If you are a matcha or coffee lover, you have probably noticed a trend on your social media feeds and local coffee shops: the banana cream top, also known as banana cold foam.
People are swapping out standard cream for this rich, banana-infused foam that sits on the top of a drink. It is the perfect little extra that makes iced coffees, matchas, and teas feel a bit fancier.
Best of all? You can easily make it at home. And if you’re a coffee addict like me and love your fancy iced coffee drink, you too can save some serious cash.
Ingredients You Will Need
You only need a few basic ingredients to bring out your inner barista:
- Heavy Whipping Cream: The base for that luxurious, velvety layer that slowly melts into your beverage.
- Overly Ripe Banana: Look for dark, speckled bananas. They mash easily and provide a lot of natural sweetness.
- Sweetener: Banana is naturally sweet, but you still need some syrup. If you prefer less sweet, you can omit entirely or add it at the end, to taste. I love using agave syrup. It pairs wonderfully with the banana flavor. If you don’t have agave, maple syrup is also a great substitute. Both of which are easily available at my second-home, Costco.
- A Pinch of Salt: I’m using sea salt. Just a dash to balance the sweetness and enhance the flavors.
How to Make It
To make this cream top, I use an immersion blender to process the banana and whip the cream at the same time. It takes just seconds! If you do not have an immersion blender, a standard food processor or electric mixer will also work perfectly. Hand mixing might be tiring and not recommended.
Just combine your heavy cream, mashed banana, sweetener, and salt, then blend until you have a creamy, thick, “banana-y” topping.
The Secret to the Perfect Flavor Balance
When I first tested this recipe, I actually used too much banana. It turns out, “too much banana flavor” is definitely a thing, and it can easily overwhelm your drink.
After tweaking the ratios, I found the sweet spot: using just one ripe banana per batch. And here, a batch is about 5 servings. It creates a cream top that perfectly complements your coffee or matcha without overpowering the main ingredient.
Best Drinks to Top with Banana Cream
This cold foam is incredibly versatile. Try pouring it generously over:
- Iced Matcha Lattes
- Thai Iced Tea
- Classic Iced Black Tea
- Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Ready to upgrade your morning drink? Scroll down for the full printable recipe and exact measurements.
Banana Cream Top Recipe for Teas and Coffee
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: Makes about 1.5 cups (about 5 servings) 1x
Description
Creamy and pourable, this banana cream top brings a coffeehouse flair to your favorite iced lattes, cold brews, and iced teas. Made with real bananas and agave, it is the ultimate upgrade to your morning routine.
Ingredients
- 1 large overripe banana (speckled with brown)
- 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon fine ground sea salt
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) agave syrup
Instructions
- Prep the base: Peel and tear the banana into small pieces and place them into a food processor, blender, or tall container.
- Combine: Pour in the heavy whipping cream, agave syrup, and sea salt.
- Blend and thicken: Blend the mixture on medium-high speed until completely smooth. Continue blending just until it thickens into a rich, luscious consistency that is thick but still pourable (similar to melted ice cream). Using an immersion blender, it takes about 30 seconds.
- Serve: Spoon or pour generously over your favorite iced drink.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: No cook
- Category: Dessert, Drinks
- Method: Blending
