Welcome the holiday season with the warm, inviting aroma of a homemade Gingerbread Coffee. This easy gingerbread coffee recipe captures all the cozy flavors of your favorite Christmas cookie in a delicious, comforting mug. Forget the coffee shop lines and high prices; in just a few minutes, you can craft a café-quality festive drink right in your own kitchen. It’s the perfect way to start a chilly morning or wind down a festive evening.
This recipe is more than just a drink; it’s an experience. We’ll show you how to create a simple yet flavorful gingerbread syrup that perfectly balances sweet molasses with warm spices like ginger and cinnamon. Whether you prefer a classic brewed coffee, a creamy latte, or even an iced version, this recipe is easily adaptable. Let’s get brewing!
Why You’ll Love This Gingerbread Coffee Recipe
Incredibly Easy: You only need a few simple ingredients and less than 10 minutes to whip up this festive treat.
Coffee-Shop Quality at Home: Get that gourmet holiday coffee flavor without leaving your house or spending a fortune.
Perfectly Spiced: Our homemade gingerbread syrup is rich with ginger, cinnamon, and molasses for that authentic, cozy taste.
Versatile & Customizable: Enjoy it hot or iced, as a simple coffee or a frothy latte. You can easily adjust the sweetness and spices to your liking!
The Key Ingredients
Crafting the perfect Gingerbread Coffee starts with a few essential ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to bring this festive beverage to life.
Nothing says 'cozy' like a warm gingerbread latte.
For the Gingerbread Syrup:
Water: The base for our simple syrup.
Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness that complements the molasses.
Molasses: This is the key to that authentic, rich gingerbread flavor. Do not skip it!
Ground Ginger: Provides that signature warm, zesty spice.
Cinnamon Stick: Infuses the syrup with a classic holiday aroma and flavor.
Vanilla Extract: A splash at the end rounds out the flavors beautifully.
For the Coffee:
Strongly Brewed Coffee or Espresso: The better the coffee, the better the final drink. Use your favorite beans!
Milk of Choice: Whole milk, oat milk, or almond milk all work wonderfully to create a creamy texture.
Whipped Cream: An optional but highly recommended topping for a decadent finish.
Nutmeg or Cinnamon: A final dusting of spice on top makes it look and taste extra special.
How to Make The Perfect Gingerbread Coffee
This simple process will have you sipping on a festive coffee in no time. We’ll start by making the heart of the recipe: the gingerbread syrup.
Step 1: Create the Gingerbread Syrup
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, brown sugar, molasses, ground ginger, and cinnamon stick. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let the syrup cool slightly.
Step 2: Brew Your Coffee
While the syrup is simmering, brew your coffee or prepare your espresso shots. You want a strong, robust coffee flavor to stand up to the rich spices of the syrup.
Step 3: Steam the Milk (for Lattes)
If you’re making a gingerbread latte, now is the time to steam and froth your milk. You can use a steam wand on an espresso machine or a handheld milk frother. Heat the milk until warm, but not boiling, before frothing.
Step 4: Assemble Your Drink
Add 1-2 tablespoons of the homemade gingerbread syrup to the bottom of your favorite mug. Pour the hot, freshly brewed coffee or espresso over the syrup and stir well to combine. If making a latte, top with your frothed milk.
The perfect blend of coffee and warm gingerbread spices.
Step 5: Garnish and Serve
Finish your masterpiece with a generous swirl of whipped cream and a light dusting of ground cinnamon or nutmeg. Serve immediately and enjoy the festive flavors! For a truly delightful pairing, try it with some delicious gingerbread crinkle cookies.
Tips for the Best Holiday Coffee
Use Good Quality Coffee: The base of your drink matters! A high-quality, strong brew will make a significant difference.
Adjust Sweetness: Feel free to add more or less gingerbread syrup to suit your personal taste.
Batch the Syrup: The syrup recipe can easily be doubled. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It’s perfect for quick and easy coffees all season long, and also delicious on pancakes or ice cream!
Make it Iced: To make an iced gingerbread coffee, let the coffee and syrup cool completely. Fill a glass with ice, add the syrup, pour in the cold coffee and milk, and stir to combine.
