Forget sugar plums – at this time of year, coffee dances in our heads! With this line-up of my favorite Christmas coffee drinks, you, too, can spice up the holiday season! To this end, I've taste-tested a wonderland of winter coffee creations.
Forget sugar plums – at this time of year, coffee dances in our heads! With this line-up of my favorite Christmas coffee drinks, you, too, can spice up the holiday season! To this end, I’ve taste-tested a wonderland of winter coffee creations.
Want some festive inspiration for your own home? Grab your favorite holiday mug, and let’s sleigh (pun very much intended) this coffee adventure together!
Christmas Coffee Drinks Overview: What Exactly Are They?
Ho, ho, hold onto your mugs! Before I go any further, let’s unwrap what makes a coffee drink Christmas-worthy.
The perfect Christmas coffee drink has classic holiday spices. Think cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove in a festive dance with your coffee beans.
Coffeeness Signature Espresso Blend
High-quality beans through direct trade
Notes of Chocolate & Hazelnut
Easy on the stomach
Freshly roasted right in Brooklyn
Medium roast
Then there’s seasonal flavor favorites: Peppermint to make your taste buds tingle and pumpkin spice for a subtle sweet and earthy flavor. Rich dark and white chocolate, too, is indulgent at any time of the year.
But what really decks these coffees with holiday cheer? To me, it’s those magical extras! Who doesn’t love whipped cream peaks floating atop their drink? Or sprinkles sparkling like freshly fallen snow? Or drizzles of chocolate or caramel sauce as sweet as they are over the top? Some cafés even go full Rudolph, adding edible glitter, gold leaf or gingerbread cookie crumbles.
The base of a Christmas coffee can be anything, but it’s usually a robust espresso. In the absence of an espresso machine, French press or moka pot coffee will do nicely.
Milk (dairy or non-dairy) is almost always an addition. Festive garnishes, too. They transform an ordinary coffee into a sweet treat. But, ultimately, it’s the combination of seasonal flavors that make holiday coffee drinks.
5 Delectable Christmas Coffee Drink Recipes To Try
At this point you’re probably drooling just a little, so let’s get into the juicy details! Here are my very favorite Christmas coffee drinks. Oh, and feel free to spice things up by adding your own twist to any of the following recipes.
Maple Gingerbread Latte
My maple gingerbread latte recipe combines classic holiday spices with the creaminess of milk and deep sweetness of maple syrup. Here’s what you’ll need to make one serving:
1-2 shots of fresh-brewed espresso
8-12 ounces (236-354 milliliters) of steamed milk
1-2 tablespoons of Grade A maple syrup
1-2 tablespoons of gingerbread syrup
Maple whipped cream (for topping)
Gingerbread syrup is a hallmark of many Christmas coffee drinks. To make it, simmer filtered water with molasses, brown sugar, fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of clove until reduced. Cover with saran wrap and cool before using.
You’ll also need maple-whipped cream to crown this coffee drink. Make this by whipping heavy cream with Grade A maple syrup until soft peaks form.
Once that’s done:
Brew a single or double espresso shot into a coffee mug.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup and gingerbread syrup. Steam whole milk (or plant milk of your choice) until velvety.
Pour frothed milk over the espresso-syrup mixture.
Top with a generous dollop of maple whipped cream.
Finish with a sprinkle of crushed gingerbread cookies and a light dusting of cinnamon.
Serve in a large coffee mug, with a gingerbread or sugar cookie on the side.
The beauty of this Christmas coffee is that each sip delivers warming ginger and spice notes. Robust espresso balances the creaminess of the whole milk and maple whipped cream, while cookie crumbs add a delightful crunch.
Spiced Eggnog Espresso Crème
This decadent holiday fusion drink transforms traditional eggnog, a beloved holiday treat, into a delicious Christmas coffee. To make one serving, you’ll need:
1-2 fresh-brewed espresso shots
8 ounces (236 milliliters) homemade or store bought eggnog
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (extra for garnish)
Cinnamon stick
Whipped cream
Splash of bourbon (or bourbon vanilla extract)
Pinch of ground cinnamon (for garnish)
Caramel sauce (optional, for topping)
Here’s how to make this decadent drink:
Heat eggnog on low heat with a cinnamon stick and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg.
Aim for a temperature of 170–180 degrees Fahrenheit (75–80 degrees Celsius), as you would for an eggnog latte. Any higher and the eggnog will curdle and scramble.
Pull an espresso shot. Combine the coffee with vanilla extract or vanilla bean syrup in a preheated coffee mug.
Slowly add warm eggnog, stirring gently to create a smooth blend.
The Christmas magic is in the topping. Whip heavy cream with a splash of bourbon.
You may sub bourbon vanilla extract if you don’t want a boozy Christmas coffee. Whip together until soft peaks form.
Top this festive drink with a generous dollops of bourbon-spiked whipped cream. Also, dust with freshly grated nutmeg and ground cinnamon. Drizzle on caramel sauce if desired.
Serve in a clear glass mug to showcase the layers. And why not serve with a shortbread or gingerbread cookie? After all, it’s Christmas! Weight Watchers can wait until January!
This drink embodies Christmas. Each sip delivers layers of holiday cheer – eggnog, Christmas spices, smooth espresso, creamy vanilla and a hint of bourbon for warmth. It may be super rich, but it’s absolutely delicious!
Nordic Cardamom Hot Coffee
Northern Europe and Scandinavia boast magical Christmas traditions. In keeping with the philosophies of the region, this Nordic cardamom hot coffee is minimalism itself. That’s not to say it lacks flavor!
