Skip the coffee house and make your own version of a gingerbread latte at home in your very own crockpot slow cooker! This is such a fun Sunday morning drink for the whole family -- skip the caffeinated part for the kids and just give them warm yummy flavored milk.
Santa doesn't want milk this year with his cookies. He'd like a gingerbread latte. I think this might be my favorite coffee drink I've made. It really hit the spot yesterday around 3pm when I really, really wanted to climb into bed for a nap, but didn't have the time. After 4 or 5 sugar cookies and a latte, I was wide awake until 1am. With any luck, you too can have the same experience.
Day 359.
The Ingredients.
- 4 cups milk (cow's, almond, soy, rice, hemp, etc. is just fine.)
- 1/2 cup white sugar (I like Baker's sugar because it dissolves nicely)
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- cinnamon stick, whipped cream for garnish (optional)
- 1/2 cup strong black coffee, or a freshly-brewed shot of espresso
The Directions.
This could serve 4, especially if you are adding the milk on top of coffee. Otherwise it serves 2 with a bit of milk left for kid cups. I used a 4 quart crockpot, you could get away with going as small as a 1.5 to 2 quart. Put the milk into your crockpot, and whisk in the dried spices. Don't add the coffee. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, or high for 1-2. The milk should be quite hot, but if your crockpot tends to get hot enough to boil, keep an eye on it. Don't let the milk boil. Pour over hot coffee or espresso. Garnish with whipped cream, a sprinkle of nutmeg, and a cinnamon stick.
The Verdict.
These are wonderful. Very, very tasty. The kids each had a cup of the warm milk mixture with whipped cream and were delighted. Adam didn't get to try any, but I did save my mug for him to smell. I'm thoughtful that way.
gingerbread not your thing?
- peppermint mocha/hot chocolate
- pumpkin spice latte
- chai tea latte
- mulled wine
- wassail
- holiday (non-alcoholic) punch
Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at December 24, 2008
Labels: company favorites, crockpot, drinks, gluten free, Holiday food, Recipe,
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What they say about this recipe
Melissa Henning12/24/2008
oh yay! I'm so happy to see this post. I was just about to give up, shut the computer down and pack it. I was a little sad that I wasn't going to be able to see what you posted today (driving to parents house--10 hours w/ a 2 year old! yarr!), but yaay! Here it is!
I will definitely make this, as my hubby loves this drink.
Merry Christmas to you and your family Stephanie!
Stephanie ODea12/24/2008
Merry Christmas, Melissa! Drive safely and give your little one a hug for me.
xoxo
stephAnonymous12/24/2008
I found your site a week ago and have you set up on my Google Reader. I really enjoy the creative meals you come up with and am hoping after your 365 of crockpotting you'll continue to provide new recipes.
Love the latte recipe btw...even we decaf junkies can enjoy this!!
Dwane Lay12/24/2008
With the end of the year, I felt I should take a break from lurking your blog and say thank you for all the great ideas. I've made several of them (rescuing my crock from obscurity in the process) and they have all be wonderful.
See AlsoKeto Smores Mug Cake RecipeChristmas Tree Chocolate Cake Pops - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family RecipesMagic Cake - Salu Salo Recipes150 Healthy Instant Pot RecipesI also hope to continue to see more great ideas after the new year. Thanks again!
Anonymous12/24/2008
What are you going to do in 2009! I wanted to let you know I've enjoyed your blog this year.
Mom12/24/2008
Heh, you left him the mug to smell.
This sounds wonderful! We really liked the pumpkin one so we'll have to give this one a try, too.
Thanks for all the wonderful recipes! Happy Holidays!
Anonymous12/24/2008
Merry Christmas to you and your family. This post was so cute, and the photo is adorable. thanks for all the recipes this year!! Have a healthy and blessed new year. xoxo monique
Wendy12/24/2008
This sounds delicious!!! I think I'll make this for the big family group tomorrow!!
Thanks!
~Wendy~Karen12/24/2008
This sounds great!
I so enjoy your posts every day, even though I'm an infrequent commenter.
Merry Christmas!
Anonymous12/24/2008
Just wanted to say "Merry Christmas, Steph!" Great job all year! Greetings from Kentucky and from our house to yours, Have a Safe, Happy, and Prosperous New Year! Love, Cindy Lepp
Thanks for all you do!
