The BEST Gingerbread Latte Recipe Made In 5 Minutes (Better Than Starbucks)

This copycat Starbucks gingerbread latte combines a blend of gingerbread cookie spices with the perfect balance of coffee, creamy milk, and whipped cream. Honestly, it's the perfect holiday drink and it tastes just as good, if not better, than the one from the iconic coffee shop. Best of all, you can make it in the comfort of your own home in less than 5 minutes!

The Best Gingerbread Latte

Starbucks is known for its seasonal drinks, especially its holiday-themed lattes. And, while there are so many delicious ones to choose from, the gingerbread latte has to be one of my all-time favorites. There's just something special about it, and if you love gingerbread lattes, then you know what I'm talking about. 

This cookie-inspired latte is just so warm and comforting, bold, yet smooth and creamy, and filled with the perfect blend of spices. And to finish it off, I always top it with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or gingerbread spice. 

Gah, it's so good!

With that said, this copycat Starbucks gingerbread latte isn't just delicious though, it's also super quick and easy to make. In fact, just 4 simple ingredients are all you'll need to whip it up. And as far as how long it will take to make, well, just 5 minutes is all you'll need to make it.

How great does that sound?!

By the way, if you want to make another Starbucks holiday drink at home, you have to give this peppermint mocha frappuccino a try next. It's so refreshing, and like this gingerbread latte, tastes just like the one from Starbucks.

Ingredients

As I just mentioned, this gingerbread latte is made with just a handful of ingredients. And if you're a regular latte or coffee drinker, then you probably have everything you need at home already!

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make this homemade gingerbread latte:

• 1 ¾ cups full-fat milk
• ¼ cup freshly prepared strong instant coffee
• 2 tsp gingerbread spice mix
• 2 tbsp muscovado or brown sugar
• ¼ cup whipped cream, to serve with
• Crushed peppermint candies or candy cane, for garnish

Simple stuff, right?

Ingredient Substitutions And Suggestions

While I recommend making this gingerbread latte recipe with the ingredients listed above, you certainly can make some substitutions for them.

First off, for the milk, I like to use full-fat milk to make the latte extra creamy. But, with that said, you can really use any kind of milk that you want - skim milk, almond milk, or soy milk all will work just as well. Also, just so you know, using oat milk or coconut milk will keep the latte super creamy, and using them will also make this a vegan gingerbread latte recipe too.

Now, to give this latte its gingerbread cookie flavor, I like to use gingerbread spice mix since I always have it on hand from making this sweet potato pecan pie. With that said, you can also use two pumps of homemade gingerbread syrup instead. 

For the sweetness - to balance out the spice - I like to use either muscovado sugar or brown sugar. But, you can also use a tablespoon of maple syrup if you want to add a little extra sweetness to your latte.

Lastly, for the coffee part of this recipe, I like to use instant coffee but you can also use instant espresso if you want more caffeine.

As you can see, there are a few different ways to create this homemade gingerbread latte. No matter which route you choose I'm confident it will be delicious.

How To Make Gingerbread Latte

So, now it's time to channel your inner barista and whip up some cookie latte deliciousness!

Again, it will only take you about 5 minutes to make this warm cup of spiced coffee, and the process is so, so easy. 

Anyway, let's not waste any time and get into the recipe!

Step 1: Mix The Ingredients 

First, take out a saucepan - or small pot - and put it on the stovetop. Then, add the milk of your choice to it along with the coffee, gingerbread mix, and brown sugar. Then give all of that a quick whisk and set it over medium heat.

Now you'll want to let everything come to a simmer, and then once it does you can reduce the heat of the burner to low and continue cooking the latte for about 2 minutes. Just make sure you frequently stir the latte while it's cooking - you don't want it to burn.

Step 2: Serve The Gingerbread Latte

Now, once your gingerbread cookie latte mixture is fully combined - and the gingerbread spices, sugar, and coffee have all dissolved - you can remove the pot from the heat and pour the latte into one large mug or two smaller mugs.

Then, top it off with a whipped garnish and a sprinkle of cinnamon, gingerbread spice, or crushed candy canes.

By the way, if you want to make homemade whipped cream, just add a cup of heavy whipping cream, a tablespoon of sugar, and vanilla extract to a bowl and mix with electric beaters until stiff peaks form. 

Finally, serve hot, and enjoy!

How To Store A Gingerbread Latte

This copycat Starbucks gingerbread latte recipe will make one large serving about the size of a venti. So, that means it's the perfect morning drink to start your day off right or to split with a friend!

Now, I always finish this latte off in one sitting, but if you aren't able to finish it, you can store the leftovers of your latte in an airtight container - or sealed glass jar - in the fridge for about a day or two.

How To Reheat A Latte

This gingerbread latte is also really delicious cold. So, if you end up with some of it leftover - and chilled - you can just give it a quick mix with a spoon and enjoy it cold.

With that said, if you want to reheat your latte and make it hot again, you can simply microwave it in a mug in 20-second increments until it reaches your desired temperature.

Alternatively, if you don't want to use the microwave, you can put the latte back in a saucepan - or pot - and warm it up over medium-low heat on the stove. You'll just want to heat it up for a few minutes - stirring frequently - until it's hot when you do.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make a gingerbread latte at home!

This is honestly one of the most delicious coffee drinks you'll ever make, especially during the holiday season. The blend of spices, touch of sweetness, and creamy finish is just so, so yummy. Seriously, you'll want to make this every morning. At least I know that's what happened to me after I made it for the first time.

Anyway, I hope you like this Starbucks copycat gingerbread latte as much as I do.

As always, if you give it a try, leave a comment below and let me know how it went!

More Drink Recipes

If you enjoyed this homemade latte and want to give some more of our Starbucks copycat recipes a try, we have a ton on the blog to check out next! 

Here are some you'll absolutely love:

• Starbucks cafe mocha
• Starbucks iced white chocolate mocha
• Starbucks salted caramel cream cold brew
• Starbucks mango dragonfruit refresher
• Starbucks chai tea latte

By the way, if you're looking for more easy recipes, be sure to follow us along on TikTok, Youtube, and Instagram. We post new ones on them every single day.

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