Start your day on a high note with this Brown Sugar Latte recipe. A dollop of whipped cream and caramel drizzle make this homemade coffee drink complete.
Brown Sugar Lattes are the latest addition to my lineup of homemade lattes. If you like a little chocolate with your coffee, try this Mocha Latte recipe too!
What is a Latte
A latte is a drink traditionally made with espresso and milk. The milk is steamed then poured over the espresso, with a small amount of foam milk at the very top.
Lattes can be enjoyed plain or with any number of sweeteners or flavored syrups! In this recipe, a little brown sugar adds both sweetness and flavor to the simple homemade latte.
Since most of us don’t have a fancy espresso machine at home, I used extra strong brewed coffee in this recipe instead. It works perfectly; you won’t taste a difference at all.
Once you learn how easy it is to make lattes without an espresso machine, you’ll be able to skip those Starbucks runs without sacrificing your daily caffeine fix. It’s a win-win!
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you need to make this delicious Brown Sugar Latte.
- Coffee – To replicate the bold taste of espresso, brew the coffee at double strength. You can use a drip coffee maker, pour over, French press or whatever coffee maker you usually use.
- Milk – I used skim since that’s what I had on hand. Any milk will work in this recipe, even plain nondairy milks.
- Brown sugar – Light brown sugar is best to add just a hint of molasses flavor without being overpowering.
- Whipped cream and caramel sauce are optional. We love the extra sweetness and pretty appearance they give the lattes. Use homemade whipped cream for a tasty flavor.
Tips and Tricks
- Frothing the milk with a mason jar: Place warm milk and brown sugar in a mason jar and screw on the lid. Shake it vigorously until the contents become aerated and foamy.
- Frothing milk with a frothing wand: If you make a lot of homemade lattes it’s worth investing in a frothing tool like this aerolatte. It froths the milk perfectly in just 15 seconds with less effort than the mason jar method.
- Serve immediately: For best taste, pour the frothed milk over hot coffee and enjoy immediately. Don’t forget to top your brown sugar latte with whipped cream and caramel sauce!
- Customize: The beauty of making your own lattes is that you can adjust the ratios of everything to suit your taste. Want a less pronounced coffee flavor? Use less coffee. Want it sweeter? Use more brown sugar.
Recipe FAQs
If you want to make this iced you can let the milk chill in the fridge after it has been warmed with the brown sugar. Add ice cubes to a glass with the cooled coffee. Pour the milk over the iced coffee and stir to combine.
Do not skip the heating step, even though you’ll be enjoying the drink iced. It’s necessary to dissolve the brown sugar completely. Otherwise your latte will taste grainy.
I use jarred caramel sauce. It’s the same kind I put on ice cream! Bottled caramel sauce is perfect too.
You sure can! For a dairy free latte, use any plain unsweetened non-dairy milk. I like almond and oat milk best but use whatever variety you like with your coffee.
More Easy Coffee Drinks
- Dalgona Coffee
- Apple Crisp Macchiato
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Caramel Coffee Milkshake
- French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
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Brown Sugar Latte
Ingredients
- 2 cups strong brewed coffee
- 2 Tablespoons caramel sauce
- 1 cup milk
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- whipped cream and caramel sauce for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Brew 2 cup strong coffee.
- In a mason jar, or glass pitcher, heat milk and brown sugar in microwave for one minute. If using the mason jar technique, screw lid on tight and shake jar vigorously for a minute or two until frothy. If using the aerolatte, follow directions to turn on and use, and froth for about 15-20 seconds.
- To serve: pour hot coffee in two mugs. Add 1 Tbsp caramel sauce to each cup and stir until dissolved. Slowly pour frothy milk over coffee. Add whipped cream and caramel sauce if desired (highly encouraged)!!
Notes
- Frothing the milk with a mason jar: Place warm milk and brown sugar in a mason jar and screw on the lid. Shake it vigorously until the contents become aerated and foamy.
- Frothing milk with a frothing wand: If you make a lot of homemade lattes it's worth investing in a frothing tool like this aerolatte. It froths the milk perfectly in just 15 seconds with less effort than the mason jar method.
- Serve immediately: For best taste, pour the frothed milk over hot coffee and enjoy immediately. Don't forget to top your brown sugar latte with whipped cream and caramel sauce!
- Customize: The beauty of making your own lattes is that you can adjust the ratios of everything to suit your taste. Want a less pronounced coffee flavor? Use less coffee. Want it sweeter? Use more brown sugar.
- To cut the calories on this drink, use skim (fat free milk). You can also find sugar free caramel sauce and use a truvia (stevia) blend of brown sugar. ENJOY.
Nutrition
This Brown Sugar Latte recipe is easy to make and tastes just as good as the coffee house version–at a fraction of the cost!
That sounds great. But since I left sugar out of my life, especially in coffee, could you suggest me another wonderful recipe?
How about this Skinny Caramel Mocha? https://www.shugarysweets.com/skinny-caramel-mocha
Suddenly the cup of coffee on my desk looks all kinds of sad! This is so perfect!
There goes my diet 🙁
Great idea btw <3
That’s it, Aimee, you need to open a coffee shop. I’d be there every morning to order this!
It is a dream of mine 🙂
Hi Aimee, may I ask what type of caramel sauce are you using? Or, do you make your own? Thanks! What a nice recipes to make when a friend comes over for coffee!
I use caramel ice cream topping (like you see in the jars at the grocery store). Easiest to find, and not expensive 🙂
This looks like the perfect way to start any morning Aimee! YUM!
I will ALWAYS remember my mom getting sad when we had to go back to school and telling me she hated the commercials where parents celebrated their kids going back. That feeling will stay with me forever and means more than more parents realize 🙂
This latte looks so awesome… If I have to be at the office, I’d like to be at the office with this latte!
Awww, that’s so good to hear Sues!! And yes, you need this latte at the office 🙂
I’m with you on the love of summer. I love the carefree days and know they will be gone before I know it. Boo hiss to back to school 🙂 At least sipping on one of these lattes would ease the pain.