Tina Butler12/25/2008
I hope you are having a wonderful holiday. I just wanted to let you know we made the Gingerbread Latte's for Christmas Eve and they rocked. I had some left for christmas morning. Ü I cant wait to try the other latte recipes you have.
Anonymous12/25/2008
These are wonderful! I made these this morning on the stovetop as a Christmas morning treat, and we loved them. They are so good! I am going to make these again in the crockpot and for my bunco group. Now I don't have to go to a certain coffee place to get one of my favorite lattes. Thank you, thank you!
jb12/26/2008
Oh, Stephanie, this photo is so cute!
Whatever you do in the next 365 days, may God bless you. I've thoroughly enjoyed your blog. Thank you!
xoxox,
JudyThe Roberts12/26/2008
My whole family had these for Christmas. I made 4 batches of it by the time all was said and done. The 2nd - 4th batch needed to be made on the stove top since they went so fast from the crockpot but it was so quick to heat on the stove top and then transfer to the crockpot. I just left the crockpot next to our coffee pot and everyone helped themselves. It was a wonderful treat! Thanks for the post! This is one of my favorite sites!
Anonymous12/26/2008
Thank you thank you thank you! I didn't get a chance to stop by Starbucks this season for my usual fill of Gingerbread Latte, so I'll be making this over and over again until I get my fill!
Hope you had a fabulous holiday, and thanks so much for all of the terrific recipes.
Phil and Pattie12/26/2008
I have really enjoyed your blog ever since a friends recommended it to me about 2 months ago but have never commented before. I just want to say thank you for taking the time to post. I know that it can be time consuming and you also add such great humor to things as well. I also really appreciate that you give the "verdict" on recipes since I often have not wanted to try new recipes and waste money on ruined food or food no one in my family will eat.
We live in Mexico and I obviously did not get my Gingerbread latte fix this year so I am very happy to see this recipe and can't wait to try it.
Thanks again for taking the time to do this for a whole year and share your experiences with the rest of us! PattieSuzer12/27/2008
Query -- is it 1/2 c coffee for each cup of this you have?
Will try this as hubs and I drank the entire crockpot full of wassail I made from your recipe xmas eve...yum!!
SabrinaT12/27/2008
That looks yummy and I think even my crock pot can do this. Living here the power is different, to cook anything takes about 2 days.
Tina Butler12/27/2008
Stephanie I made these Lattes yet again. I just blogged about them today. Thank you so much for a great recipe.
purplemoon12/31/2008
Oh...my...gosh!! This is just fantastic! DH and I are drinking it as I type this! So quick, easy and super delish! Much, much better than any lattes we have had out...anyplace! I'm serious! Cheaper too! Thanks for taking the time to post these recipes. We love our cp and the recipes you post are truly unique and wonderful! Love your writing style too;~) ~ Happy New Year!
Jenna12/28/2009
This was definitely a hit for Christmas. We made it three times over the holidays. The only change we made was to cut the sugar to 1/3 cup. Delicious! I think I'll try the pumpkin latte recipe next.
The Rose Family3/02/2010
I got your cookbook from the library yesterday. This was the first thing I've tried and it is delicous!!!! I used splenda instead of sugar and it turned out great!
Anonymous12/07/2010
Made this tonight and next time I think I'll cut the ginger in half. I *know* it's gingerbread flavored, but it's awfully gingery for me! Otherwise it's delicious!
Susan12/24/2010
In my crockpot as I type. Could no wait the 3 hours and had to taste it. Very yummy, hope that the spices blend a little better, they seem to be floating on top, but it still has 2 hours to "cook". Will definitely do this again
Crystal Hudak12/07/2012
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your website! I'm an extremely active outdoorsy girl on shiftwork, and nothing is more AWESOME than walking in the door from cross country skiing and scarfing something amazing I threw in the crock pot hours ago. The only downside is now I have so much food my fridge and freezer are exploding. LOVE IT! - Crystal
Anonymous12/14/2022
When you sent this recipe I went straight to the crockpot and made this. It smells so good! But your Gingerbread house made me laugh. I sent it to my daughter and she is going to use the idea for her elf on the shelf. Thank you Have a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!