Recipe Variations
One of the best things about this gingerbread coffee recipe is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Dairy-Free Gingerbread Coffee
To make this recipe dairy-free, simply use your favorite plant-based milk. Oat milk is a fantastic choice as it froths beautifully and has a creamy texture that rivals dairy milk. Almond and soy milk are also great options. Use a dairy-free whipped topping to finish it off.
Boozy Gingerbread Coffee
For an adults-only version, add a splash of your favorite spirit. A shot of bourbon, spiced rum, or coffee liqueur would be a delicious and warming addition, perfect for a cold winter evening.
Different Toppings
Get creative with your garnishes! Try adding a drizzle of caramel sauce, a sprinkle of crushed gingersnap cookies, or even some festive sprinkles on top of the whipped cream.
Storing Homemade Gingerbread Syrup
Your homemade gingerbread syrup is a wonderful thing to have on hand during the holidays. To store it, allow the syrup to cool completely to room temperature. Pour it into a clean, airtight container, such as a glass jar or bottle. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Give it a good shake before each use.
This syrup makes a fantastic homemade gift, too! If you’re looking for other festive recipes to share, these Christmas kitchen sink cookies are always a huge hit.
What to Serve with Gingerbread Coffee
This festive coffee is a treat on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with holiday baked goods. For a breakfast pairing, it’s perfect alongside some fluffy pumpkin cinnamon rolls. If you’re enjoying it as an after-dinner drink, it complements desserts like cheesecake or a simple batch of cookies. For a savory contrast, a slice of quiche or a simple breakfast sandwich would also be delightful.
Gingerbread coffee tastes like a warm, spiced holiday cookie in a mug! It has the robust flavor of coffee combined with the sweet and spicy notes of ginger, cinnamon, and rich molasses, creating a cozy and festive flavor profile.
Absolutely! To make an iced version, allow the gingerbread syrup and brewed coffee to cool completely. Then, fill a glass with ice, add the syrup, pour in the cold coffee and your milk of choice, and stir well.
When stored in an airtight container like a glass jar in the refrigerator, the homemade gingerbread syrup will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to give it a shake before each use.
A medium or dark roast coffee works best as its bold flavor stands up well to the sweet and spicy syrup. If you have an espresso machine, two shots of espresso will create a delicious gingerbread latte.
Yes, this recipe is easily made dairy-free. Simply substitute the milk for a plant-based alternative like oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk. Use a dairy-free whipped cream for the topping.
More Drink Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this festive coffee, be sure to check out our recipe for a rich and creamy Nutella Coffee. It’s another simple way to elevate your morning cup!
Enjoy Your Festive Gingerbread Coffee!
We hope you love this easy and delicious gingerbread coffee recipe. It’s a simple joy that’s sure to bring a little extra warmth and cheer to your holiday season. If you try it, let us know what you think in the comments below and don’t forget to share your creations with us on Pinterest!
Get the cozy flavors of the holidays in a mug with this simple gingerbread coffee recipe!
Gingerbread Coffee Recipe
FL Recipes
Gingerbread Coffee Recipe (Easy & Festive)
Cozy up with this easy Gingerbread Coffee recipe! Made with a simple homemade gingerbread syrup, warm spices, and strong coffee, it's the perfect festive holiday drink you can make right at home.
Make the Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine water, brown sugar, molasses, ground ginger, and the cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 5-7 minutes.
Finish the Syrup: Remove the saucepan from the heat, remove the cinnamon stick, and stir in the vanilla extract. Set aside.
Brew Coffee: Brew 1 cup of strong coffee or prepare 2 shots of espresso.
Assemble: Add 1-2 tablespoons of the gingerbread syrup to a large mug. Pour the hot coffee over the syrup. Add warm or frothed milk as desired and stir to combine.
Garnish and Serve: Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 185kcalProtein: 1gFat: 5gFiber: 0.5g
Notes
Syrup Storage: Store leftover syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Iced Version: To make an iced coffee, allow the syrup and coffee to cool. Combine in a glass filled with ice, add milk, and stir.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
