Honey latte is a quick, easy, cosy and comforting treat for coffee lovers. Naturally dairy-free, this recipe combines honey and oat milk in coffee. Hints of vanilla and cinnamon effortlessly upgrade the base flavour in this oat milk latte.
Have you seen my almond milk latte? With hints of cardamom it’s another dairy-free delight.
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An oatmilk honey latte is a particularly inviting coffee drink to enjoy in the cooler months of the year. It’s a sweetish drink combining honey, oat milk and coffee in style. With gentle wafts of vanilla and baking spice included to round out the flavour, this is no ordinary oat milk latte.
I was inspired to create this recipe for honey sweetened oat milk latte when I discovered barista editions of some of my favourite non-dairy milk alternatives including oat milk. What a revelation to the world of coffee house style drinks this product makes. Creamy foamy tops on our dairy-free lattes and hot chocolate drinks are now possible.
Why you’ll love this latte
You don’t have to be on a dairy-free diet to enjoy this oatmilk honey latte – it’s a drink for everybody to enjoy:
- It’s quick and easy – ready in 5 minutes.
- Honey adds a gentle and mellow sweetness to this oat milk latte – it’s a fantastic upgrade.
- Additional subtle hints of vanilla and cinnamon really amplify the cosy vibes this drink gives off (and they make it smell fantastic).
- The sweetness can be adjusted according to taste.
- And so can the strength of the coffee.
Loving the idea of honey in a hot drink? Don’t miss my salted honey hot chocolate – it’s a decadent hit within my family. Or to stick with the coffee theme and have a go at my other flavoured coffees such as Biscoff latte, pistachio latte or Irish Mocha Latte (just for the grown-ups).
What is oat milk?
Oat milk is a plant milk made from whole oat grains and water. It has a creamy texture and a very subtle oat flavour. A variety of versions are on the market including sweetened, unsweetened, barista, vanilla, and chocolate. The barista version is particularly good in this oatmilk honey latte.
Oat milk is one of the most popular replacements for dairy-based milk for people who need to follow a dairy-free diet due to medical conditions or ethical values. .
Why is oat milk in coffee so good?
Let’s see. Oat milk has got great body and a delightfully unobtrusive taste. What do I mean? Well, it’s got a creaminess about it that is akin to full-fat milk. And unlike some plant-based milk alternatives, its flavour is mild. This means that it won’t dominate the flavour of your drinks.
In fact, oat milk in coffee has a growing reputation for being delicious. It’s not just those on dairy-free and vegan diets that enjoy this combination. Plenty of people on unrestricted diets regularly opt for the combination of oat milk in coffee (me included).
What is barista blend oat milk?
Barista oat milk is the closest dairy-free substitute to whole milk, created with the intention of being able to create a noteworthy creamy frothy top for hot drinks. As for how this is achieved, well, barista-style oat milk contains more fat compared to standard oat milk.
In fact, the barista blend is so good that it can even be used to create a little art on top of your oat milk latte (my latte art skills are a work in progress).
Ingredients notes
Oat milk: for best results use barista blend oat milk. The result will be a creamy and delicious oat milk latte with a deliciously creamy frothy top. Standard oat milk still creates a tasty drink but it does not have the ability to form a frothy top. I’ve tried about 5 brands over the last few months. All are good, but I do have a favourite: Oatly.
Coffee: freshly brewed ground coffee is the best option. You want the coffee to have plenty of strong flavour as it is being used in the classic latte ratio of one third coffee to two-thirds milk. I use around 15g of ground espresso for 75ml of coffee.
Honey: runny honey blends well into drinks. Pick one you enjoy the flavour of generally. Even honey with notes of lavender would work nicely.
Extras: a dash of vanilla extract, a smidge of cinnamon and a pinch of salt all add extra depth to the overall flavour profile of this oatmilk honey latte without dominating it.
Step by step instructions
Full instructions and measurements are given in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Measure the milk, vanilla, salt and cinnamon into a jug.
- Brew your coffee (I use 18g ground espresso coffee to pull 75 ml coffee).
- Mix the honey into the coffee.
- Steam the milk until foamy (alternatively, heat the milk and foam it manually).
- Pour the oat milk into the prepared coffee.
- Stir and serve immediately.
Expert tips
- Warm the serving cup for the best-temperature honey oatmilk latte. Simply fill the cup with hot water and let it stand for at least 30 seconds before emptying the water out and proceeding with the recipe.
- Work in order: measure the oat milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt into the jug prior to pulling the coffee to ensure that the coffee does not cool for longer than necessary.
- Try a double espresso shot: for those honey oatmilk latte lovers looking for a stronger coffee hit, feel free to make this drink twice as strong (pull 30-40ml liquid per 15g of grounds then repeat to get 75-80ml of double-strength coffee).
