What is a Skinny Vanilla Latte from Starbucks?

If you’ve ever overheard an order for a Starbucks skinny vanilla latte and have been somewhat mystified as to what that drink is, you’re in the right place!

Today’s post covers the biggest differences between a skinny latte and a traditional latte while giving you ideas on how to make any homemade latte slightly healthier.

Without further ado, let’s get to it!

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Essential Components of a Skinny Vanilla Latte

As you may have guessed, any “skinny version” of a regular latte has slight ingredient changes to make it healthier.

Although there are differences of opinion regarding what makes any given drink healthier than another, in this situation, “skinny” means lower in sugar and fat.

Milk

The standard type of milk used for many signature beverages at coffee shops around the world is 2%. 

This type of milk has a creamy mouth feel without being over-the-top and holds foam relatively well. 

But when it comes to the skinny vanilla latte, nonfat milk is essential.

Using skim milk in the drink cuts down on the total fat content of the drink, and it also contains slightly fewer calories.

Another bonus of using nonfat milk is that it tends to foam better than other types of milk, which adds texture.

Although the traditional “skinny vanilla latte” contains nonfat milk, you can substitute other types of milk, including almond milk or soy milk.

If you want to stay true to the spirit of the drink, stick with unsweetened versions of plant-based milk.

Vanilla Flavor Syrup

Skinny or not, the drink wouldn’t have that signature vanilla flavor without a shot or two of vanilla syrup.

The skinny vanilla latte depends on sugar-free vanilla syrup for that tasty hint of vanilla for which this drink is known. 

You can make sugar-free syrups at home using alternative sweeteners such as Stevia.

When using Stevia in recipes, you generally use the same amount of Stevia as you would regular sugar.

This sugar-free syrup recipe calls for 1/2 cup Stevia and 1/2 cup water. Combine in a saucepan and warm over medium heat until the Truvia dissolves.

For the best flavor, add a split vanilla bean to the pan prior to heating so the syrup will gradually absorb the flavor.

You can use vanilla extract instead if you don’t have a vanilla bean. Once the mixture finishes cooking, add more vanilla extract to bring out the vanilla flavor.

Whipped Cream

Although many signature lattes from big-name coffee shops automatically come with whipped cream, the skinny vanilla latte does not.

Again, the “skinny” version means lower fat and less overall sugar content; whipped cream defeats the purpose.

But if you’re missing that velvety texture from whipped cream, you can use a milk frother to create a layer of foam.

What about the espresso?

Coffee enthusiasts will be happy to hear that the skinny vanilla latte contains the same amount of espresso as a latte made with regular vanilla syrup.

Fortunately, espresso itself contains almost no calories and zero fat, making it an excellent option for anyone looking for healthier drink options.

The added syrups, milk, and whipped cream give custom coffee drinks their bad reputation. 

If you’re making your own skinny vanilla latte at home, use one shot of espresso for an 8-ounce glass, two shots for a 16-ounce glass, and three for larger glasses.

But when you make custom coffee house drinks at home, the amount of espresso you add is always up to you!

There’s no judgment here nor will you get upcharged for adding extra!

It’s the magic of being a home barista!

And if you don’t have an espresso machine, no worries!

You can always substitute more strongly brewed coffee or use your French press to make a similar brew.

Combine 4 tablespoons of finely ground espresso with 3.5 cups of hot water in the French press.

Allow to steep for 10 minutes, then pour out your “espresso.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a skinny vanilla latte?

A skinny vanilla latte is a latte made with skim milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup. Skip the whip!

Does a skinny vanilla latte have caffeine?

Unless otherwise specified, most custom coffeehouse drinks have caffeine.

You can easily specify decaf if you prefer to skip the caffeine.

What are skinny drinks?

Although the skinny vanilla latte is the most famous “skinny” drink, any drink made with skim milk and sugar-free flavor syrup would be considered “skinny.”

How can you make a latte healthier?

Most coffeehouse lattes have an INSANE amount of sugar.

In many cases, one custom latte contains twice the daily recommended amount of sugar.

Therefore, the easiest way to make a latte healthier is by decreasing the amount of added sugar.

You can ask for half the flavor syrup when ordering from Starbucks.

Or you can experiment with making your own drinks at home and add significantly less sugar without sacrificing flavor. 

Making custom drinks at home is also a great option if you follow a vegan diet because you can substitute oat milk, oat creamer, and even plant-based heavy whipping cream to avoid dairy altogether. 

Regardless of what “healthier” means for you, experimenting with making your own version of coffee shop favorites is easier and cheaper!

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a skinny vanilla latte veteran or accidentally stumbled across this post on your Pinterest feed, I hope you’ve learned a little bit more about the infamous skinny vanilla latte.

Every day presents a new opportunity to make healthier choices, and decreasing your daily sugar intake is a great way to live a healthier life!

Making your own drinks at home is a fun way to explore your creative side while saving both time and money.

If you like this post, check out my other coffee-inspired content!

• The Best Non-Dairy Homemade Vanilla Oat Nog Latte Recipe
• The 7 Best Drinks from Caribou Coffee (with Recipes!)
• Are There Benefits of Drinking Decaf Coffee at Night?
• Should You Try Putting Olive Oil in Coffee?
• How to Make a Golden Milk Latte with Turmeric