Crème Brûlée Iced Latte Recipe

Creamy iced coffee meets the signature caramelised crunch of crème brûlée. This Crème Brûlée Iced Latte combines fresh espresso and cold milk with a smooth cold foam, finished with a thin layer of sugar that’s torched until golden and crisp.

Simple, indulgent and made with familiar café ingredients, it’s an easy way to turn an iced latte into something special.

Recipe

Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 2 shots freshly brewed espresso
• 150–180 ml cold milk
• Ice
• 50 ml cold foam
• 1–2 tsp caster sugar

Method

1. Brew the espresso
Prepare two shots of espresso and allow them to cool slightly.

2. Build the iced latte
Fill a glass with ice and add the cold milk. Pour the espresso over the top and gently stir to combine.

3. Add the cold foam
Top the iced latte with a generous, even layer of cold foam, bringing it close to the rim of the glass.

4. Add the sugar
Sprinkle a thin, even layer of caster sugar over the cold foam. Avoid adding too much — you only need enough to create the caramelised crust.

5. Brûlée the top
Using a kitchen blowtorch, carefully caramelise the sugar until golden and crisp. Keep the torch moving to avoid burning one area.

Allow the caramelised sugar to set briefly before serving.

What Is a Crème Brûlée Latte?

A Crème Brûlée Latte takes inspiration from the classic French dessert and brings its signature caramelised sugar crust to an iced coffee.

The combination of bold espresso, cold milk, creamy foam and crisp caramelised sugar creates contrasting flavours and textures — including that satisfying crack through the brûléed top.

What Coffee Works Best?

A rich espresso with chocolate, caramel or nutty characteristics is ideal for a Crème Brûlée Iced Latte.

These flavours naturally complement the caramelised sugar while providing enough coffee intensity to balance the milk and cold foam.

Tips for the Perfect Brûlée Top

The key is keeping the cold foam thick enough to support the sugar. Add a thin, even coating of caster sugar and torch it quickly, keeping the flame moving across the surface.

For cafés, the iced latte and cold foam can be prepared using your usual setup, with the brûléed sugar added as the final step before serving.

Iced Coffee With a Little Crunch

Creamy, cold and finished with a crisp caramelised top, the Crème Brûlée Iced Latte turns a familiar café favourite into something a little more memorable.

Crack through the brûléed sugar and enjoy the combination of caramel, creamy foam and fresh espresso underneath.