- Increase the sweetness: use more honey to amplify the sweetness of your oat milk latte. You could go up to 30ml of honey, if you have a very sweet tooth.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, oat milk is a healthy and good-for-you option. It’s easy-to-digest and low-fat (even the barista versions contain just 3% fat). It’s also a source of healthy fibre and some varieties come fortified with vitamins B2, B12 and D, and calcium. So, try some oat milk in coffee and see what you think.
Oat milk in coffee is so good. In fact, I’ll often choose it over regular dairy milk because I like the taste and texture so much. That said, if going down the route of an oat milk latte is not the way you want to enjoy your coffee and honey drink then replace the oat milk with either full-fat cow’s milk or barista editions of other non-dairy milk drinks, such as coconut.
Honestly, I wouldn’t know. I don’t visit Starbucks. This drink has been devised to be the best-tasting oatmilk honey latte I can muster rather than a Starbucks copycat. You’ll have to judge for yourself if it tastes anything like the Starbucks version (but you can bet a serving of this homemade oat milk latte is a whole lot cheaper).
If you do not own a coffee machine with a steaming wand don’t despair. It’s still possible to make enviably creamy and foamy milk for your oatmilk honey latte. There are so many ways this is achievable at home, including shaking in a jar or using a dedicated milk frother. My go-to solution is to use my immersion blender.
Yes, you can. It’s best to let the batch cool then store it in a bottle or jug in the fridge for up to 3 days. You will need to shake or stir the honey latte before pouring out a portion. It can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Serving suggestions
Sometimes simplicity wins out. In the case of this oatmilk honey latte, less is most definitely more. My preference is to skip the whipped cream and just enjoy this comforting drink as it is or with a light dusting of ground cinnamon.
That’s just me. If you cannot live without a splurge of whipped cream and some fun garnishes, knock yourself out. It’s your coffee, so enjoy it how you please.
As for tasty treats to enjoy with your honey latte how about a little square of espresso brownie, a coffee cookie, some coffee and walnut loaf cake or a slice of coffee, date & rye bread.
Variations
- Make it vegan. Clearly, this honey latte recipe is not vegan as it contains honey. Should you need to transform it into a vegan oat milk latte, simply swap the honey for maple syrup.
- Get toasty: increase the cinnamon to enhance the profile of this sweet spice. This is especially welcome on cold days. Go as far as ¼ teaspoon.
- Swap the spice: replace the cinnamon with a couple of split green cardamom pods to make a cardamom honey latte. Alternatively use a dash of pumpkin spice blend or chai spice blend for an autumnal spice fix.
- Make a mocha: use chocolate oat milk to make a honey mocha version of this drink. Note that chocolate oat milk will not froth like the barista version does.
- Increase the vanilla: to make a vanilla honey latte swap the regular oat milk for vanilla oat milk. It will be a little sweeter, so ultra-indulgent. Again, keep in mind that the foamy top will not be achievable when using vanilla oat milk.
- Get chilly: to turn this recipe into an iced honey latte mix the honey, vanilla, salt and cinnamon directly into the hot coffee, then pour it all into a tumbler filled with ice. Top up with cold oat milk and enjoy.
More fun coffee recipes
Have you made this recipe for oatmilk honey latte? If you have, please give it a rating or leave a comment – I love to hear how you get along with my creations.
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📖 Recipe
Oatmilk Honey Latte
Ingredients
- 75 ml Strong coffee use 15g ground espresso to pull the coffee
- 150 ml Barista edition oat milk Oatly is great
- 1 tablespoon Honey runny
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- Salt a small pinch
Instructions
- Fill your serving cup with freshly boiled water to heat through.
- Measure the milk, vanilla, salt and cinnamon into a jug.
- Tip the hot water out of the cup and brew your coffee directly into the warmed cup.
- Mix the honey into the coffee.
- Steam the milk until foamy (alternatively, heat the milk and foam it manually).
- Pour the oat milk into the prepared coffee.
- Stir and serve immediately with a light dusting of ground cinnamon if desired.
Notes
- Warm the serving cup for the best-temperature honey oatmilk latte. Simply fill the cup with hot water and let it stand for at least 30 seconds before emptying the water out and proceeding with the recipe.
- Work in order: measure the oat milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt into the jug prior to pulling the coffee to ensure that the coffee does not cool for longer than necessary.
- Try a double espresso shot: for those honey oatmilk latte lovers looking for a stronger coffee hit, feel free to make this drink twice as strong (pull 30-40ml liquid per 15g of grounds then repeat to get 75-80ml of double-strength coffee).
- Increase the sweetness: use more honey to amplify the sweetness of your oat milk latte. You could go up to 30ml of honey, if you have a very sweet tooth.
- Swap the milk: if going down the route of an oat milk latte is not the way you want to enjoy your coffee and honey drink then replace the oat milk with either full-fat cow’s milk or barista editions of other non-dairy milk drinks, such as coconut.
- How to foam milk if you do not own a coffee machine with a steaming wand: there are so many ways this is achievable at home, including shaking in a jar or using a dedicated milk frother. My go-to solution is to use my immersion blender.
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