Gingerbread Latte

Start mornings at the holidays with a sweet and spiced Gingerbread Latte. When mixed with espresso and steamed milk, homemade gingerbread syrup makes for a cozy latte with which to celebrate the season.

Gingerbread Latte recipe

Every year when I was a kid, my mom would bake gingerbread cookies for us to make and decorate gingerbread houses.

My siblings and I always had themes and a friendly competition — if we could decorate them without eating all the candy and icing first!

Though it’s been years since I put together a house, I still love the flavor of gingerbread at the holidays, from drinking gingerbread cocktails to baking gingerbread cookies.

This year I decided to try making gingerbread lattes in the morning, and it’s been so delightful to start the day with sugar and spice (and everything nice).

My homemade Gingerbread Latte recipe is made with homemade gingerbread syrup and has all the flavors you know and love: sugar, molasses, spices and a hint of orange zest. You can make the latte with espresso and your favorite milk.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Gingerbread syrup is the perfect addition to espresso, turning the classic latte into a holiday favorite.

• Start your day by sipping a sweet coffee drink reminiscent of the holiday season.
• You can make your own gingerbread syrup at home with just a few ingredients. It tastes just like gingerbread men!
• Make this latte hot or iced — it’s up to you!

It will make a great host/hostess gift at the holidays or you can gift it to the coffee lovers in your life.

Serve this Christmas latte alongside a batch of Gingerbread Biscotti.

What is a Gingerbread Latte?

The Starbucks Gingerbread Latte debuted in 2000. Flavored with a syrup spiced with ginger, allspice and cinnamon, this delicious latte was a staple on its holiday menus for years.

The drink was discontinued in 2018, much to fans’ dismay and now is only available as a secret menu item.

But don’t worry! The drink is easy to make at home — if you’re up for making espresso and steamed milk at home. I promise it’s not too difficult.

This copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Latte recipe includes a homemade gingerbread coffee syrup that you can add to cold brew coffee or espresso to make your own latte drink.

Ingredients

Making a gingerbread latte calls for a few simple ingredients.

Gingerbread syrup

Though you can buy gingerbread syrup, it is very easy to make at home with sugar, water, molasses and a few spices! To make it, you’ll need:

• brown sugar
• water
• ginger root
• molasses
• a cinnamon stick
• allspice berries
• orange zest
• vanilla extract

Check out my gingerbread syrup recipe here.

Espresso

Next you’ll need espresso. I recommend a darker or medium roast to pair with this spiced sweet syrup.

• If you’re using a Nespresso machine, the Ristretto capsules are my favorite. If you’d like to keep decaf on hand, try these decaf capsules.
• If you’re using another method (more on that below), you’ll need a high-quality ground espresso.

Milk

Choose your favorite milk for your gingerbread cookie latte. I usually use whole milk or 2%, but you can use non-dairy milk as well.

In fact, oat milk lattes are actually really good because oat milk froths so well. Almond milk, soy milk or any other non-dairy would also be just fine, too.

Topping ideas

Jazz up your Gingerbread Cookie Latte with your favorite toppings. Here are a few ideas:

• fresh whipped cream
• gingerbread cookie crumbs
• sprinkles
• a sprinkle of gingerbread spice
• freshly-grated nutmeg
• cinnamon sugar

Variations and substitutions

Iced gingerbread latte: Let the espresso cool slightly before pouring it over ice, then top it with slightly-cooled steamed milk.

Vegan gingerbread latte: Make sure to use plant-based milk and vegan whipped cream.

Sugar-free gingerbread latte: Use your favorite sugar-free substitute to make the gingerbread syrup. See this sugar-free syrup recipe for details, then come back to this recipe to add the mixins and infuse. Do note that molasses is not sugar free, so you can omit it or use a sugar-free molasses substitute.

How to make Gingerbread Syrup

Making homemade simple syrups is so easy, just like the name suggests. Here’s what to do:

First, grab a medium saucepan and add the sugar and water. Warm over medium heat.

Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then remove from heat. No need to boil it.

Once the mixture has cooled slightly, discard the orange zest and spices. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Store in an airtight, food-safe container like a glass bottle or mason jar.

How to make espresso

The easiest way to make this holiday drink at home is with an espresso machine. Personally I use this Nespresso machine (I have it in black).

I love having this on hand for easy lattes and cappuccinos. It is definitely the easiest way to make lattes at home. But if you don’t have an espresso machine, you’re not out of luck. You can use very strong coffee, or you can brew espresso another way:

• Aeropress: Learn how to use this easy method for making coffee and espresso. I have tried this before and it’s really delicious!
• Stovetop espresso maker: You can make your pumpkin spice latte on the stove by making your espresso in this cute little pot!
• Instant espresso powder: This is probably my least favorite method because fresh is better, but the instant stuff can still be good in a pinch, especially if you are traveling or can’t access these other methods.

Check out these tips for making a latte without an espresso machine.

How to steam milk

After you make your espresso, or while you are making it, it’s time to steam your milk. There are a few ways you can steam your milk of choice:

• Electric milk frother: I use the Aeroccino milk frother machine that came with my Nespresso machine. This milk frother is similar and a much cheaper option.
• Hand-held milk frother tool: Before I had an espresso machine, I used a milk frothing tool like this one. You’ll want to warm your milk first, then you can use this neat electric whisk that will get your milk nice and foamy.
• Microwave: You can also steam your milk in the microwave! Always a great option if you don’t have the other tools.
• In a French press: This tutorial shows you how to froth milk with a French press. This is another fantastic option.

How to make a Gingerbread Latte

If you desire an iced version of this festive latte, no problem. Here’s what to do:

1. First, brew your espresso and let it cool slightly.
2. Pour the gingerbread syrup over ice, then top with espresso.
3. Top it with slightly-cooled frothed milk.
4. Dust with sprinkles or other toppings, if desired.

Then relax and enjoy this holiday favorite from the comfort of your own home!

What to serve with gingerbread lattes

Serve these lattes for holiday breakfasts, weekend brunch or an afternoon pick-me-up. For the mornings, they’d be perfect with gingerbread waffles.

For a snack, make gingerbread reindeer cookies or cardamom ginger cookies to dunk in your lattes.

FAQ

More Starbucks Copycat Recipes

• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Sugar Cookie Latte
• Iced Tea Lemonade
• Cold Brew Iced Tea
• Pumpkin Bread
• Vanilla Bean Scones