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What’s more iconic to the holidays than eggnog? A latte with eggnog of course! You get a wonderful combination of eggnog and coffee and it really warms you up in the cold!
If you weren’t aware, this is the second year that the eggnog latte has been discontinued at Starbucks. Boo, what a shame! I believe I had it once quite a few years ago and I really enjoyed it! I’m not sure exactly why it had to be discontinued but I was really sad about it. I really like eggnog and I think they did a great job with their latte!
Fear not, though! If you want to bring this cup of holiday joy to your home then this recipe has got you covered! This Starbucks recipe at home will only take a few ingredients and a couple of minutes and it’ll be ready in no time! I always say that going out can inspire you to get creative in the kitchen, but to prevent any scares when your favourite fast food or restaurant item gets chucked off the menu, then that’s where knowing how to recreate them at home is very empowering! Learn more about this in my Make Cooking Fun! free guide, where I give my top 5 tips to get you motivated in the kitchen! If eggnog is nostalgic and near and dear to you, then put your heart in a cup with this recipe as part of your Live to Cook one-month challenge! You can download my free guides by signing up to my email newsletter!
See for yourself how easy our cozy holiday latte comes together by checking out the video! Please subscribe to my YouTube channel if you’re not already, and hit the bell button so you receive notifications for when the recipe videos go live! I love sharing video recipes as a complement to the written recipes so you’re set up for success! Let’s get brewing!
What Is Eggnog?▼
Eggnog is a drink that is made with emulsified milk and eggs, traditionally served over the holidays for gatherings or to enjoy on a snowy night. People drink eggnog plain, with alcohol, or they use it in baked goods. If you’re looking for more uses for your eggnog, you may love my Eggnog Pancakes or for another drink, try my Eggnog Dalgona Latte if you’re feeling like cold coffee!
The recipe for homemade eggnog consists of whole eggs and egg yolk, sugar, milk, heavy cream, vanilla and a sprinkle of nutmeg. There doesn’t seem to be a consensus of whether eggnog MUST contain alcohol or not. From my experience purchasing it at the grocery store, they toss a bit in there, and this may provide a boozy aftertaste. In one instance of purchasing store-bought eggnog, I did have a strong aftertaste. The other brand I tried, which is the one I’m using here, had none at all. I preferred the eggnog without an aftertaste, and I find that’ll be better for your Eggnog Latte recipe, unless you really want a strong flavour!
What Is an Eggnog Latte?
According to Starbucks, here’s the definition of an eggnog latte:
Every year we applaud the return of this holiday favorite made with richly steamed eggnog and our signature espresso, and then topped with a dusting of nutmeg—the perfect, long-awaited companion.
source: Starbucks.com
Well, every year except the last two years! More on that soon. But essentially, the name speaks for itself. A latte is traditionally made with espresso and steamed milk. We just add the eggnog goodness to the milk for this special holiday latte!
What goes in An eggnog latte?▼
EGGNOG [VARIES BY REGION - INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL STORE], MILK, BREWED ESPRESSO, NUTMEG.
source: Starbucks.com
I have to be honest with you in that all of the Starbucks drinks I’ve replicated at home and have researched the menu prior to making them, this is the smallest ingredient list I’ve ever seen! Very natural ingredients here and no preservatives! Actually, my version of Eggnog Latte will be almost identical to this ingredient list - just cinnamon instead of nutmeg for topping! I give Starbucks an A+ for simple ingredients here!
Did Starbucks Discontinue Its Eggnog Latte?▼
Yes, unfortunately it is. In early November of 2021, Starbucks made an announcement on Twitter that the eggnog latte would not return from that point on. Bummer! It appears that the Eggnog Latte was iconic since 1986, so it’s quite disappointing that they retired it after all these years. That’s why you learn to be your own barista so that you’re not at the mercy of your favourite coffee shop! It seems that they replaced the Eggnog Latte with the Sugar Cookie Oat Latte. I tried it last year and it was pretty good, but it’s sad that there’s not room for all of the goodies on the menu! When you make your own drinks, you can have them all at your own convenience!
What You’ll Love About Homemade Eggnog Latte
- Easy: You just need to brew some coffee and steam milk and eggnog together. Combine and voila!
- Quick: This can be ready in about 15 minutes or less!
- Minimal ingredients: This Eggnog Latte is only made with FIVE ingredients! I’m sure you’ve got everything already!
- Holiday favourite: If you have extra eggnog and you’re not sure what to do with it, this is such an easy recipe to make! You can make it every morning if you want or enjoy it for a holiday breakfast or dessert!
What Coffee Should I use to Make Eggnog Latte?▼
Ideally you would use espresso, as shown in the Starbucks ingredient list and espresso is what consists of a typical latte. However, I do not have an espresso machine, so I brewed my coffee with a French press. You can use a regular instant coffee machine to brew ground coffee too if that’s all you have access too.
Is it possible for the Egg to curdle While making Eggnog Latte?▼
Totally! So you need to be careful that you don’t let the milk come up to a simmer. A slight steaming action is perfect to ensure the milk part of this latte doesn’t cool down the hot coffee. Take extra precaution in the microwave since the milk-eggnog mixture heats much more rapidly with microwaves. In case your eggnog does curdle, you need to start over.
Do I need Sweetener for Eggnog Latte?▼
You’ll see soon that I actually did not add any sweetener to our Eggnog Latte. This is because eggnog is quite sweet on its own - it’s made with a fair amount of sugar! However, if you have a strong sweet tooth and want your Eggnog Latte even sweeter, I recommend sweetening with maple syrup, Quick Vanilla Syrup for Coffee, or even just some good old granulated white sugar.
