Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Latte
Get merry with a Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Latte, made with a deliciously easy homemade syrup full of your favorite sweet seasonal spices!
Why We Love Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Latte
- Remember the crushing disappointment you felt when you found out the Starbucks Gingerbread Latte was being discontinued? Now you can mend those hurt feelings with a homemade recipe you might secretly like more than the original!
- Making the gingerbread syrup for the coffee is really easy and makes enough for 9 lattes. That’s enough to share or take on every holiday shopping trip!
- When you make your own gingerbread syrup you are using ingredients that are simple and delicious, so no mystery items and loads of extra preservatives hiding in this recipe.
- The gingerbread syrup can be used in other hot and cold drinks, along with desserts and pancakes or waffles. It’s so unbelievably good!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Latte
GINGERBREAD SYRUP
SPICES: To create the bold seasonal flavors in this syrup you will need molasses, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla extract.
SUGAR: You will need both granulated sugar and packed dark brown sugar to make this syrup.
WATER: A little water is also needed for this recipe.
TO MAKE THE LATTE
COFFEE: To make the latte portion of this drink you will need either strong coffee or a few shots of hot espresso.
SYRUP: Prepare the syrup as written above before making the coffee.
MILK: Froth up your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk to add to the latte.
TOPPINGS: You and everyone you know love whipped cream on their drinks so be sure to pick that up, and don’t forget the sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg over the whipped cream!
How to Make a Gingerbread Latte
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 In a medium-sized saucepan on medium-low heat, combine the water, brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt, and stir well.
STEP 2 Bring the syrup to a simmer and once at a low simmer, stir the syrup constantly for five minutes. After five minutes, take the pan off of the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
STEP 3 Add the coffee or espresso to a mug and stir in the gingerbread syrup.
STEP 4 Top with the frothed milk, followed by the whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Tips & Tricks
- Store the gingerbread syrup in a sealed jar and it will last for a month in the fridge. Warm the syrup a little before each use, either in the microwave for less than 30 seconds, or on the stovetop until warm, and shake or stir well to mix the spices again.
- This recipe makes enough syrup for 9 lattes if 2 tablespoons of syrup is used for each drink. You can adjust this amount as you like though, for a less or more sweet latte!
- To properly froth the milk, heat the milk until it reaches 170 degrees F, which is usually less than a minute in the microwave. Use a handheld frother, a whisk, or shake vigorously in a jar to create the frothed milk for this drink.
- Add a little gingerbread syrup to more of your favorite seasonal drinks and goodies, like hot chocolate, cookies, and pancakes!
Gingerbread Latte Recipe FAQ
Does Starbucks make a Gingerbread Latte?
Seasonal drinks from Starbucks are always a delicious mega hit and the Gingerbread Latte, which was introduced in 2018, was no different. This popular drink is both festive and tasty so holiday drink lovers were very disappointed when Starbucks did not bring it back in subsequent years. Thankfully, copycat recipes like the one below make it easier and even healthier to create and enjoy at home!
What is Gingerbread Latte made of?
A Starbucks Gingerbread Latte was made with espresso, milk, gingerbread syrup, vanilla syrup, nutmeg, and whipped cream.
While the original ingredients and the copycat ingredients are similar, this homemade version is way more tasty because you can make it as sweet as you want with your preferred type of coffee. Unlike the Starbucks version, this homemade drink is always available!
How do you get a Gingerbread Latte at Starbucks?
When you have an insatiable craving for a gingerbread latte but can’t get home to make one, you can still swing by Starbucks and order something really similar! Start by ordering a grande cinnamon dolce latte and add two pumps of white mocha syrup. Follow that with one pump of chai tea concentrate and a few shakes of ground nutmeg mixed in. Then you’ll have one delicious drink that will satisfy that gingerbread craving!
Other Recipes You May Like
Copycat Starbucks Gingerbread Latte
Equipment
Ingredients
Gingerbread Syrup
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 ¼ teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Gingerbread Latte
- ½ cup strong coffee (or 2 shots of espresso)
- 2 tablespoons gingerbread syrup
- ¾ cup whole milk frothed
- Whipped cream for serving
- Ground cinnamon and/or nutmeg for serving
Instructions
Gingerbread Syrup
- Place the water, sugar, brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt into a medium saucepan. Stir to combine.
- Place the pan over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Once at a low simmer, cook stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Set aside.
Gingerbread Latte
- Pour the espresso or coffee into your mug. Add 2 tablespoons of gingerbread syrup and then then frothed milk.
- Top with whipped cream, cinnamon, and/or nutmeg if using.
Notes
- The gingerbread syrup recipe is enough to make 9 lattes if you use 2 tablespoons of syrup per latte. I believe this is the perfect amount of sweetness, but use more or less to your taste!
- The syrup will last up to about 1 month in the fridge in a sealed container. Before using, make sure to warm it again in a saucepot or in the microwave and stir it well to distribute the spices.
- Make sure to heat the milk to 170 degrees F, or it will not froth properly. You can also use a whisk and whisk vigorously until the milk is frothed. If it is at temp, it will froth and hold.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.