To make this festive fika coffee, you’ll need:
10 ounces (295 milliliters) fresh-brewed coffee (using light to medium roast beans)
4-5 green cardamom pods, crushed
1 whole star anise
2-3 ounces (60-90 milliliters) whole milk (optional; you may also use non-dairy milk)
1-2 teaspoons sugar or honey (optional, to taste)
Pinch of salt (enhances flavor)
Lightly whipped cream (optional, to garnish)
Then:
Lightly crush fresh cardamom pods to release their aromatic oils.
Grind light-to-medium roast single-origin beans.
Add crushed cardamom pods and star anise to the coffee grounds before brewing. Brew using your preferred method (drip or pour-over works beautifully here).
As the coffee brews, heat whole milk (or any other like soy, oat or almond milk). Add a touch of sugar or honey. Heat this milk on medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
Pour your fresh-brewed spiced coffee into a warm coffee mug, add a pinch of salt and then honey-sweetened milk.
Dollop with an optional topping of lightly whipped cream.
Alternatively, drink this coffee as most Scandinavians would: Black.
Serve alongside traditional Nordic Christmas cookies or cardamom buns.
What I love about these types of Christmas coffee drinks is their simplicity. Cardamom provides warm, floral notes with hints of mint and citrus. Similarly, star anise adds subtle licorice undertones. Honeyed whole milk or oat milk (optional) is smooth and comforting. It balances the potency of the aromatic spices. Divine!
Irish Cream Cold Brew Coffee
Irish Cream cold brew coffee combines the smoothness of cold brew with the rich decadence of Irish cream liqueur. This boozy Christmas coffee starts with a strong cold brew base, steeped for 12-18 hours.
Mix this coffee base with Irish cream syrup. If you’re feeling extra fancy, you can make your own: blend heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup, espresso powder and vanilla extract. You may add Irish whiskey if you like things boozy. Choose a single grain like Glendalough for the best results.
For the cold brew base, you’ll need:
12 ounces (354 milliliters) cold brew coffee
2 ounces (60 milliliters) Irish cream syrup (or 1.5 ounces/45 milliliters Baileys Irish Cream)
1 ounce (30 milliliters) heavy cream or half-and-half
Ice to fill a tall glass
Lightly whipped cream
Splash of vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt
Cocoa powder or caramel sauce (for topping)
Then:
Fill a tall glass with ice.
Pour in the cold brew base and top with Irish cream syrup or Baileys Irish cream. Leave some room at the top of the glass.
For an extra festive touch, crown this drink with vanilla whipped cream. Whip heavy cream with vanilla syrup and a touch of sea salt until it forms soft peaks. And dollop onto the coffee.
To finish, dust with cocoa powder and an optional topping of caramel sauce.
Serve on ice with a straw to enjoy all the layers of this holiday coffee.
What makes this one of the best Christmas coffee drinks is that it’s luxuriously smooth and has layers of flavor. The rich coffee notes play well with the creamy syrup, booze (optional) and cold whipped cream. It’s also great as a fall coffee drink!
Peppermint Bark Affogato
The holiday season may fall slap bang in the middle of winter, but there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy ice cream. Peppermint bark affogato is a luxurious holiday fusion of two Italian-American classics: Peppermint mocha and affogato. To make it, you need:
2 scoops (1 cup) peppermint ice cream
2 fresh-brewed espresso shots
1 ounce (30 milliliters) chocolate sauce
1 ounce (30 milliliters) peppermint syrup or peppermint schnapps
2 tablespoons crushed candy canes
2 tablespoons dark and white chocolate shavings
Whipped cream (optional)
Here’s how to make the magic happen:
Chill a glass bowl for 15-20 minutes. Drizzle chocolate sauce inside this serving glass.
Add two scoops of peppermint ice cream (preferably one with dark chocolate pieces). Then, pour freshly pulled espresso over the ice cream.
Add peppermint syrup or peppermint schnapps to make this a boozy treat (optional).
Finish with a light dusting of crushed candy canes. Also, if you’re Pinterest-inclined, make homemade chocolate-and-candy-cane bark and add this, too.
Top with optional dark or white chocolate shavings.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Here, hot espresso meets cold, luxurious ice cream, creating a delightful temperature play. The rich and slightly bitter espresso cuts through the ultra-sweet peppermint and candy cane. Dark or white chocolate adds complexity and sweetness. Topping it all off? Creamy melting ice cream!
Christmas Coffee Drinks: Which Recipe Will You Try First?
That’s my job done, folks – a short tour of my Christmas coffee recipe repertoire! I hope you enjoyed these festive season selections and will try one to light up your holidays.
Do you know what the best part about these Christmas coffee drinks is? Sharing them! Get out your espresso machine (or other coffee maker) and get to making these holiday coffee drinks. ‘Tis the season to be merry, after all.
Oh, and while you’re at it, share my guide to the best gifts for coffee lovers. You just never know what might be waiting for you under the tree on Christmas morning!
What’s your go-to Christmas coffee creation for the holiday season? Are you a sprinkle-cinnamon-on-everything person, or do you have secret family recipes to add to my humble suggestions? Spill the beans in the comments below, and Happy Holidays to you all!
Christmas Coffee Drinks FAQ
In North America, eggnog is traditionally the most popular Christmas drink.
Popular Christmas coffee flavors include gingerbread, peppermint mocha, eggnog and cinnamon-spiced blends.
Starbucks’ holiday drinks menu typically includes peppermint mocha, Irish cream cold brew, caramel brulée latte, chestnut praline latte and toasted white chocolate mocha.
The most popular coffee drinks worldwide are cappuccino, espresso, latte, americano and regular drip coffee.
