Cookie Butter Cold Brew (Dunkin’ Copycat)

Cold brew coffee already has that smooth, slightly sweet flavor that makes it easy to turn into café-style drinks at home.

One of my favorite versions is cookie butter cold brew, inspired by the Dunkin drink that people wait for every fall.

The mix of cold brew coffee, cookie butter, and creamy foam creates something that tastes rich without being complicated to make.

The best part is that you don’t need any special equipment or hard-to-find ingredients. If you have cold brew, cookie butter spread, milk, and a blender or milk frother, you can recreate the drink in a few minutes.

I’ve tested this recipe several times to get the balance right so the cookie butter flavor actually comes through without making the drink too sweet or heavy. Once you make it at home, it’s honestly hard to go back to the drive-thru.

Why This Cookie Butter Cold Brew Works

Cookie butter has a warm, spiced flavor that pairs naturally with coffee. It includes notes similar to cinnamon, caramelized sugar, and brown sugar, which blend perfectly with the cold brew’s smooth taste.

Cold brew is ideal for this drink because it’s less acidic than regular iced coffee. That smoother base allows the cookie butter flavor to stand out instead of getting lost in bitterness.

In this recipe, the cookie butter is used in two ways:

• Mixed into the cold brew for flavor
• Whipped into a cookie butter cream cold foam for the top

That combination creates layers of flavor that make the drink taste like something you would order at Dunkin.

Dunkin’ Cookie Butter Cold Brew Ingredients

For the drink:

• 1 cup cold brew coffee
• 1–2 teaspoons cookie butter spread
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar syrup (optional but recommended)
• Ice

For the cookie butter cream cold foam:

• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon cookie butter spread
• ½ teaspoon vanilla syrup or simple syrup

Optional topping:

• Crushed speculoos cookies or cookie crumbs

Cookie Butter Cold Brew Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Cold Brew Base

Start with about 1 cup of cold brew coffee. If you’re using homemade cold brew, make sure it’s fully chilled before assembling the drink.

Add ice to a tall glass until it’s about three-quarters full.

Pour the cold brew coffee over the ice.

Note: Cold brew works best here because of its smoother flavor, but you can substitute chilled strong coffee if needed.

Step 2: Add Cookie Butter to the Coffee

Cookie butter is thick, so the easiest way to incorporate it is to mix it with a small amount of coffee first.

Take 1–2 teaspoons of cookie butter and place it in a small cup or bowl.

Add a tablespoon of the cold brew and stir until it becomes smooth and slightly thinner.

Once the cookie butter loosens up, pour it into the glass of cold brew and stir well.

This step helps the cookie butter blend evenly instead of sitting at the bottom of the glass.

Step 3: Sweeten the Drink

Add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar syrup to the cold brew.

While cookie butter already contains sweetness, the brown sugar syrup helps enhance that caramelized cookie flavor that Dunkin’s version has.

Stir everything together until fully combined.

Taste the coffee at this stage. If you prefer a sweeter drink, you can add another teaspoon of syrup.

Step 4: Make the Cookie Butter Cold Foam

The cold foam is what makes this drink feel like a coffee shop order instead of just flavored coffee.

In a small jar, milk frother cup, or blender, combine:

• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon cookie butter
• ½ teaspoon vanilla syrup

Blend or froth for about 15–20 seconds.

You’re looking for a thick but pourable foam. It should resemble melted ice cream or lightly whipped cream.

For tips and tricks on making cookie butter cold foam, go here.

Step 5: Assemble the Drink

Slowly pour the cookie butter cold foam over the cold brew.

The foam should float on top and create that layered café look.

Finish with a small sprinkle of crushed cookie crumbs if you want the drink to look extra special.

Give the drink a gentle stir before drinking so the foam blends into the coffee.

Tips for the Best Cookie Butter Cold Brew

Use Good Cold Brew

The flavor of this drink depends heavily on the coffee base. A smooth cold brew concentrate diluted with water works best.

If you’re brewing it yourself, use a medium-to-dark roast coffee and steep it for about 12–16 hours.

Warm the Cookie Butter Slightly

If the cookie butter is very thick, warming it for about 10 seconds in the microwave makes it much easier to mix into the coffee and foam.

Adjust the Sweetness

Cookie butter already contains sugar, so some people find the drink sweet enough without extra syrup.

You can skip the brown sugar syrup, use maple syrup instead, or use vanilla syrup for a different flavor.

Blend the Foam Properly

Cold foam should be creamy but still pourable.

If you whip the cream too long, it will turn into whipped cream instead of foam. Stop blending as soon as it thickens.

Variations to Try

Cookie Butter Latte Version

Instead of cold brew, you can turn this drink into an iced latte.

This version tastes closer to a dessert latte.

Dairy-Free Cookie Butter Cold Brew

Use these substitutions:

• Oat milk or almond milk instead of milk
• Coconut cream instead of heavy cream
• Oat milk works especially well because its texture creates a creamy foam.

Extra Cookie Flavor

For a stronger cookie butter flavor:

• Add another ½ teaspoon cookie butter to the foam
• Stir a small amount directly into the coffee
• Just make sure it dissolves completely.

Make-Ahead Tips

You can prepare parts of this drink in advance.

Cold brew can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

You can also pre-mix the cookie butter coffee base and keep it in the fridge for a day or two.

The cold foam is best made fresh, since it loses its texture after sitting.

Cookie Butter Cold Brew Storage

If you make extra cookie butter foam, store it in a small jar in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Before using it again, shake the jar or froth it for a few seconds to bring back the creamy texture.

Serving Ideas

This drink works well:

• As a morning coffee treat
• As an afternoon pick-me-up
• As a dessert coffee

It’s also a great fall-style coffee when you want something cozy but still iced.

Check out more cold brew recipes: