Craving something sweet and cozy for breakfast? Or maybe you feel like a treat but can’t be bothered going to your favorite coffee shop? French toast latte is the answer! With just a few ingredients, you can easily make it at home and enjoy it in a matter of minutes.
What does a French toast latte taste like?
French toast is a popular breakfast dish made by dipping bread in an egg and milk mixture and then frying it in a pan. It’s often topped with maple syrup, butter, and sugar. Some recipe versions can add cinnamon and vanilla extract to the milk mixture.
Similarly, a French toast latte is milky and sweet. It includes cinnamon, brown sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla.
This creative drink does just about everything but mimic the texture of thick slices of bread. It’s a great opportunity to combine your favorite flavors in your coffee and enjoy the liquid version of French toast.
What you need to make French toast latte
Are you dreaming about that delicious French toast latte you ordered in a random coffee shop once and now you can’t find it anywhere? I have some good news for you: you can easily make it at home!
Ingredients
The list of ingredients for a French toast latte is not that long. However, you will need a few baseline items to achieve the desired flavor. Let’s find out what ingredients you need to whip up this delicious latte in your kitchen.
Coffee
The coffee flavor can get lost in a French toast latte combined with many other flavors. Some brands of coffee have flavored blends, and a seasonal gingerbread coffee could bring additional spice to this drink. Otherwise, use your favorite breakfast coffee.
Milk
The milk mixture is a key part of French toast, so you’ll want milk or a non-dairy substitute in your latte. Of the milk substitutes available, people often find it easiest to froth oat milk, and the flavor blends well with the other ingredients. If you’re going the dairy route, you might try heavy cream for a texture reminiscent of thick and rich French toast slices.
Maple syrup
French toast is commonly topped with maple syrup, so using maple syrup is a quick way to recreate that experience in your coffee. You can get sugar-free maple syrup if you want to avoid excess calories.
Vanilla syrup
Vanilla syrup is ideal for a French toast latte as it contains sugar, and this coffee is supposed to be sweet. However, if you don’t have it in your kitchen, you can easily substitute it with a drop of vanilla extract or vanilla sugar. Just be careful not to overdo those, as your coffee might turn bitter.
Spices
Cinnamon is one of the more common coffee add-ins, and it’s a great sprinkle on top of a French toast latte. For more adventurous tastes, you might try ground cardamom instead.
Whipped cream (optional)
Like other coffee drinks, you can serve French toast lattes with whipped cream on top. You’d better truly love sweet drinks if you go this route. You might even drizzle syrup or sprinkle some brown sugar on top of the whipped cream.
Equipment
The equipment needed to make a French toast latte is the same as for any other latte. Check this list to ensure you have the basics before starting.
Espresso machine or alternative
You’ll want a small amount of concentrated coffee for your drink. Latte is an espresso-based drink, so you need an espresso machine or handheld espresso maker to pull a concentrated shot. If you don’t have a proper espresso machine, you can use an alternative like an AeroPress or a Moka Pot.
Mug or glass
A latte is traditionally served in a glass, although a mug will work just fine. Keep in mind that you’ll be adding quite a few ingredients to your coffee, so use a serving cup that holds at least 12 fluid ounces.
Small saucepan
You don’t want to combine hot coffee with cold milk in your latte, so you’ll need a way to heat the milk. Pour it into a small saucepan and heat it on the stovetop. Alternatively, you can heat it in a microwave.
Milk frother or whisk
Some electric milk frothers also warm the milk, so you’re lucky if you have one that can do that. If not, heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat and then froth it or stir it with a whisk once small bubbles form around the edges. Just don’t let it get to a rolling boil, as it will burn the milk.
How to make French toast latte at home
With a few basic coffee tools and ingredients, you can enjoy a café-quality espresso treat in the comfort of your home! The proportions are simple, so you can easily double or triple them if you want to make more servings.
Simple French toast latte recipe
Smooth and delightful, this French toast latte is guaranteed to please your sweet tooth. Maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon make it taste just like your favorite breakfast treat.
Ingredients
- 1 shot of espresso
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp vanilla syrup
- 2/3 cup of milk (or non-dairy substitute)
- Cinnamon to sprinkle on top
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the two syrups into the bottom of your mug. Stir them together.
- In a small saucepan, heat milk on medium heat until you see tiny bubbles around the edges, but don't bring it to a boil. Remove it from the stove.
- Use a handheld milk frother to froth the milk. Set aside.
- Pull espresso. Pour it into a cup over the syrups.
- Add the frothed milk.
- Top with whipped cream (optional) and cinnamon.
Notes
You can substitute vanilla syrup with some sugar and a drop of vanilla extract.
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French toast latte alternatives
Feeling inspired with a French toast latte? Why not try making some other flavored lattes? You can easily make other latte variations that require similar ingredients and find your favorite flavor combination.
Maple brown sugar latte is quite similar to a French toast latte, so if you don’t have vanilla syrup and cinnamon, this could be a great alternative. You only need maple syrup and brown sugar (in addition to coffee and milk) to make this flavored drink. Whipped cream is optional but will make the drink even more decadent.
Pumpkin spice latte is offered as a fall special in many coffee shops. But who said you couldn’t enjoy it all year round? Use pumpkin puree or pumpkin spice syrup and a splash of maple syrup to make this delightful and comforting drink, and sprinkle a dash of pumpkin pie spice blend (usually cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) to intensify the flavor.
Gingerbread latte is perfect for a cold wintery day. It is made with ginger syrup and vanilla syrup and smells like Christmas. Whipped cream always goes well with this latte. Sprinkle cinnamon on top, or try cardamom for that extra zing.
Some brands make French toast syrup that you can add to your coffee. They usually combine flavors like brown sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup. So if you prefer a lazy version of a French toast latte, you can simply add a splash of it to your regular latte.
Torani French Toast Syrup for Coffee
Inspired by French toast flavor, there is nothing plain about this syrup. This flavor embodies tradition and comfort, and it is perfect for lattes, brewed, and iced coffees. The syrup pump will provide efficiency when pouring ensuring a mess-free experience.
One of the best parts of making lattes at home is experimenting with the ingredients. Whether your spin on French toast is heavy on whipped cream or a more complex creation of cinnamon, brown sugar, and cardamom, you have full control over the recipe, and that’s the best part of being a home barista!
