Watching your calorie intake and big delicious coffees don’t go hand in hand. So if you’re looking to cut some fat from your daily coffee, we suggest the Starbucks skinny vanilla latte.
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We were surprised to find out it has half the calories but 100% the taste. For your convenience, we tested a recipe to have it even at half the expense!
Topics Explored
- What is a skinny vanilla latte at Starbucks?
- How many calories is it?
- Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte recipe
- Tips to keep your latte skinny
- Dietary questions
- More questions
What is a Skinny Vanilla Latte at Starbucks?
The skinny vanilla latte is essentially a modification of the regular vanilla latte at Starbucks. The standard version is made with 2 shots of espresso, vanilla syrup, and steamed milk.
In the skinny version, whole milk and syrup are substituted for non-fat milk and sugar-free syrup.
The skinny vanilla latte is not sold only at Starbucks. Since it enjoys high demand, Starbucks offers it bottled in its stores and large chains like Target.
The bottled version comes in a 40oz size and at a budget-friendly price. The ready-made drink doesn’t quite taste like the freshly brewed version, but it comes pretty close.
What is in it?
A grande hot skinny vanilla latte features 2 shots of blonde roast, which packs a sustainable amount of caffeine. The espresso is joined by non-fat steamed milk and 4 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.
The ratio of ingredients depends on the size. You can also get it iced, swapping the steamed milk for cold.
How Many Calories Is It
A standard 12 oz vanilla latte has around 200 calories, with the majority coming from sugar and fat. The bottled version has 100 calories per 12 oz.
An in-store, warm skinny vanilla latte has 110 to 120 calories. All of them come from the non-fat milk. The iced in-store version has less milk and has 60 calories for the same size.
Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte Recipe
We know there’s a ready-made bottled version, but we also love creating a new coffee drink when given a chance. And this latte seemed like an effortless task.
If you too want to unlock your inner barista, here’s the easiest Starbucks skinny vanilla latte recipe.
Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte Recipe
With just a few essential ingredients and your favorite mug, this Starbucks skinny vanilla latte recipe will be your next go-to when you want to cut some calories.
Ingredients
- Espresso: 2 shots
- Non-fat Milk: 1 cup
- Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup*: 4 tbsp
Instructions
- Start by preparing the espresso. Starbucks uses blonde roast, which is acidic and has higher caffeine content. You can also use their breakfast blend or any light roast.
- Brew 2 shots of espresso and set them aside. Now on to the milk. Take a small saucepan and pour the non-fat milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat, constantly stirring to combine the ingredients. Warm it up for 3 to 4 minutes, don't let it boil.
- Pour the milk into the cup and use a frother or immersion blender to froth the milk**. Add in the espresso shots.
- Your warm skinny vanilla latte is done. If you want to make it ‘extra’, you can add low-fat whipped cream.***.
Notes
* You can purchase Starbucks’ Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup on Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, or Amazon.
** We are not using the espresso machine's steam wand as the syrup can leave a residue inside.
*** But make sure to read the label, as some sugar-free whip creams have the same calories as the regular ones!
Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte Recipe: Items You’ll Need
Tips to Keep Your Latte Skinny
Here’s the thing; you can make almost any simple milk-based coffee drink skinny. The problem is we all love indulging in a few extra flavor syrups, sauces, and toppings.
You can make your lattes skinny and swap calories for healthier meal options like this Mediterranean diet oatmeal.
Say ‘no’ to toppings
Toppings like whipped cream, sweet cream, and cold foam have a high fat content, resulting in a lot of calories per serving.
Skip sauces and drizzles too. Some of them come up to 100 calories per serving.
Instead, add cocoa powder or cinnamon as toppings to spice up your drink. They add flavor without the calories.
Get the iced version of the drink
The majority of the calories come from whole milk and syrup. You save some calories by replacing them with low-fat and sugar-free versions, but the drink still comes to 100 calories.
To drop it even lower, get the iced version. Less milk goes into it, so there are fewer calories. Plus it’s way more refreshing.
Opt for plant milk
If you like the flavor, it’s good to switch the low-fat dairy milk to a plant-based version. Almond milk has the least amount of calories.(1)
Coconut and pea milk come closer but might slightly alter the coffee’s taste.
Stay away from oat and rice milk. They have more calories than low-fat dairy milk.
Dietary Questions
There are many reasons why you would like to switch to a skinny vanilla latte once in a while. Maybe you’re curious like us or want to tone down the number of liquid calories.
Here we answer some of the common dilemmas.
Is Starbucks skinny vanilla latte sugar-free?
Let’s look at the ingredients that go into the skinny latte.(2) First, the espresso has no calories and no sugar; then, we have sugar-free syrup with zero calories.
The non-fat milk, however, has 12 grams of sugar per 8 oz. Substitute it with pea or almond milk with no added sugar.
Is Starbucks skinny vanilla latte keto-friendly?
No, the skinny vanilla latte is not keto-friendly. The non-fat milk might be low in calories from fat but still contains sugar. The amount of carbs in the milk doesn’t work with the keto diet.
You can always make a vanilla latte keto-friendly. Just ask your barista to add unsweetened almond milk.
Is Starbucks skinny vanilla latte gluten-free?
Yes, the skinny vanilla latte is gluten-free. Now, baristas make all the drinks at the same station, so there is a high risk of cross-contamination.
Baristas will usually do their best to accommodate your needs. So if you have a gluten allergy, let them know.
Final Words
There is a stigma around low-calorie drinks and their taste. While this might be true for some, it’s far from reality for the Starbucks skinny vanilla latte.
This drink is available hot or iced, and easy to make at home. And yes, it’s low-calorie. If you can’t be bothered, there’s also a bottled version for a fraction of the price.
More Questions
How many pumps of syrup are in a skinny vanilla latte?
The amount of syrup that goes into the latte depends on the drink’s size.
A short latte has 2 pumps, while the tall one has 3 pumps of vanilla syrup.
A Grande packs 4 pumps while the venti has 5 pumps. Of course, you can always customize the drink and ask for fewer or more pumps.
How do you order a skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks?
If you’re ordering in-store or at a drive-thru, ask for a skinny vanilla latte. Baristas will know how to make it.
If you’re ordering through the app, start by selecting a vanilla latte the size of your choice. Then choose Non-Fat from the ‘Milk’ dropdown and Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup from the ‘Syrup’ dropdown.
Wondering where your info comes from? We totally understand. Hey Joe only obtains our information from reputable sources. Contents from this article are sourced from the following publications:
