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Author:
Tracy Nawara
Cinnamon and maple are classic breakfast flavors that go well in so many dishes. Pancakes, maple cinnamon buns, and coffee cake are all breakfast items that have maple and cinnamon components in them, leading to their popularity.
Another perfect recipe to add maple and cinnamon is a latte! A classic Easy Cinnamon Maple Latte is so simple to make in the morning and does not include any refined sugar. The sweetness from the syrup and the vanilla extract adds the perfect balance to this latte.
A perfect latte always starts with a very strong espresso. This is not to make the drink bitter; it is to ensure that the coffee flavor stands out among the rest of the ingredients. Adding ¼ cup of espresso to ¾ cup milk of your choice is the go-to rule for perfect latte making.
All-natural maple syrup is added to this latte for its sweetness and maple flavor. The darker the syrup is, the more complex flavors it will have. You can tailor the syrup amount to your taste. By using maple syrup instead of sugar, you are eliminating refined sugar from the recipe since maple syrup is a natural sweetener.
Good-quality vanilla extract is also imperative to this recipe. Vanilla extract has a subtle sweetness with a heavy vanilla flavor. This goes a long way, so add a little bit at a time to get the flavor just right. If you add too much vanilla, the drink will start to taste slightly like alcohol, which is not what you want.
You’ll also want to get the cinnamon measurement just right. Too much cinnamon can be really overwhelming for many people. This recipe makes one single latte so have a very light hand when adding the cinnamon to the latte.
It’s super important to froth your milk. All lattes call for nicely frothed milk, as it is a necessary component of the beverage. Many espresso machines come with a frother attachment, so utilize that if you have it. If not, use an immersion blender over low heat on the stove to incorporate air into your milk before adding it to the latte.
The last element to this latte is the whipped cream. Every latte needs a little cream on top. This is also the time to sprinkle a bit more cinnamon over the top. This tells exactly what is in the drink, and garnishes should always reflect the flavors inside the recipe. As the cream melts into the hot latte, it only gets creamier and spicier.
For those of us who love lattes but find them too sweet, this is the perfect latte for you. The subtle sweetness from the maple brings out the smokiness of the coffee beans. The cinnamon just warms up the back of your throat to comfort you. This latte is easy to make in the morning while you relax and take in the day.
Start by brewing your coffee. You want a very strong espresso so that you have a nice coffee flavor once all the other ingredients are incorporated. Add the espresso to a mug.
Stir in the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and some of the cinnamon. Cinnamon can be overpowering, so just add a pinch and taste before adding more.
Froth your milk using a milk frother. Otherwise, add the milk to a saucepan over low heat. Using an immersion blender, incorporate air into the milk for 3-4 minutes, or until very frothy.
Add the frothed milk to the coffee and mix very well. Top with the whipped cream and another light sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve warm.
If you’d like to make this an iced latte, cool your espresso before adding all ingredients over ice. Serve cold.
