All I want for Christmas is a festive coffee

Celebrate the most beautiful time of the year with a hearty Gingerbread Flat White or an Apple Strudel flavoured coffee – there’s much more than a Spice Latte or a Candy Cane Peppermint Latte to enjoy a taste of winter with a caffeinated boost.

When the holidays roll around, no walk of life is exempt from the festivities, lights, and adornments – your coffee cup is no exception. There are plenty of ways to evoke the comfort of winter in a cup without the need for sprinkles – infuse your coffee with some holiday cheer without betraying your favourite specialty. 

Here are six ideas for adding a festive flair to your coffee – and since it’s the holidays, after all, the last two are complete with a kick.

Fancy recipes to cheer up your winter

Apple Strudel Coffee 

When winter comes, Vienna pulls out all the stops, just like this Apple Strudel flavoured Coffee drink, which draws inspiration from the Austrian capital’s signature dessert. There’s something so comforting about the flavour of this thin, oblong pastry dough stuffed to the brim with sweet cinnamon apples. Is it cold outside? It’s an ideal inspiration to take your coffee up a notch. The drink begins with a purée that mixes sour cream apple, cinnamon, cardamom powder, date syrup, and brown sugar, to which you add coffee and finish with hot semi-skimmed milk. Those with a super sweet tooth can top the foam with a drizzle of date syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon. 

Gingerbread Flat White

Gingerbread is so prevalent during the holidays that it seems as if the sweet’s history is as old as Christmas itself. However, gingerbread predates the holiday, originating in Greece as far back as 2400 BC, but it wasn’t until the 17th century when Russian bakers started preparing gingerbread men and women that the delicious spicy treat became synonymous with holiday celebrations. So, it’s only fitting to up your coffee game with gingerbread over the holidays, and the Flat White provides a suitable starting point. The simple recipe mixes gingerbread syrup with cinnamon and adds Espresso and hot milk before finishing with a dusting of crumbled gingerbread cookies.

Less is more: if you want to go simple

Honey-Spicy Latte 

The popularity of spiced lattes skyrocketed when the Pumpkin Spice Latte went mainstream in the early noughties, but various African and Middle Eastern cultures have brewed spiced coffee for centuries. On the flavour front, nothing recalls the holidays more than spices, and you don’t need pumpkin to enjoy a proper spice latte – most spice racks teem with plenty of coffee-friendly flavours that’ll do the trick. Speaking of the past, once upon a time, honey was the sweetener of choice for many Europeans until sugar arrived from the New World. So, why not channel the days of yore with a Honey-Spicy Latte? The recipe mixes honey with ground cinnamon and nutmeg, then adds semi-skimmed hot milk followed by Espresso.  

Marshmallow Coffee 

It’s not unusual to make a drink sweeter by adding marshmallows to hot chocolate. However, you can also elevate the sweetness of your coffee by floating these light, fluffy confections on top. The result tastes cosy, nostalgic, and ever-so-satisfying. And it’s beyond simple to make at home. Combine Espresso with vanilla syrup, add the marshmallows and some grated dark chocolate, and enjoy.

Make it warmer with a kick

Baileys Coffee

If you prefer a spiked coffee that lies on the classic side of the spectrum, give this Baileys Coffee a whirl. The recipe enhances the liqueur’s sweet, milky vanilla flavour with vodka and chocolate syrup. Add a layer of hot milk to the Espresso and sprinkle with grated dark chocolate–a delightfully gratifying antidote to the cold.

Gingerbread Coffee Twist  

If you prefer your gingerbread coffee with a kick  (it’s the holidays, after all), grab a bottle of dark rum and spike it up. Combine Espresso in a shaker with the dark rum, chilled cream, and gingerbread syrup, then pour into a martini glass and top with cinnamon powder–is there a better way to get in the holiday spirit? 

Hard to resist these tempting recipes, isn’t it? 

So, all you have to do is choose those that suit your tastebuds and give them a try to add a warm festive touch to your coffee breaks.