What Temperature should the Milk be for Lattes?▼
The milk should be warm and steamed but not too hot. We’ll heat our water at 200 degrees Fahrenheit before adding it to the French press. In this time, you’ll leave your milk in your saucepan to heat up. I heated my water in a coffee machine, but you could also use a kettle.
Can I Freeze Eggnog?▼
Yes you can! If you want to make your eggnog last beyond the holiday season when you can no longer purchase it, you can easily freeze an unopened carton of it, and that’s what I did with this carton actually! Keep in mind that it will take quite some time to thaw, so make sure you plan accordingly. Place the carton of eggnog in the fridge to thaw, and it will take about 2-3 days to completely thaw.
Tips for a Fantastic Eggnog Latte
- Make sure you don't bring the eggnog-milk mixture to a boil or heat for too long in the microwave. This will result in the eggnog becoming curdled.
- 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.
- If you want the pretty whipped cream swirls, then you need to serve this immediately after topping or let the drink cool slightly. The heat would cause the whipped cream to start to melt.
Equipment for Eggnog Latte From Scratch
- Saucepan: To steam the milk and eggnog.
- Coffee mug: For serving, of course!
- Ramekin: Optional to have your cinnamon in for dusting on top of the whipped cream!
- French press: Because I don’t have an espresso machine, this is how I’ll brew my ground coffee.
- Measuring cups: To divide your milk and eggnog and make sure you have the right quantities.
- Spatula: To gently stir your milk and eggnog mixture while it simmers in the saucepan.
Starbucks Eggnog Latte Ingredients
Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD or press the “Jump to Recipe” button to get all ingredient quantities and to save the recipe instructions for later.
- Milk: The standard eggnog latte recipe at Starbucks uses non-fat milk. I’ll use 1% milk because that’s what was already in my fridge! You can use any milk of your choice, including a non-dairy milk if you want. The milk is to make the eggnog flavour less strong. I’ll use half eggnog and half milk here, but if you want a stronger eggnog taste, use less milk. Also, keep in mind that if you use milk with a higher milk fat content, your drink will be overall creamier.
- Eggnog: Any eggnog of your choice. You can make it at home or use a dairy-free eggnog.
- Whipped cream: It seems that by default in the Starbucks app the drink doesn’t come with whipped cream. I just love whipped cream, and I’ll never say not to it! You can of course make your own Homemade Whipped Cream, but I don’t have a whipped cream dispenser (yet!), so I can’t make it fluffy and airy. I just chose to use whipped cream from an aerosol can till I get my hands on a whipped cream dispenser! Again, if you want a dairy-free whipped cream, feel free to have it.
- Coffee: I’m just using the coffee I had on hand, which is by Tim Horton’s and it’s a medium roast. If you’re using ground coffee like me, you can use a French press to achieve a similar brew and taste to espresso. Use a good quality espresso if you do have it and an espresso machine!
- Ground cinnamon: The default recipe at Starbucks actually tops the eggnog latte with nutmeg, but I felt like cinnamon! Choose your favourite spice, or you could even top with Pumpkin Spice or Apple Pie Spice!
How to Make an Eggnog Latte Starbucks Style
On a stovetop or microwave, heat up equal parts of eggnog and milk. Mix often and make sure you don't bring the eggnog-milk mixture to a boil. Just heat gently until it is steaming.
In the meanwhile prepare the espresso in your coffee/espresso machine. If you don't a machine, you can use a french press to prepare the coffee. If using a French press, add 4 Tbsp of your favourite coffee and then add a splash of water, heated to around 200 F.
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 eggnog-milk mixture is heated through and the coffee/espresso is ready, pour the milk in your serving cup, filling it about halfway and then pour in the coffee to fill up the cup.
Top with the whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Can I make Eggnog Latte Decaf?▼
You sure can! All you need to do is use decaf espresso or brewed coffee! It shouldn’t affect the taste of your Eggnog Latte at all, but this option is excellent if you’re making this in the evening or if you or whoever you’re brewing this for is sensitive to caffeine.
Can I Make an Adult Eggnog Latte?▼
Yes you sure can! You can either make your own eggnog and add booze to it, or add your booze directly with the steamed milk. Great options to spike your Eggnog Latte include rum, Brandy, bourbon or whiskey. If you want to add a bit of caramel to the drink, try out my Coffee Whiskey Caramel Sauce that you could use to line the cup and/or add over the whipped cream!
Serving Suggestions for Eggnog Latte
This holiday latte is amazing on its own! However, you can pair this for breakfast or as a snack. Here are some ideas for how to enjoy your eggnog latte:
- With pancakes: This would be really awesome with my Pumpkin Spice Pancakes! You may also enjoy these with sweet crepes, particularly my Strawberry Banana Nutella Crepes with Homemade Nutella!
- Cupcakes: For pumpkin spice lovers, my Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes would be perfect with this drink!
- Cookies: You may want to dip Giant Oreo Stuffed Cookies or my HUGE NYC Black & White Cookies in your latte, or just sip on the side! In fact, don’t need to stop at baked cookies, try my Chocolate Chip Edible Cookie Dough!
- Muffins
- Brownies: This would really be awesome with my Chocolate Espresso Brownies with Peppermint Mocha Cream!
- Other treats: I’d love to have this with my Protein S’mores Dessert Pizzaor Pumpkin Protein Skillet Cookie!
- Oatmeal: Enjoy with overnight oatsorstovetop oats.
- Savoury breakfasts: Including my Chicken & Spinach Crepes, McDonald’s Breakfast Bagels, Tim Horton’s Farmer’s Wrap, or McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin.
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