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Looking for a super special maple latte recipe? This latte is sure to keep you warm as we’re finishing up winter! If you’re in Canada like me, you know that winter really can overstay its welcome here. Well, if you’re stuck inside because it’s just too darn cold out, then you’re really in for a treat with this adult latte recipe!
We’ve got pure maple syrup and straight bourbon to make our rich homemade maple bourbon syrup. Mixed in with frothy steamed milk and coffee, the flavors here are just out of this world! I’ve been so hooked on this adult latte recipe and I’m sure you will be too!
This time of year is indeed the opportunity to get creative with hot drinks! I know when it’s freezing I want to visit a coffee shop whenever I can to thaw and get that cozy feeling. However, with prices rising, going to a coffee shop every day really will put a hole in your wallet! Why not make a theme for the next week trying a variety of latte recipes? I discuss more in my free motivational guide, Make Cooking Fun!, how having a theme can get you excited to try a variety of new recipes! If you want to put your heart in a cup, then definitely try out this incredible boozy latte recipe as part of your Live to Cook one-month challenge! You can start your cooking journey today with these free resources by signing up to my newsletter, plus you’ll get new recipes delivered directly to your inbox!
To follow along as I prepare this decadent maple bourbon latte, check out the video! I’d love it if you subscribe to my YouTube channel if you’re not already, and don’t forget to hit the bell button so you’re notified when all of my video recipes are live! I love to make them to go hand in hand with the written ones so you’re set up for success! Let’s get brewing!
Why You’ll Love This Maple Bourbon Latte!
- Money saver: Making your own latte will certainly save you some dollars at the coffee shop!
- Fun adult beverage: Plus, as far as I know, you can’t get this adult latte at regular coffee shops, so this is an extra bonus! This would be perfect to serve at holiday parties!
- Easy recipe:The most work that’s involved in making our latte is to make the maple bourbon syrup! Otherwise, then you just need to boil some milk and froth it, brew some coffee, and assemble!
- Fast: If you’ve made your maple bourbon syrup in advance, then this can be even quicker! The longest part of this maple latte recipe is preparing the sauce. The rest comes together so quickly!
- Handful of ingredients: Our latte is made with only 5 ingredients! You most likely have everything except for the bourbon - and if you do have bourbon, then that’s a bonus!
- Delicious: There’s not much more to add to this! This is hands down officially one of my favourite lattes, and I’m sure it will be yours too! If you want to feel super Canadian and warm up during the cold, then this is the drink to enjoy! I bet the booze in here will help warm you up a little more too!
What's a Latte?▼
A cafe latte, often shortened to simply latte, is a caffeinated beverage of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk.
A cappuccino and a latte are often confused! One of the distinguishing characteristics of a latte is that it contains more milk than espresso in comparison to a cappuccino. On the other hand, a cappuccino has an even distribution of espresso, milk, and milk foam. Additionally, in the case of lattes, milk is mixed in with the espresso, which creates the light milk foam on top. On the contrary, cappuccinos contain a layer of espresso and milk, and the milk foam is added on top by using a spoon. As a result, because the layers of a cappuccino are distinct, the espresso has a stronger flavour. Lattes are creamier and have a milder coffee taste because of the milk and espresso being mixed.
I personally usually go for lattes because I like the creaminess of them, but I intend to try more cappuccino recipes! Let me know what your preference is in the comments!
What's bourbon and what should I use for this maple latte?▼
Bourbon is actually a type of barrel-aged American whiskey that is distilled from a mash (the grain mixture) that is mostly composed of corn - specifically, at least 51%. Bourbon has to be aged in new charred oak barrels and it originated in Kentucky.
To be honest with you, I’m not too knowledgeable about Bourbon. I used a straight bourbon here because it contains no colours, flavours, or blending materials that may be added to a straight whiskey. This would probably be your best bet to allow the maple syrup to shine and to enjoy the full effects of the bourbon. If you want to learn more about bourbon, check out this article.
What maple syrup to use?▼
Technically you could use any maple syrup of your choice. However, to get a true maple bourbon experience in our latte, I'm using bourbon barrel maple syrup. This is when the charred oak barrels used for the bourbon are shipped off to sugar shacks where maple syrup is produced, and it is aged in the barrel.
Grade A maple syrup is the best quality maple syrup. Maple syrup is available in golden, amber, dark or very dark. I’ve really enjoyed amber and dark maple syrups as I love the rich flavour. Depending on how strong of a maple syrup you want, then go darker. Darker maple syrups are excellent for cooking and drinks to retain the flavour.
I really recommend you stay clear of anything that is NOT maple syrup though! The whole point of this latte is to enjoy the maple goodness, so cheap table syrups are a huge NO here!
Can I make a Latte with Regular Coffee?▼
As described above, a latte is typically made with espresso. However, if you don’t have an espresso machine (like I don’t!), then using a French press with regular coffee will yield strong brewed coffee that’s close to espresso. This is because the coffee has the chance to steep and release more flavour in comparison to coffee from a filtered method.
If you don’t have a French press either, then that’s okay! You can simply use your conventional coffee machine if that’s all you have. In that case, try to find a dark roast coffee.
What Milk Should I use For This Latte?▼
I used whole (3.25% milk fat) lactose-free milk. I love to use whole milk for my lattes because it makes them really delicious and creamy! If you’re using dairy milk that’s lower in fat, then you could add in some half and half cream to yield similar results to whole milk.
If you’re looking to make this recipe vegan, then oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk will be excellent substitutes for milk. In particular, I think coconut and oat milk will provide the creamiest results comparable to whole milk.
How Many Cups of Maple Latte will this recipe yield?▼
The amount of maple bourbon syrup made and milk used will be enough to serve four or five (depending on how much coffee you want) 16-ounce (grande at Starbucks) cups. You may actually have a little extra maple bourbon syrup, so feel free to store it in an airtight container and use it to sweeten any other coffee recipes, French toast, pancakes, smoothies, or stovetop oats or overnight oats!
EQUIPMENT Required for Bourbon Latte
- Saucepan: To prepare the maple bourbon syrup and to steam and froth the milk.
- Latte glass: I love my double-walled glasses because they retain heat inside but you can comfortably grip it!
- French press: To brew strong coffee without an espresso machine.
- Frother: To make our milk foam.
- Measuring cups: To measure out your maple syrup, bourbon, water and milk.
- Ladle: I find a ladle handy to pour the milk from the saucepan into the cup without making a mess!
- Spatula: To stir the maple bourbon sauce and the milk.
Tips for a Comforting Maple Latte with Bourbon
- Caution must be observed while simmering the maple syrup, the hot sugar can cause burns if in contact with skin so be careful while stirring or pouring.
- Be sure to balance out the flavor of the bourbon and the maple syrup by ensuring you follow a 3 parts bourbon to 1 to 1.5 parts maple syrup. It’s important to simmer the bourbon for 4-5 minutes first to ensure the alcohol doesn’t overpower the syrup
- Make sure you don't bring the milk to a boil, it only needs to be steamed for this recipe. Look for steam rising from the milk to know when it’s ready.
- The sweetness level in the latte can be easily adjusted by adding more or less of the fresh maple bourbon syrup. Make sure to add some, otherwise this is just a latte.
- The best alternative to a freshly made espresso is to prepare coffee using a French press. This results in a richer, stronger coffee since the coffee has the chance to steep and release more flavor, when compared to coffee made from a filtered method.
Ingredients Needed
Scroll to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD or press the “Jump to Recipe” button for full ingredient quantities and to save the recipe instructions for later. The recipe card will also let you scale the recipe based on how many cups of this latte you want to make, and all individual measurements will automatically be adjusted for you!
- Milk: I recommend full fat dairy milk for a rich and creamy latte.
- Maple syrup: If possible, use a bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup for an even bolder latte.
- Bourbon: I’m using Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla will nicely complement the strong maple and bourbon flavors going on here.
- Coffee: To enhance our latte even more, I’m using maple coffee. This flavoured coffee will really give you an incredible maple experience throughout the drink!
- Water: Water to brew your coffee.
How to Make Maple Syrup and Bourbon Latte
Add the bourbon to a saucepan and bring it to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 4-5 minutes and then add in the maple syrup and vanilla extract. Simmer 1-2 minutes and then carefully pour into a container.
On the stovetop or microwave, heat up the milk, mix often and make sure you don't bring the milk mixture to a boil. Add 1-2 Tbsp of the maple bourbon syrup per serving to the milk and stir well. Taste and adjust to your tastes. Continue heating until the milk is steaming.
Once the milk is steaming, use a frother to froth up the milk, alternatively, you can whisk aggressively to froth.
In the meanwhile prepare the espresso in your coffee/espresso machine. If you don't have a machine, you can use a French press to prepare the coffee. For the French press, add 4 Tbsp of your favourite coffee and then add a splash of water, heated to around 200F.
Let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds and then add the rest of the water. Cover the French press with the included lid and let the coffee steep for 3-4 minutes. Then, push the plunger for the French press down halfway, before lift it back up, and then gently all the way back down.
Once the milk is heated through and the coffee/espresso is ready, pour the coffee in your serving cup, filling it about halfway and then pour in the steamed milk to fill up the cup.
Serve hot and enjoy!
What to Pair with Bourbon and Maple Syrup Latte?
This adult beverage is perfect on its own or with any of your favourite treats! I think this maple latte would be perfect with Air Fryer Baby Cinnamon Rolls, No-Bake Oreo Pie, Pumpkin Banana Bread Pudding, Caramelized Bananas, or Strawberry Banana Crepes. You could totally also pair this with a Pumpkin Skillet Cookie or some Edible Cookie Dough for lighter treats!
Can I make this Latte Iced?▼
If you’re in the mood for iced coffee or want to enjoy this drink in the summer, then definitely try this out ice d and let me know what you think! Simply follow all the steps described here to make the maple bourbon syrup and to steam and froth the milk. Add ice cubes into a shaker and pour your brewed coffee or espresso, followed by the milk and your syrup. Shake everything up and pour into your serving glass!
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