12 Christmas Coffee Drinks to Make at Home
Most Christmas coffee drinks are the same simple build: 2 shots of espresso or 1/3 cup of strong coffee, 2 tablespoons of a flavored syrup or sauce, and 1 cup of steamed milk. Change the syrup and the topping and you have a different drink. Here are 12 Christmas coffee drinks you can make at home, with exact amounts for each.
None of them needs an espresso machine. Each recipe makes one 12 ounce drink unless it says otherwise.
What You’ll Need
Handheld milk frother – makes foam for every drink on this list
Stovetop moka pot – strong coffee without an espresso machine
Holiday coffee syrups – peppermint, gingerbread and caramel cover most of the list
Chocolate sauce – the base for every mocha
Christmas coffee mugs – a 12 to 14 ounce mug fits these recipes
Syrup bottles with pumps – keep homemade syrups ready on the counter
The Base Recipe for Every Christmas Coffee Drink
- 2 shots espresso (2 ounces), or 1/3 cup very strong coffee
- 2 tablespoons syrup or sauce
- 1 cup (8 ounces) milk of your choice
- Stir the syrup or sauce into the hot espresso in a 12 ounce mug until it dissolves.
- Heat the milk until it steams, around 140 to 150 degrees F. Do not let it boil.
- Froth the milk for 20 to 30 seconds with a handheld frother.
- Pour the milk over the coffee, spoon the foam on top and add the topping.
Without an espresso machine, brew 1/3 cup of coffee in a moka pot, or use about double your usual grounds in a drip maker or French press. Our guide to the best milk frothers for home baristas covers the foam side.
Christmas Mocha Recipes
1. Peppermint Mocha
Use 2 tablespoons of chocolate sauce and 1 tablespoon of peppermint syrup in the base recipe. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane. A version made with cocoa powder and peppermint extract is in our peppermint mocha recipe.
2. White Chocolate Mocha
Use 2 tablespoons of white chocolate sauce in the base recipe and top with whipped cream and white chocolate shavings. Our white chocolate mocha recipe has a 5-minute sauce.
3. Chocolate Orange Mocha
Use 2 tablespoons of chocolate sauce and 1/8 teaspoon of orange extract in the base recipe. Orange extract is strong, so measure it. Top with whipped cream and a strip of orange zest.
4. Spiced Mexican Mocha
Whisk 2 tablespoons of chocolate sauce, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a very small pinch of cayenne into the hot espresso, then finish with the base recipe. Start with less cayenne than you think you need. Top with a dusting of cinnamon.
Christmas Latte Recipes
5. Gingerbread Latte
Use 2 tablespoons of gingerbread syrup in the base recipe and dust the foam with cinnamon or nutmeg. The homemade molasses and ginger syrup is in our gingerbread latte recipe.
6. Eggnog Latte
Replace half of the milk with eggnog: 1/2 cup eggnog and 1/2 cup milk. Heat it gently and stop as soon as it steams, because eggnog scorches and can curdle if it boils. Skip the syrup, since eggnog is already sweet, and finish with fresh nutmeg. Details are in our eggnog latte recipe.
7. Sugar Cookie Latte
Make a sugar cookie syrup: simmer 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water until the sugar dissolves, take it off the heat, and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract. Use 2 tablespoons in the base recipe and top the foam with red and green sprinkles. The syrup keeps in a sealed jar in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Leave out the almond extract for anyone with a nut allergy.
8. Caramel Brulee Latte
Use 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce and a pinch of salt in the base recipe. Top with whipped cream and 1 teaspoon of coarse turbinado sugar or a crushed hard caramel candy for the crunchy brulee topping.
9. Cinnamon Brown Sugar Latte
Use 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup in the base recipe and dust the foam with cinnamon sugar. To make the syrup, follow our brown sugar simple syrup recipe and simmer 1 cinnamon stick in it.
10. Dirty Chai Latte
A dirty chai is a chai latte with a shot of espresso added. Make the spiced tea base from our chai latte recipe and pour 1 shot of espresso into the mug before the milk.
Cold and Brewed Christmas Coffee Drinks
11. Candy Cane Cold Brew
Fill a 16 ounce glass with ice. Add 1 cup of cold brew and 1 tablespoon of peppermint syrup and stir. Top with 2 to 3 tablespoons of cream or a layer of sweet cream cold foam, then a teaspoon of crushed candy cane. You can make the coffee ahead with our guide on how to make cold brew coffee at home.
