When the holidays arrive, it’s time to make some warm drinks. Beyond the peppermint mocha and gingerbread latte, you can experiment with something new: the holiday spice flat white!
Here’s our simple recipe, along with some recommendations for making your Christmas spice flat white extra tasty. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a festive treat.
What is a holiday spice flat white?
A flat white is a less heated milk, more espresso-forward variant of a latte. Flat white refers to the smooth microfoam on top of the latte, which is flatter than frothier drinks. To make a typical flat white into a Christmas treat, add classic holiday spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.
The flat white is thought to have originated in either Australia or New Zealand, depending on who you ask. This silky drink is said to have been devised in the 1980s by two distinct baristas. According to some historians, the drink dates back to the 1950s!
What’s in a Starbucks Holiday Spice Flat White?
Starbucks first released the flat white in 2015, and the holiday spice edition followed immediately after. Unfortunately, this drink is no longer on the menu, but here’s what was in it. Starbucks Holiday Spice Flat White included espresso ristretto shots, steaming milk, microfoam, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. Tangerine sugar was the secret ingredient that put it over the top!
Holiday Spice Flat White
The iconic Starbucks holiday drink, the Holiday Spice Flat White, has been recreated. Make some orange sugar with tangerine zest and your favourite spices for a warm drink with a bright, zesty flavour. You’ll enjoy it!
Prep Time 3 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 8 mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 latte(s)
Calories 100 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso or ½ cup strong coffee
- 1.5 teaspoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon tangerine zest
- 1 pinch cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves
- 6 ounces milk
Instructions
- Take two espresso shots. For the finest flavour, make them short ristretto shots. You could instead make 12 cups of strong coffee instead.
- Make the spice blend. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and spices. Zest a tangerine into the bowl (with a zester, grater, or knife), avoiding the white layer beneath the orange skin. Thoroughly combine the ingredients.
- Make your milk steamy. To make exquisite microfoam and warm milk, use the steam wand on your espresso machine or a standalone milk steamer.
- Fill your coffee mug halfway with espresso. Stir in the sugar and spice mixture (reserving a small teaspoon).
- Add the steaming milk on top, finishing with a layer of microfoam. Sprinkle with the remaining spice mixture and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 100kcal
Keyword holiday spice flat white
Recipe Variations
Wondering how you can adjust this recipe? Here are a few easy ideas.
Sugar & Spice
The sugar and spice mixture gives the majority of the drink’s distinct flavour, and it’s also simple to customise to your tastes. If you like, you can use a pre-made pumpkin spice blend or leave out any spices you don’t like. That will suffice if you only have one spice! Some of the drink’s intricacy will be lost, but it will still be wonderful. You can also use another citrus fruit in place of the tangerine if you want. Regular oranges or lemons may be rather yummy!
Milk
For this recipe, you can use any type of milk you choose, from standard skim milk to coconut milk, almond milk, and oat milk. As a flat white isn’t a flat white without the silky microfoam, make sure you can steam your favourite milk.
It’s time to enjoy your holiday spice flat white! We hope you enjoy brewing this easy recipe at home. Tangerine sugar is a pleasant accent that can be used to enliven a variety of coffee drinks