A coffee shop gingerbread latte with milk froth really hits the spot around the holiday season. Snuggling up close to the warm fire in an armchair and sipping a warm latte is amazing. The best part is if you are snowed in and don’t have to go to work. You don’t feel like venturing outside, though the draw of the coffee shop is tempting. With this simple yet delicious gingerbread latte recipe and a milk frother, you can enjoy your latte from the comforts of your own home.
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What You Need For Your Gingerbread Latte Recipe
If you are an avid latte drinker yet want to shirk the Starbucks trend and learn how to make these fun drinks yourself, you definitely need a milk frother (or milk steamer). You can pick up one of these fun little handheld or stand alone mixers pretty cheaply, and they are great for giving your Lattes that special coffee shop effect.
Having milk froth in your drink makes it creamier yet lighter at the same time. It infuses air into your latte, making it have a smooth look.
Plus, it will only take an extra 20 seconds or so to infuse your gingerbread latte with bubbles.
You will also need a home espresso machine since this latte has a shot of espresso in it. With your essential household items for making coffees and lattes, you will need some spices from your spice cabinet and a little sugar. You can substitute many of these ingredients to make them caffeine-free or vegan options. In fact, vegan gingerbread lattes are a popular and trending drink.
The essential elements you will need to make a gingerbread latte recipe include milk, a variety of gingerbread cookie spices, and coffee. Of course, you can add garnishings to make your drink a little more festive if you make it at Christmas or simply as a treat. For example, if you want to add a little sweet extras with your hot beverage, you can even have a mini gingerbread cookie on the edge of the glass or on top of your whipped cream.
Ingredients And Substitutes
This gingerbread latte recipe includes ten simple ingredients you probably already have around your home. Of course, you can use substitutions for many of the ingredients.
- Milk: the milk is what you use to create the light frothiness of your drink. Plus, it is the substance. Two great options are sweetened almond milk or coconut milk if you want a vegan drink.
- Spices: You can grab the spices from your spice cabinet and mix them together. Another option you can use to save time is to replace all of the spices with some gingerbread spice from amazon. You can also make your own gingerbread spice for quick use.
- Brown Sugar: brown sugar gives your drink a sweet flavor. If you are using sweetened almond milk as a substitute, your latte may already be sweet enough for your liking, and you could lay off the brown sugar. If you don’t have brown sugar at home, you could substitute it for 1 tbsp of molasses or 1 tbsp of syrup.
- Toppings: the toppings, like the whipped topping and chocolate syrup or sauce, are optional. You can also top it with a small gingerbread cookie. A cookie is delicious to dunk into your latte.
How To Make A Gingerbread Latte At Home
You will start by brewing your espresso coffee and setting it to the side to ensure it is ready. Then, you will begin to mix your base ingredients together and heat them up. If you are in a hurry, you can steam your milk in the microwave. If not, then you can begin your simmering process on the stove.
If you have a milk frother like the Secura milk frother (see the price on Amazon – we may get a small commission for purchases) you can conveniently pour your milk and spices into the frothing/steaming jug while it heats and froths.
You will want to heat your milk, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground allspice, nutmeg, and brown sugar together. If you are simmering on the stove, you will bring these ingredients to a simmer for about 2 minutes. Then, pour in your espresso.
Finally, you will be able to froth your drink to make it light and fluffy. Carefully pour your simmered drink from the pan into a mug, then froth it for 20 seconds. You should only froth your drink when it is less than 150 degrees Fahrenheit, an auto frother like the Secura will do all that for you.
Once your drink is cooler, you can begin topping it. You can purchase chocolate syrup or melt your own. Start out by heaping the desired amount of whipped cream onto the top of your drink. Then lightly drizzle the whipped topping with chocolate syrup. Finally, you can place a small gingerbread cookie on the whipped cream if you have one.
You could also add some red and green holiday sprinkles for an extra holiday touch.
Recipe
It takes 20 minutes to make this Gingerbread Latte Recipe.
- 2 cups of milk frothed
- 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/8 tsp Ground Allspice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 cup of already made express coffee
- whipped cream
- chocolate syrup
- Crystallized ginger (extra topping)
Instructions
- Make your espresso coffee in a coffee maker and set it to the side.
- Pour 2 cups of milk into a saucepan and heat it to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once your milk is simmering, pour in your spices and brown sugar. If you want a sweeter drink, you can use the full amount of brown sugar. If you use sweetened almond milk, you may want to cut back.
- Allow your ingredients to simmer for 2 minutes in your saucepan.
- Carefully pour in 1/4 of a cup of espresso into the saucepan after your spices have simmered. If you like a more rich latte, you can use more espresso.
- Allow your latte to simmer for one more minute.
- Carefully pour your drink into a mug. Once it is cooled down to at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit, you can insert your milk frother and mix it for 20 seconds to add a light, bubbly consistency.
- Top your drink with whipped topping. You can decoratively build up your whipped topping mound using a spray whipped topping.
- Then, drizzle your whipped topping with cool chocolate syrup. Having a warm drink and syrup will melt your whipped topping too quickly.
- Finally, add your small gingerbread cookie to the top off your drink.
- Serve your drink warm.
- You may like: Milk Frother Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
- Try: Coffee Shop Vanilla Latte Recipe or Peppermint Mocha (With Milk Froth) Recipe
- If you’re interested in latest espresso machines: Best 20 Bar Espresso Machines Under $200
- You may like: What is a Milk Frother? (4 Ways to Add Foam to Beverages)
- A famous recipe to try at home: Hazelnut Latte Recipe at Home
