This Gingerbread Latte is easy to make with a combination of warm spices like ginger, nutmeg and molasses that will make your mouth water! Skip the trip to Starbucks and stay cozy with this homemade copycat version that may melt your heart. Gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free and paleo-friendly with Whole30 options.
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Updated December 2021
Easy Gingerbread Latte Recipe
‘Tis the season for all the cozy flavors like peppermint, eggnog and gingerbread. This homemade Gingerbread Latte is full of cozy holiday spices and perfect for enjoying on a cold winter morning. It’s easy to make and perfect if you don’t want to make the trip out to Starbucks! If you love the holiday drink flavors at Starbucks and find them a little bit too sweet, try making your own homemade copycat versions. What’s better than sipping on this delicious drink while baking your favorite holiday cookies with some festive music or curled up on the couch by a cozy fire.
Plus, making your own latte at home that you can customize according to your taste. This healthy version is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo and can easily be made low carb or keto with your favorite sweetener of choice.
Ingredients you need
Our homemade Gingerbread Latte has all the classic holiday flavors of the favorite Starbucks version without any refined-sugars or dairy.
- Espresso: or strongly brewed coffee. Warmed cold brew will work too!
- Spices: to give this latte that classic gingerbread flavor. Warming spices like ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.
- Molasses: to add sweetness and that classic gingerbread flavor. We like unsulphured blackstrap molasses but you can leave this out for a Whole30 version if preferred.
- Maple syrup: to sweeten things up without any refined sugars. You can use organic agave syrup, yacon syrup, date syrup or any liquid syrup or liquid sweetener you like. Use sugar-free maple syrup, liquid monkfruit or stevia for low carb or keto. Leave out for Whole30 or use homemade date paste.
- Vanilla extract: just a splash is all you need to add flavor and make your Starbucks copycat gingerbread latte delicious.
- Unsweetened almond milk: or preferred plant-based milk
Optional toppings
- Whipped cream: we like coconut whipped cream but you can use whipped coconut cream or regular whipped cream if not dairy-free.
- Gingerbread cookie / and crushed cookie crumbs, for garnish
How to make Gingerbread Latte
Instructions
- Combine coffee and spices: In a medium saucepan / pot, add the coffee, spices, molasses, vanilla and maple syrup and whisk together until combined. Bring to a low boil over medium heat or once the mixture is nice and hot.
- Froth the milk: Meanwhile, add the milk to a milk frother or use a hand frother to froth until foamy.
- Pour into mugs: Transfer the coffee mixture into two mugs and then pour the frothed milk overtop.
- Add toppings: Top with whipped cream, a dash of cinnamon, and garnish with a gingerbread cookie and crushed cookie crumbs.
Tips for success
- Coffee: Be sure to use a good quality espresso or coffee.
- Milk or Dairy-free creamer: Choose a milk that will froth well. We like using Malk Organics unsweetened almond milk since it’s thick, creamy and froths up really well. For a dairy-free creamer, we like Nutpods Original.
- Sweetener: We used maple syrup but you can use organic agave syrup, yacon syrup, date syrup or any liquid syrup or liquid sweetener you like. Use sugar-free maple syrup, liquid monkfruit or stevia for low carb or keto. Leave out for Whole30.
Variations
This gingerbread coffee recipe is super simple to make your own. Here are a few ways you can customize them!
- Sweetener: You can use any liquid sweetener of choice or leave out along with the molasses for a Whole30 version.
- Molasses: leave out the molasses if you prefer but the molasses adds that authentic ‘gingerbread-y’ taste.
- Milk: any milk in this recipe and it will work just fine. We prefer non-dairy milk but if you like regular milk and don’t follow any specific diet feel free to use that!
- Spices: Switch up the amount of cinnamon, ginger or cloves to your taste.
- Frother: If you don’t have a milk frother, simplywhisk the milk vigorously in the pan and it will get super frothy.
- Chocolate Shavings: to make this homemade coffee extra special.
More cozy drink recipes you will love:
This Gingerbread Latte is easy to make with a combination of warm spices like ginger, nutmeg and molasses that will make your mouth water! Skip the trip to Starbucks and stay cozy with this homemade copycat version that may melt your heart. Gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free and paleo-friendly with Whole30 options.
- 3 shots of espresso or 1 cup strongly brewed coffee cold or hot
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus more for topping
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon molasses , we use unsulphured blackstrap molasses. Omit if preferred or for Whole30 but molasses gives this latte that classic gingerbread flavor.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or preferred sticky liquid sweetener , leave out for Whole30 or blend in a date.
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk or preferred milk
- Coconut whipped cream, whipped coconut cream , or regular whipped cream if not dairy-free
- Gingerbread cookie / and crushed cookie crumbs , for garnish
- In a medium saucepan / pot, add the coffee, spices, molasses, vanilla and maple syrup and whisk together until combined. Bring to a low boil over medium heat or once the mixture is nice and hot.
- Meanwhile, add the milk to a milk frother or use a hand frother to froth until foamy.
- Pour the coffee mixture into two mugs and then pour the frothed milk overtop.
- Top with whipped cream, a dash of cinnamon, and garnish with a gingerbread cookie and crushed cookie crumbs.
