Five Lattes You Can Easily Whip Up at Home

With the right equipment, ingredients, and recipe, your days of hitting the coffee shop and overspending on specialty drinks may be over. You don’t have to be a barista to make these lattes, but the best part? You don’t even have to change out of your pajamas!

What Is a Latte?

You’ve ordered a million lattes but never knew what went into them? Let’s start with the basics: A latte is a hot drink that originated in Italy and is made of an espresso base, steamed milk, and a light layer of foam.

Essential Latte-Making Tools

Are you concerned you need to spend a lot on latte-making tools? No true! All you need is a basic espresso machine, a small saucepan, and a thermometer.

Which Milk Is Best?

This is one of the top questions when it comes to making lattes. Experts often say whole milk is best because it’s the perfect amount of fat for pourable foam that mixes with the espresso, plus it tastes sweet and rich. But if you prefer a non-dairy option, oat milk is the best option, followed closely by almond milk.

Making a Latte Step by Step

If making a latte sounds like a whole thing, rest assured, it’s a simple process.

1. Using your espresso machine, brew and pour two espresso shots into a mug.
2. Steam any kind of milk (though whole milk froths the best), in a small saucepan (stirring frequently). Once it reaches 150° F, transfer milk to a glass or plastic (BPA free) measuring cup. Tap very gently on the counter several times to break up any large bubbles.
3. Top your espresso with the milk foam in the measuring cup.

Latte Recipes

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff. Here are five of our favorite latte recipes to whip up at home for the ultimate coffee shop experience.

Gingerbread Latte

(image via wholefully)

No matter the time of year, sometimes you just want to enjoy the comforting taste of gingerbread. Check out this recipe from Wholefully.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup strongly brewed coffee (or two shots of espresso)
• 1 Tbsp molasses
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¾ cup milk

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine coffee or espresso, molasses, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg. Whisk together until combined. Pour evenly between two coffee mugs.
2. Heat milk until just steaming in a small saucepan (or microwave). Froth using an electric Frother or placing the milk in a heat-proof jar with a tight-fitting lid and shaking. Pour milk evenly between the two mugs. Spoon frothy milk on top.

Biscoff Cookie Butter Latte

(image via basics with bails)

Cookie butter is one of those things you just have to experience to understand. And if you haven’t tried it yet, we highly recommend it. Now, take that heavenly taste and add the smooth, bold flavor of espresso. Drooling yet? Check out this recipe from Basics with Bails.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso or ½ cup hot coffee
• 1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
• 1 Tbsp cookie butter, melted
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Start by brewing a shot of your favorite espresso. While brewing, heat milk in a saucepan or milk frother.
2. Once milk is hot and frothy, add a generous amount of cookie butter to the bottom of a large mug. Pour milk over cookie butter and add brown sugar and vanilla extract. Mix using a frother or a blender. Add espresso.
3. If desired, top the latte with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa powder.

Baileys Latte

(image via baileys)

If you’re over 21 and not planning on driving anywhere, look no further than this spiked latte recipe from Baileys. Hey, we figure they know best.

Ingredients:

• 50 ml Bailey’s Original Irish Cream
• 1 shot espresso
• 150 ml hot milk
• Chocolate sprinkles to garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour hot milk into a latte glass (use a milk Frother to froth milk for a velvety smooth texture).
2. Add espresso to glass and mix.
3. Add Bailey’s Original Irish Cream. Shave over some dark chocolate to finish. Top with whipped cream (optional)

Twix Latte

(image via the real kitchen)

This chocolatey, rich, decadent Twix latte recipe from The Real Kitchen takes your coffee to the next level. You’ll whip up a Twix simple syrup in no time that you can keep on hand for lattes, cocktails, ice cream, and more.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 Tbsp Twix simple syrup (click here for recipe)
• ⅓ cup espresso (or 2-3 espresso pods)
• ½ cup milk
• Marshmallows (optional)
• Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add Twix simple syrup to a coffee mug, followed by espresso.
2. Heat milk in a saucepan or microwave until hot. Use a frother to froth warmed milk, then slowly pour into mug.
3. Stir to ensure the syrup doesn’t settle at the bottom. Garnish with marshmallows or whipped cream.

Caramel Brulée Latte

(image via happy healthy motivated)

Few things are as comforting as a hot caramel latte, and this Starbucks copycat from Happy Healthy Motivated checks all the boxes for thick, frothy goodness.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso or coffee
• 1 cup skim milk (can use non-dairy)
• 2 Tbsp caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling
• 1 Tbsp vanilla syrup
• Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Pour espresso into a saucepan with milk. Place over a high heat and whisk until frothy and milk just begins to boil.
2. Remove from heat and stir in caramel sauce and vanilla syrup.
3. Pour milky coffee into a mug. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.