12. Irish Cream Coffee (Alcohol-Free)
Stir 2 tablespoons of Irish cream syrup into 1 cup (8 ounces) of hot brewed coffee and top with lightly whipped cream. Coffee syrups in this flavor are normally alcohol-free, but check the label on the bottle you buy.
Christmas Coffee Drinks at a Glance
| Drink | Flavor | Topping |
|---|---|---|
| Peppermint mocha | Chocolate sauce and peppermint syrup | Whipped cream, candy cane |
| White chocolate mocha | White chocolate sauce | White chocolate shavings |
| Chocolate orange mocha | Chocolate sauce and orange extract | Orange zest |
| Spiced Mexican mocha | Chocolate, cinnamon, cayenne | Cinnamon |
| Gingerbread latte | Gingerbread syrup | Cinnamon or nutmeg |
| Eggnog latte | Half eggnog, half milk | Nutmeg |
| Sugar cookie latte | Vanilla and almond syrup | Sprinkles |
| Caramel brulee latte | Caramel sauce and salt | Turbinado sugar |
| Cinnamon brown sugar latte | Brown sugar cinnamon syrup | Cinnamon sugar |
| Dirty chai latte | Spiced chai and espresso | Cinnamon |
| Candy cane cold brew | Peppermint syrup | Cold foam, candy cane |
| Irish cream coffee | Irish cream syrup | Whipped cream |
How to Serve Christmas Coffee Drinks for a Crowd
For a group, set out the parts and let people build their own. Brew a full pot of strong coffee or a pitcher of cold brew, keep warm milk in an insulated carafe, and line up 3 or 4 syrups with a spoon or pump in each. Put the toppings in small bowls: whipped cream, crushed candy cane, cinnamon, sprinkles and chocolate shavings.
A thermal carafe keeps the coffee hot without a burner. For the full table setup, see our Christmas coffee bar ideas and hot chocolate bar ideas for the kids.
Marcus’s Pro Tips
- Dissolve the syrup in the coffee first. Sauce stirred into milk sinks to the bottom of the mug.
- Start with less sweetener. Try 1 1/2 tablespoons, taste, then add more. Whipped cream and toppings add sweetness too.
- Use extracts by the drop. Peppermint, orange and almond extract are all much stronger than syrup.
- Make syrups on the weekend. One batch covers a week of drinks. The method is in our coffee syrup recipe.
- Offer decaf in the evening. Every drink here works the same with decaf espresso or coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular Christmas coffee drinks?
Peppermint mocha, gingerbread latte, eggnog latte and caramel brulee latte are the best-known holiday drinks at coffee shops. All four are easy to make at home with a syrup, strong coffee and frothed milk.
Can I make Christmas coffee drinks without an espresso machine?
Yes. Use 1/3 cup of moka pot coffee or double-strength brewed coffee in place of 2 shots of espresso, and froth warm milk with a handheld frother or by shaking it in a jar with the lid on.
How do I make these drinks iced?
Stir the syrup into the hot espresso first, then pour it over a glass of ice and 3/4 cup of cold milk. Add an extra teaspoon of syrup, since cold drinks taste less sweet.
Which milk works for dairy-free holiday lattes?
Oat milk froths the most easily, and barista-style cartons hold foam better than regular ones. Check the labels on chocolate and caramel sauces too, since many contain milk.
How long do homemade coffee syrups last?
A plain sugar and water syrup keeps about 2 weeks in a sealed jar in the fridge. Sauces made with cream or milk keep about 1 week. Throw out any syrup that turns cloudy or smells off.
Is there an adult Christmas coffee drink?
The classic one is the espresso martini. Our espresso martini recipe includes peppermint and gingerbread versions.
Those are 12 Christmas coffee drinks to work through this season. For gift ideas to go with them, see our stocking stuffers for coffee lovers and best coffee gift sets.
Marcus Webb writes about home coffee for BrewElevate. He researches and compares brewing gear, beans and recipes so home brewers can make a better cup without overspending. His rule: if he wouldn’t be comfortable buying it himself, it doesn’t make the list.
