I love Gingerbread lattes. Healthy, naturally sweetened, creamy, perfectly spiced gingerbread lattes.
Things are getting very cozy around here, and I love it.
Let’s make a latte!
When I was in high school I was obsessed with coffee. I would go through the drive-through once or twice a day to buy an iced coffee, and when December rolled around, I would finally start drinking hot coffee, usually in the form of lattes.
Today I cringe at the number of plastic, paper, and styrofoam cups that ended up in the trash thanks to my teenage coffee-loving ways, but at the time I wasn’t aware of the implications of my coffee habit. I hadn’t yet learned about fair trade or sustainable agriculture, hadn’t given any thought to where, or how, or under what conditions, coffee was grown, and wasn’t aware of the environmental toll of my actions. I probably couldn’t have told you where in the world coffee beans were grown and had no idea what happened before the beans made it into my cup.
When I went away to college, I stopped drinking coffee altogether. I realized it wasn’t making me feel good- that the sweaty, jittery, uncomfortable feelings I had weren’t just a normal part of the teenage experience, but were a direct result of the caffeine in coffee. I also learned about the coffee plantations in central in south america and about the dark, bloody history of the coffee industry; as soon as I knew the realities of the coffee industry I stopped drinking coffee and never looked back. To me, not drinking coffee was an act of protest. Small, yes. But to my 18-year old self, it felt huge. I felt like I was doing something that mattered.
And yet, here I am ten years later, sharing a recipe for a latte on the internet. Admittedly, I’m using fair trade organic decaf from a company committed to building democratically run organic farmer cooperatives and creating an alternate food system where people and the environment matter. So, maybe I haven’t changed all that much from my college days. I’ve just learned that removing myself from the system isn’t as powerful as helping to build a better one.
So, with that, I present to you: the gingerbread latte.
It’s dark, perfectly spiced, creamy, and comforting. Perfect for sipping on while you order Christmas gifts online from my gift guide, while you decorate the house for the holidays, or for pouring into a travel mug and taking to work in the morning. Drive-through not required.
To make this Winter-y treat, all you need is coffee, milk (I like full-fat canned coconut milk), molasses, and spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, to be exact. I like to dump everything into the blender to get it nice and frothy like a latte, but you can also use a milk frother (I have this one) for the same effect. Or just stir it all together in a mug for a perfectly spiced cup of gingerbread coffee. Your choice.
I hope you love this gingerbread latte as much as I do! The molasses makes it extra dark and intense- like the best gingerbread- but is tamed by a gentle amount of spice and plenty of milk. I prefer my coffee unsweetened or subtly sweet, so the molasses adds just enough sweetness to to please my tastebuds. If you like your coffee on the sweet side, feel free to add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey to help sweeten it up a bit.
If you’re into warm, comforting, frothy drinks, be sure to check out my Vanilla Turmeric Latte and Coconut Oil Hot Chocolate. Both are perfect for sipping on this time of year!
If you make this Gingerbread Latte, let me know how it turns out! Leave a comment below, or take a picture and tag me on Instagram so I can see! Stay warm, friends!
Gingerbread Latte
Ingredients
- 8 oz hot coffee
- 4 oz milk of choice I like canned, full-fat coconut milk
- 1 Tablespoon molasses
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- a pinch of nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon or less
- a drizzle of maple syrup of honey for extra sweetness (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Gently heat your milk in a small pot on the stove (or for about 30 seconds in the microwave), just so it doesn't cool down the latte too much. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend for 10 seconds, or until combined. Taste and add honey or maple syrup to sweeten, if desired. Pour into a mug and enjoy!