Iced coffee in December sounds like a contradiction and yet here we are and I am completely unapologetic about it. I am a year round iced coffee person and the second the holiday season hits I want my cold brew to taste like Christmas. This hot cocoa cold brew is exactly that. Smooth cold brew stirred with chocolate syrup and vanilla, topped with a fluffy homemade hot cocoa cold foam and finished with mini marshmallows. It is rich, chocolatey, and festive in the most satisfying way and it has genuinely become my favorite holiday drink order to make at home every single morning in December.

The hot cocoa cold foam is what makes this recipe stand out from just pouring chocolate syrup into cold brew and calling it a day. Heavy cream, cocoa powder, a little sugar, and a tiny pinch of salt frothed together until thick and creamy and piled right on top of the cold brew. That pinch of salt is small but it does something really important — it enhances the chocolate flavor and keeps the foam from tasting flat. The foam melts slowly into the drink as you sip it and gives you this rich chocolatey flavor in every single sip from the first one all the way to the last.

The chocolate syrup drizzled on the inside of the cup before anything else goes in is the aesthetic detail that makes this look like something from a specialty coffee shop. Takes three seconds and makes the whole drink look absolutely stunning in a glass. Layer in your cold brew and vanilla syrup, add ice, pour on the cold foam, and top with mini marshmallows for that hot cocoa moment that makes this feel genuinely festive. It is cozy and cold at the same time which is exactly what I want from a December morning coffee.

This hot cocoa cold brew coffee is the holiday drink recipe for the iced coffee people, the ones who refuse to switch to hot drinks just because it is winter, and anyone who has ever wished their morning coffee tasted more like Christmas. Five minutes, everyday ingredients, and a coffee that makes getting out of bed on a cold December morning feel like a very good idea.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

This is the holiday coffee drink for year round iced coffee people who refuse to switch to hot drinks just because it is December and it makes getting out of bed on a cold morning feel like a genuinely good idea
The homemade hot cocoa cold foam with that tiny pinch of salt melts slowly into the cold brew as you sip and gives you rich chocolatey flavor from the very first sip all the way to the last
The chocolate syrup drizzled on the inside of the cup before anything else goes in is the three second aesthetic detail that makes this look like something from a specialty coffee shop
Five minutes and everyday ingredients for a festive iced coffee that tastes like Christmas and costs a fraction of what a coffee shop would charge for the same experience

Key Ingredients:

Cold brew: One cup of smooth cold brew is the base that makes this drink work so well. Cold brew has less acidity than regular iced coffee and a naturally smooth richness that pairs with the chocolate in a way that drip coffee over ice simply cannot replicate. Store bought cold brew works perfectly or make your own at home
Chocolate syrup: One to two tablespoons stirred into the cold brew base along with the vanilla syrup so the chocolate flavor runs through the entire drink from the bottom up rather than just sitting in the foam on top. Drizzle an extra swirl on the inside of the cup before anything goes in for that beautiful coffee shop visual
Vanilla syrup: One to two teaspoons is optional and completely worth including because it balances the chocolate in a way that makes the whole drink taste more complete and more like a proper holiday coffee rather than just cold brew with chocolate added
Heavy cream: A quarter cup frothed with cocoa powder, sugar, and a pinch of salt creates the hot cocoa cold foam that is the entire reason this drink is so special. Heavy cream is essential here because half and half or lighter options will not froth into the same thick stable foam that sits beautifully on top of the cold brew
Pinch of salt: The detail in the cold foam that sounds inconsequential and makes an immediately noticeable difference. Salt enhances the chocolate flavor and prevents the foam from tasting flat or one dimensionally sweet. Do not skip it
Mini marshmallows: The topping that makes this look and feel specifically like hot cocoa in cold brew form and adds that nostalgic cozy element that makes every December morning feel a little more festive

Tips for Success:

Drizzle the chocolate syrup on the inside of the cup and swirl it around before adding anything else. This is the detail that makes this look so beautiful in a glass and it takes about three seconds
Froth the cold foam in a tall narrow container rather than a wide bowl so the hand frother can work efficiently and create maximum volume in the shortest amount of time
Stir the chocolate syrup and vanilla syrup into the cold brew before adding ice so they dissolve and distribute evenly throughout the drink rather than settling at the bottom under the ice
Add the mini marshmallows on top of the cold foam right before drinking rather than ahead of time so they stay at their best texture and float beautifully on the surface

Storage:

This hot cocoa cold brew is best enjoyed immediately after assembling while the cold foam is at its freshest and the marshmallows are just placed on top. The cold foam will deflate within about fifteen to twenty minutes so make it right before you plan to drink it. The cold brew base with the chocolate and vanilla syrups stirred in can be made ahead and stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Make the cold foam fresh each time for the best experience.

FAQ:

Can I use cocoa powder instead of chocolate syrup for the base?
Yes. One tablespoon of cocoa powder dissolved in one tablespoon of hot water before adding to the cold brew creates a slightly less sweet but equally chocolatey base. The hot water helps the cocoa dissolve completely so it distributes evenly through the cold brew rather than clumping. Either option works and the choice comes down to sweetness preference and what you have on hand.

Can I make this without a hand frother?
Yes but it takes a little more effort. Add the cold foam ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake vigorously for about thirty seconds until thick and foamy. A French press pumped up and down with the foam ingredients inside also works well. The hand frother is the fastest and most efficient tool for consistent results but it is not the only way to get a thick cold foam.

What cold brew brand works best?
Any cold brew you enjoy drinking on its own works here. Starbucks, Chameleon, Califia Farms, and Trader Joe’s cold brew concentrate are all widely available and popular options. If you use a concentrate rather than ready to drink cold brew dilute it according to package directions before using in this recipe so the coffee flavor is not too intense against the chocolate and vanilla.