond and coconut milk but will yield a lighter and possibly thinner cold foam.
How sweet should my foam be?
That’s up to you! While we recommend 1 oz. of your favorite Monin Syrup blended into 4 oz. heavy cream, you can experiment and find the perfect balance of sweet and creamy for your personal taste.
Can I make a sauce-based cold foam?
Absolutely. Start with ½ oz. Monin Gourmet Sauce per 2 oz. 2% milk + 3 oz. heavy cream. For a more decadent cap, use 1 oz. Monin Gourmet Sauce per 2 oz. 2% milk + 3 oz. heavy cream. Stir in the sauce until dissolved, then froth.
Can I make batched cold foam ahead of time?
If you want to attempt making larger batches of cold foam, combine the syrup + heavy cream base and keep it chilled up for up to 24 hours. Froth or shake right before serving.
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Ready to upgrade your fall drinks?
From Pumpkin Spice to Toasted Marshmallow and Praline, Monin’s fall flavors help make cold foam fast, flexible, and delicious to customize. Explore our seasonal flavors page to find more autumn flavor inspiration!
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