Cozy Winter Lattes (Printable View)
Steamed milk and espresso blended with maple and warming spices—top with cream and a cinnamon stick for cozy sips.
# What You Need:
→ Milk Base
01 - 2 cups whole milk or plant-based alternative
→ Espresso
02 - 2 shots (about ⅔ cup) freshly brewed espresso or strong coffee
→ Winter Spice Blend
03 - ½ tsp ground cinnamon
04 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
05 - 1 pinch ground cloves
→ Sweetener
06 - 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey, adjusted to taste
→ Toppings
07 - Whipped cream
08 - Ground cinnamon or nutmeg for dusting
09 - Cinnamon sticks for garnish
# How To Make It:
01 - In a small saucepan, warm the milk over medium heat until steaming but not boiling. Whisk occasionally to prevent scorching.
02 - Stir the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and maple syrup or honey into the warmed milk. Whisk vigorously to blend and create a light froth.
03 - Prepare two shots of espresso or strong coffee using an espresso machine or coffee maker.
04 - Pour one shot of espresso into each mug. Slowly pour the spiced steamed milk over the espresso, dividing evenly between both mugs.
05 - Top with whipped cream if desired, dust with extra cinnamon or nutmeg, and garnish each mug with a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The spice blend makes your whole kitchen smell like a holiday candle without any artificial scents.
- It comes together in ten minutes flat, which means no waiting when the craving hits.
- You probably already have everything you need sitting in your pantry right now.
02 -
- Boiling the milk causes a skin to form and changes the texture completely, so pull it off the heat the moment it steams.
- Adding the spices to cold milk before heating helps them dissolve more evenly than dumping them into hot liquid.
03 -
- Toast the ground spices in the dry saucepan for about fifteen seconds before adding the milk to intensify their flavor dramatically.
- Using a French press to froth warm milk by pumping the plunger a few times creates foam that rivals any coffee shop.