Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Kick back with a copycat Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte next time you need an afternoon pick-me-up. Cinnamon and a hint of vanilla pair flawlessly with coffee and cream in this delightfully delicious drink.

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About this Copycat Cinnamon Dolce Latte recipe

Right now I am on a tear to visit new places in town, from coffee shops to craft cocktail bars to cafes. We’ve had pizza, Thai, Peruvian, tapas and sushi, and a couple weeks ago we went to our first new-to-us coffee shop in a while.

I used to be crazy about trying new coffee shops, but not anymore. I am finding I just don’t make it out to cafés as much as I used to, so there are a ton of coffee shops on our list.

Instead, we made coffee at home. Two cups each, every morning. At least. Sometimes, I need an extra kick of caffeine and I whip up a quick latte or iced coffee.

It’s so nice to be able to enjoy my favorite drinks without having to leave the house! This Cinnamon Dolce Latte is just like the one at my favorite coffee shops, but it’s so easy to make with a homemade cinnamon dolce syrup. It uses cinnamon sticks and real vanilla beans, so the flavor is super fresh and omnipresent, not washed out by strong espresso flavor.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Worried about not being able to find the Cinnamon Dolce Latte? Make it at home! I love to make my own coffee syrups for easy coffee flavoring, and this is one of my faves:

• This copycat Cinnamon Dolce Latte is easy to make at home at a fraction of the cost at the coffee shop.
• You can use store-bought or homemade cinnamon vanilla simple syrup.
• Customize it with your favorite milk and espresso brew.

I’m obsessed with making my own PSLs with pumpkin spice syrup in the fall now, which is made similarly to my cinnamon vanilla syrup, only with even more warm spices and real pumpkin.

What is a Cinnamon Dolce Latte?

The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is a menu item at Starbucks coffee shops. At Starbucks, this spiced latte features steamed milk, classic espresso and cinnamon dolce syrup and is topped with sweetened whipped cream. It can be ordered hot or iced.

At the time of writing (in February 2023), the latte is still on the Starbucks menu. However, at the holidays, the cinnamon syrup can be hard to find.

That’s because the fan-favorite gingerbread latte was discontinued and the cinnamon syrup is a key ingredient in a secret menu dupe of the gingerbread drink that’s popular to order.

Ingredients

To make a cinnamon bun latte, you’ll need just a few ingredients. I aim to show you how to make yours like a copycat Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte, but I do make a few modifications to make it my own. You can make yours your own too! You’ll need:

For the syrup

• cinnamon sticks: Whole cinnamon sticks offer up a stronger flavor and less grainy texture than ground cinnamon.
• vanilla bean: You can also substitute a little vanilla extract if you prefer.
• sugar: You can use brown sugar or white sugar for the same amount of sweetness, just slightly different.
• water: Use the best water you have available.

For the latte

• cinnamon vanilla syrup: Recipe below! But if buying you syrup is what you prefer, try this Monin Cinnamon Bun Syrup that has a similar flavor.
• espresso: I recommend a darker or medium roast. Feel free to make decaffeinated espresso — it is practically the same in flavor. A really strong coffee or cold brew will also work in a pinch.
• your milk of choice: You can use whole milk, 2%, soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, etc! Whole milk and oat milk are the best for frothed milk.
• whipped cream: If you want to add whipped cream, go for it. I don’t usually do this for my lattes at home, because I love the froth of the steamed milk on its own. However if you want to make a true copycat Starbucks recipe, they do add the whipped cream.
• ground cinnamon: Totally optional, but a little sprinkle on top goes a long way! You can also use spice blends that contain cinnamon, like chai spice, pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice to bring in a little more spiced flavor.

Substitutions & variations

Try one of these variations on this popular drink:

Dairy-free cinnamon dolce latte: Choose your favorite milk for this sweet cinnamon latte. Whole milk is my go-to, but sometimes I will make mine dairy-free with either lactose-free milk or nut milk. A cinnamon latte with oat milk is actually really good because oat milk froths really well. Almond milk, soy milk or any other non-dairy milk would also be just fine!

Vegan cinnamon latte: My homemade cinnamon spice syrup contains no animal products, so if you choose plant-based milk then you can enjoy a vegan cinnamon latte.

Iced cinnamon latte: You can make this homemade version of the Cinnamon Dolce Latte over iced if you prefer. Just throw in some ice cubes and the syrup, then top with cooled espresso and frothed milk.

Boozy cinnamon latte: And if you like things a little boozy on occasion, a shot of cinnamon whiskey would work instead of the cinnamon syrup.

Making homemade Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

Cinnamon Dolce Syrup is essentially a cinnamon vanilla syrup. It’s a liquid sweetener made with a simple mixture of sugar and water that are infused with cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans. The result is a delicious spiced syrup that’s good as a syrup for coffee and cocktails.

Cinnamon vanilla syrup is so easy to put together with just four ingredients: cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, sugar and water. You can also add a little vanilla extract to homemade cinnamon syrup.

You can make a big batch to enjoy all month long! The process to make this syrup is simple:

1. Cut a vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds and do not discard them. (If you’re using extract, wait to add the vanilla until the syrup has cooled.)
2. Add the cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean pod halves and the seeds to a small saucepan of water.
3. Bring to a boil. After 5 minutes, lower heat.
4. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove the pods and cinnamon sticks. (You may reserve them for bottling, if desired). Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer to filter out clumps of vanilla seeds.
5. Store in a food-safe, airtight container such as a mason jar or bottle in the fridge for up to 1 month. If the syrup begins to look cloudy, it’s time to toss it.

Making espresso

The easiest way to make a homemade cinnamon dolce latte is with an espresso machine. Personally, I use a Nespresso machine. I love having it on hand for easy lattes, cappuccinos and americanos. And the occasional espresso martini, of course.

An espresso machine is definitely the easiest way to make lattes at home. Espresso machines are expensive, but when I added up what we were spending on coffee shop trips, it made the expense worth it to me.

But if you don’t have one, you can still make this cinnamon latte without an espresso machine! You can brew strong coffee in your coffee maker, try a stovetop espresso maker or use cold brew. Check out these tips for making a latte without an espresso machine.

favorite espresso makers

nespresso machine

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moka pot stovetop espresso maker

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portable espresso maker

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Instructions

Once you have made your espresso and steamed milk, follow these instructions:

1. In a latte mug, add the your espresso and as much cinnamon syrup as you like. I do 1/2 ounce because I like things on the less-sweet side. Stir together.
2. Warm up some steamed milk, or use a handheld milk frother.
3. Then spoon in the foam. If you know how to do latte art (lucky you!) then have at it here.
4. If you’re adding whipped cream, that comes next.
5. Sprinkle on your cinnamon, and enjoy!

I am not a latte foam artist by any means, but I am seriously obsessed with this drink. You can dress up the top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Tastes just like a cinnamon roll!

favorite milk frothers

electric milk frother

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handheld milk frother

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rechargeable milk frother

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Food pairings

A cinnamon latte is great for breakfast or brunch. Enjoy it with spiced treats like chai muffins or these raisin scones with a cinnamon glaze.

You could also enjoy them with fluffy cinnamon rolls like these colorful birthday cake cinnamon rolls or these spiced chai cinnamon rolls. Or take it up a notch for a big crowd and serve up a cinnamon roll casserole.

You could even have one after a lovely chilly season dinner, perhaps alongside a slice of pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting.

More latte recipes

• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Sugar Cookie Latte
• Almond Milk Matcha Latte