Copycat Cinnamon Dolce Latte
My favorite Starbucks latte is hands-down the Cinnamon Dolce, so the first coffee syrup I ever made had to be homemade cinnamon syrup so I could make homemade Cinnamon Dolce lattes at home!
I am a foodie, I love making delicious food at home and going out to restaurants with my daughter and friends – but I have always had a hard time swallowing the price tag that goes with along Starbucks drinks.
If you want anything more than just a plain coffee, you’re spending upwards of $5. I treated my friend to her dairy-free latte once and it was $8! As much as I respect all that they do for their employees, local communities, the environment, and fair trade – I just can’t justify $8 for a coffee. Ever.
And just for a bit of math, that $5 drink daily would amount to $1,825 in a year! Even if you just go once a week and let the kids each pick out a muffin or a cake pop at $2-3 each, that’s over $520 a year that could be going towards education savings, retirement, paying off debt or even emergency savings.
Soooo… I’m going to stick to my homemade cinnamon dolce lattes (and my crockpot lattes when I have friends over) when I want something a bit more indulgent but still want to stay on track with our financial goals.
The cinnamon syrup lasts for months in the fridge and makes easily 30+ cinnamon dolce lattes, depending on how sweet you like your coffee.
Ingredients for Cinnamon Dolce Latte
For the homemade cinnamon syrup:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract, optional
- 3 cinnamon sticks
For two cinnamon dolce lattes:
- 2-4 Tablespoons cinnamon dolce syrup
- 2 cups strong brewed coffee
- 2 cups milk
- Cinnamon, for garnish
- Whipped cream, for garnish
Tip: while I make my cinnamon dolce with a strong cup of coffee, you can make them with espresso for a more authentic experience. I’ve recently tried these Gourmesso capsules compatible with nespresso machines.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Saucepan
- Whisk or foam frother
- French press or Nespresso
How to Make Cinnamon Coffee Syrup
First, to make the cinnamon dolce syrup, combine the sugars, water and cinnamon sticks in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil, whisking occasionally.
Reduce and let simmer for about 10 minutes until the volume is reduced by half.
Take off of the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let cool before storing it in a mason jar to keep in the fridge.
(I previously kept one in my cupboards and it only lasts about a week outside of the fridge.)
How to Make Cinnamon Dolce Lattes
Brew your coffee at twice it’s normal strength as you’re going to heavily dilute it with milk.
Place your milk in a saucepan over medium-high heat and whisk constantly (or use a frother).
When the milk is at least half foam, remove from heat.
Stir 1-2 Tablespoons of the cinnamon dolce syrup into the hot coffee and top with milk and foam.
(I like my latte half-sweet, so about 2 teaspoons is plenty for me.)
Garnish with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of cinnamon dolce syrup.
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Copycat Cinnamon Dolce Latte
Ingredients
For the homemade cinnamon syrup:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract, optional
- 3 cinnamon sticks
For two cinnamon dolce lattes:
- 2-4 Tablespoons cinnamon dolce syrup
- 2 cups strong brewed coffee
- 2 cups milk
- Cinnamon, for garnish
- Whipped cream, for garnish
Instructions
How to Make Cinnamon Coffee Syrup
- First, to make the cinnamon dolce syrup, combine the sugars, water and cinnamon sticks in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil, whisking occasionally.
- Reduce and let simmer for about 10 minutes until the volume is reduced by half.
- Take off of the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let cool before storing it in a mason jar to keep in the fridge.
How to Make Cinnamon Dolce Lattes
- Brew your coffee at twice it's normal strength as you're going to heavily dilute it with milk.
- Place your milk in a saucepan over medium-high heat and whisk constantly (or use a frother).
- When the milk is at least half foam, remove from heat.
- Stir 1-2 Tablespoons of the cinnamon dolce syrup into the hot coffee and top with milk and foam.
- Garnish with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of cinnamon dolce syrup.
This homemade cinnamon dolce latte is the perfect indulgent afternoon treat and you can feel good that this coffee costs a mere fraction of what it would cost at Starbucks.
For another fun and indulgent coffee recipe, check out my friend Stacey’s Vietnamese Iced Coffee recipe with Homemade Condensed Coconut Milk.