The Nitro Bar’s viral cherry vanilla latte is making its rounds around TikTok and Instagram, and I’ve been dying to try it but I don’t live in Rhode Island. Luckily, making a flavored latte is easy and I can make a copycat of the Nitro Bar’s famous latte!

If you’ve been wanting to try this latte, you can easily recreate it at home with just a few simple ingredients. This blog breaks down what you’ll need and how to make the cherry vanilla step by step so you can enjoy this sweet and creamy treat without traveling far.

Here’s how to make a delicious cherry vanilla latte at home!

What is a Cherry Vanilla Latte?

There’s a trendy coffee bar called the Nitro Bar in Rhode Island that created a cherry vanilla latte that took the internet by storm.

The Nitro Bar’s online presence is noticeably relatable, with interview-style videos, aesthetic coffee pours, and an animated owner who makes her drinks look so appetizing.

Their cherry vanilla latte looks scrumptious, and while I don’t live in Rhode Island, I can easily recreate it at home!

The cherry vanilla latte is made of homemade cherry vanilla syrup, milk, ice, and espresso. It’s simply divine and so creamy.

What Does a Cherry Vanilla Latte Taste Like?

The espresso pairs perfectly with the bitter, tart cherry and the creamy, sweet vanilla. Since coffee is quite bold, it’s the strongest flavor, followed by the cherry and vanilla. Coffee itself comes from the coffee cherry, so it has some fruity and earthy qualities to it, which blends nicely with the tart and sweet cherry!

The vanilla and milk give this latte a creamy finish, so you get the best of both worlds: fruity and creamy, which we know, is a star pair.

Just think: strawberries and cream, raspberry and white chocolate, etc.

Do Cherry and Vanilla Go Together?

Cherry and vanilla are one of those flavor combinations that just work, and it’s no surprise they’re everywhere—from desserts to drinks (cherry vanilla Coke) to candies. 

Vanilla is a perfect enhancer for cherries, softening their bold, tart flavor and making them taste smoother and more balanced.

On its own, cherry has a bold, sweet, and tart flavor with a hint of bitterness that some people find similar to almonds. But when you pair it with vanilla, it completely removes that aftertaste and rounds out the flavor with a nice creamy and floral taste.

Plus, I think cherry tastes way better with vanilla.

How to Make Cherry Vanilla Syrup

Making cherry vanilla syrup is super straightforward. You’ll need fresh or frozen sweet dark cherries, water, and sugar to make this syrup–that’s it!

Boil the cherries, sugar, and water in a small pot until the sugar dissolves. The cherries will slowly burst open and release their juices into the syrup. You can also mash the cherries with a potato masher for more juice.

Simmer the syrup until it thickens, then add your vanilla extract. (There’s a reason you add it at the end!) Then, strain it and let it cool before use. The syrup might look watery hot, but it will thicken as it cools.

Other Ways to Make Cherry Vanilla Syrup

Want a shortcut to easy coffee syrup?

You can use cherry juice to make an easy syrup! It’s essentially the most important part of the fruit that makes syrup, syrup. Using fruit juice makes it easy to reduce and turn into syrup without the added step of blending or mashing. I wouldn’t recommend adding milk to cherry juice because it might coagulate due to the acidity.

You can also try cherry extract or flavoring, but it may have a chemical flavor, and a good coffee syrup makes or breaks this latte.

Pitted canned cherries are also a great alternative to fresh or frozen cherries, just make sure they’re dark sweet cherries and not maraschino cherries!

Best Milk to Use

I’m a dairy lover through and through and milk with more fat always tastes better in fruity drinks. I recommend 2% or whole milk in this drink!

However, you can also use your favorite non-dairy milk. I recommend using a plant-based milk that is more creamy like a barista blend oat milk or soy milk. The added creaminess makes this cherry vanilla latte that much yummier.

How to Make a Cherry Vanilla Latte

Here’s what you’ll need to make a cherry vanilla latte at home:

• Homemade Cherry Vanilla Syrup:
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup ice
• 1-2 shots espresso

Cherry Vanilla Latte Recipe

1. Make Cherry Vanilla Syrup: Boil the cherries, sugar, and water in a small pot until the sugar dissolves and the cherries release their juices into the syrup. Mash the cherries with a potato masher or fork and simmer the syrup until it thickens slightly, then strain it and let it cool before use.
2. Brew Espresso: Brew 1-2 shots of espresso or a strong coffee equivalent.
3. Assemble the Cherry Vanilla Latte: Add ice, cherry vanilla syrup, and milk to a tall glass and mix to combine. Then, top with your brewed espresso or coffee.
4. Mix and Enjoy!

Other Ways to Make a Cherry Vanilla Latte

There are other ways you can make a cherry vanilla latte without having to make a syrup!

You can make cherry milk by blending cherries and milk for a very cherry-flavored drink! Strain it before using it in a latte so it’s smooth and silky.

Instead of homemade cherry vanilla syrup, you can also buy premade cherry syrup and use that instead! It’s more convenient and pre-sweetened. You can also try cherry extract or flavoring, but it may taste chemically.

Another hack is to use cherry jam or preserves! With jam, use 1 teaspoon of jam and a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract to flavor your milk, and add more if desired. Jam is very sweet, so be more sparing in the beginning.

Do I Need Espresso?

Not everyone has an espresso machine, so you might be wondering how you can make this delicious latte without one. And while espresso is the standard for cafe drinks, you can easily replace it with a strong coffee or concentrate.

You can brew concentrated coffee using a moka pot! It will be more watery than espresso, but stronger than regular brewed coffee. You can also use store-bought cold brew or coffee concentrate, which works just as well.

For a really easy hack, you can also use instant espresso or coffee as an “instant espresso”, just combine 2-3 tsps of instant coffee in a 1/4 cup of hot water and you have a concentrated coffee!

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a creamy cherry vanilla latte at home!

• Make Layers: For a layered iced latte, sweeten your milk and add ice before adding your coffee. The sugar in the milk is denser than water, so your espresso will float on top creating a pretty layer!
• Use Vanilla Bean Paste: For more vanilla flavor, use vanilla bean paste or vanilla bean syrup! It adds an extra creamy flavor to this latte.
• Use the Cherry Vanilla Syrup with Matcha: This syrup is so good and it works amazing with matcha. You get a creamy, sweet, fruity, and refreshing cherry vanilla matcha latte! It’s a good alternative if you’re trying to cut out coffee.