Gingerbread latte with an optional dash of alcohol is what is not available in the average coffee shop. All those cosy and comforting flavours that are associated with this popular drink plus a little kick of booze. This homemade gingerbread coffee is quick, easy and utter bliss. You really should try it.
Heat the milk to scalding, then stir in the gingerbread syrup
Optional: blitz with a stick blender until frothy
Add the alcohol of choice (optional) to a heatproof mug or glass
Pour the hot coffee into the mug/ glass
Top with the hot gingerbread milk
Optional: garnish with whipped cream and toppings of choice
Make the Gingerbread Milk Steamer
Heat the milk to scalding, then stir in the gingerbread syrup and blitz with a stick blender until frothy
Pour into a heatproof glass
Serve
Notes
The trick to achieving a luxurious drink is to use either espresso coffee or coffee granules diluted in just a small amount of water so that milk is the dominant liquid in the drink
And I do recommend using whole (full-fat) milk for a truly sumptuous finish - it adds just the right level of creamy indulgence to this drink
Vary the strenth of the coffee according to your own tastes, but remember that very strong coffee may mask the spice profile of the latte syrup
If you are serving at a party then consider setting up a Christmas latte bar including a choice of alcohols (see below), whipped cream, marshmallows, mini gingerbread men or 3D gingerbread houses, sprinkles, grated chocolate and cinnamon sticks. Guests will love assembling their own drinks (and it's one less thing for you to do whilst hosting)
Use a slow cooker to keep a large batch of this drink warm during a party. In this instance, I'd leave out the alcohol and let guests add their own at the point of serving since not everybody will welcome that nip of booze in their Christmas latte
Using Store-bought syrupI've never bought gingerbread syrup myself, but I know that Starbucks sell their own version and that Costa use Monin syrups. The exact amount needed to flavour your drink may vary from the measure listed in the recipe (my homemade version has quite a punchy flavour). Start by adding a little (say 1 tablespoon), tasting and adjusting upwards from there.Making in AdvanceSimply multiple the ingredients by however many servings needed and mix the cold milk, brewed coffee and syrup together in a jug. Don't heat it up at this point, simply store it all in the fridge and pour out a serving as required, heating as instructed. Be sure to give everything a good stir before pouring out a serving to ensure the syrup hasn't settled on the bottom of the jug.Tip: It's a good idea to leave the alcohol out of a large batch, so you don't accidentally pour yourself a boozy coffee at an inappropriate time.