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    StandardRecipe

    Strawberry Shortcake Latte

    The BYOB Team5 min1 drink (from a batch each of Strawberry Syrup and Birthday Cake Syrup)$0.96/drink220 cal/drink

    Uses Strawberry Syrup — make a batch ahead of time; it keeps in the fridge for a week or two, so you won't need to make it again for every drink.

    Ingredients & steps

    Standard

    Written hot. Switch to see the iced version's ingredients and steps.

    Ingredients

    • 2oz espresso (or 1/3 cup strong coffee/moka pot equivalent)
    • 8oz milk, steamed or frothed
    • 1 tbsp Strawberry Syrup (make a batch ahead of time -- it keeps about 1 week in the fridge)
    • 1 tbsp Birthday Cake Syrup (make a batch ahead of time -- it keeps about 2 weeks)
    • Optional: whipped cream, a drizzle of extra strawberry syrup, and real sprinkles for topping

    Steps

    1. 1.Make a batch each of Strawberry Syrup and Birthday Cake Syrup ahead of time if you haven't already -- the strawberry syrup keeps about 1 week, the birthday cake syrup about 2.
    2. 2.Pull a double shot of espresso (or brew strong coffee) directly into your serving cup.
    3. 3.Stir in 1 tbsp of the strawberry syrup and 1 tbsp of the birthday cake syrup while the espresso is still hot, until both are fully combined.
    4. 4.Steam or froth 8oz of milk to about 150°F and pour over the espresso mixture.
    5. 5.Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of extra strawberry syrup, and real sprinkles if using. Serve immediately.

    Swap the milk

    This recipe is written with Kirkland Signature Organic A2 Whole Milk (8oz). Pick a different milk to see the cost and calories update below.

    Milk: Kirkland Signature Organic A2 Whole Milk

    Cost per drink

    $0.96

    Calories per drink

    220

    Not medical or nutrition advice. Calorie figures on this page are estimates based on typical ingredient values, not a lab analysis of your exact batch — they'll shift with the brand of milk, syrup, or protein powder you actually use. "Ingredient-Honest" and "sugar-free" describe what's in the recipe, not a health claim. If you're managing diabetes, a caffeine sensitivity, pregnancy, or another condition, check with a doctor or dietitian before making a recipe part of your routine. Read the full disclaimer.

    A Strawberry Shortcake Latte pairs two bases this site already had on its own: real cooked-down Strawberry Syrup and the three-extract Birthday Cake Syrup behind our Birthday Cake Latte. Real fruit against real cake-batter flavor, the same combination an actual strawberry shortcake dessert is built on — just never combined into a drink on this site until now.

    Two Real Bases, Not a New Fused Syrup

    This drink combines 1 tbsp Strawberry Syrup and 1 tbsp Birthday Cake Syrup, split evenly — the same pattern this site already uses for Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Mocha (which pairs the same Strawberry Syrup with Mocha Sauce instead). No new syrup needed for this one.

    Building the Latte

    1. Pull a double shot of espresso (about 2oz) directly into your cup, or brew a strong coffee/moka pot equivalent.
    2. Stir in 1 tbsp Strawberry Syrup and 1 tbsp Birthday Cake Syrup while the espresso is still hot.
    3. Steam or froth 8oz of milk to about 150°F and pour it over the espresso mixture.
    4. Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of extra strawberry syrup, and real sprinkles if you want the full dessert-drink look.
    Specialty-Shop Strawberry Shortcake Latte vs. Home Version
    Specialty-shop grande strawberry shortcake latte (tax included)$6.25
    Home strawberry shortcake latte (espresso, milk, both bases)~$0.96
    Savings per drink$5.29

    Both bases together cost about $2.86 total to make (~$1.86 for the Strawberry Syrup batch, ~$1.00 for the Birthday Cake Syrup batch), and since this recipe only uses 1 tbsp of each per drink, a single pair of batches stretches to around 10 strawberry shortcake lattes (limited by the smaller strawberry syrup batch).

    Assumptions: grande-size drink, specialty-menu pricing for a two-flavor dessert-style drink, dairy milk, $16/lb specialty beans or equivalent grocery beans, frozen strawberries at typical grocery pricing. At 5 drinks a week over the site’s standard 48-week year, that’s roughly $1,270/year back in your pocket.

    Swaps & Notes

    • No espresso machine? A moka pot or strong AeroPress shot works fine.
    • Want it more fruit-forward or more cake-forward? Shift the ratio — 1.5 tbsp strawberry + 0.5 tbsp birthday cake leans fruit, or the reverse leans cake batter.
    • Watching sugar? Birthday Cake Syrup has a sugar-free version (Sugar-Free Birthday Cake Syrup) you can swap in 1:1. Strawberry Syrup doesn’t have one yet on this site — flagging that honestly rather than inventing a swap that doesn’t exist.
    • Iced version: use the Hot/Iced toggle above the ingredients to switch — less milk (about 4oz cold over ice instead of 8oz steamed), same method as every other iced drink on the site.
    • Is this the same as a Strawberry Shortcake Frappuccino? No — a frappuccino-style drink is blended with ice into a milkshake texture. This is a hot-or-iced latte, built the same way as every other latte on this site. If you want a blended version, treat the two syrups the same way the site’s other frappé recipes use their syrups, or hold for a dedicated frappé version.

    Recipe Card Summary

    Strawberry Shortcake Latte

    • 2oz espresso + 8oz steamed milk + 1 tbsp Strawberry Syrup + 1 tbsp Birthday Cake Syrup (both made ahead)
    • Prep time: 5 minutes (after both bases are made) · Total: 5 minutes
    • Cost: ~$0.96/drink vs. ~$6.25 specialty-shop equivalent

    FAQ

    Is the strawberry flavor real fruit, or a flavoring syrup?

    Real fruit — the Strawberry Syrup it’s built on cooks down actual strawberries with sugar and a touch of lemon juice. No strawberry extract or artificial flavoring anywhere in it.

    Is this the same as a Strawberry Shortcake Frappuccino?

    No — that’s a blended, ice-based drink; this is a hot-or-iced latte. Same two flavors, different format.

    Why 1 tbsp of each instead of 2 tbsp of one plus a splash of the other?

    Keeping it to 1 tbsp + 1 tbsp holds the total flavoring at 2 tablespoons, the same ratio every other two-syrup latte on this site uses against 2oz espresso and 8oz milk, so it doesn’t end up oversweet.

    Can I make this without an espresso machine?

    Yes — a moka pot, AeroPress, or even strong drip coffee works. See How to Make a Latte at Home for the no-machine method.

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