How to Make Ina Garten’s Vanilla Coffee Shakerato

Ina Garten knows all. Like, everything. She knows how to cut bagels in the most interesting way in the world. She knows how to pick the right butter. She knows the supreme importance of having good vinegar handy, and she even knows the best coping strategy for when life gets too difficult. So, of course, when she says this coffee recipe is like “rocket fuel,” you know she knows what she’s talking about. 

In a recent episode of her show, “Be My Guest,” Garten hosted Danny Meyer, the man behind some of the most famous restaurants in New York City, and created a little brunch moment just for him. The breakfast included a delicious croissant sandwich with smoked salmon, along with Garten’s Vanilla Coffee Shakerato. 

“I’m going to hop to it with you today,” Meyer says in the clip upon his first sip. “This is amazing.” To which Garten replies, “Is it good? Thank you.” (Girl, you already knew it was great. You’re Ina Garten.) 

So, what’s so special about this coffee? It’s the perfect sweet treat that’s ideal to either start the day or have as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. 

As Garten shares on her site, the coffee begins with ¾ cup of espresso or a “strong” coffee (she notes you can also use regular or decaf if you really need something less punchy) you pour in a shaker. Then, you just need to add two tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk, a tablespoon of simple syrup, and half a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Next, add one and a half cups of ice cubes and shake for a full 30 seconds, or more, until it becomes both frothy and “very cold.” Pour and share with a friend, as this recipe makes two, eight-ounce drinks.  

Garten notes in the recipe, “I use the ‘long’ rather than ‘short’ setting on my espresso machine” to make it a bit weaker, but adds, “You can certainly make this with strong coffee as well.” 

There is one more way to level up this recipe, and that’s by making your own vanilla extract using Garten’s recipe. 

“Of all the ingredients in my pantry, my jar of vanilla is my most treasured,” Garten told the New Yorker in April. “It’s not the ordinary kind of vanilla that you can find at any grocery store; I’m talking about pure vanilla extract and real vanilla beans…Trust me when I say there is nothing ‘plain’ about really good vanilla.” Read up on her full vanilla extract recipe here then make your own Shakerato. And invite us over to join you.