By Rachel, Contributing Writer
There is something about this time of the year that makes us love having a hot beverage treat to warm our hands and indulge our taste buds.
I think Starbucks and McDonald’s may be the ones responsible for that craze, but who knows the amount of sugar and artificial ingredients that are in those! If you are really curious, take a look into this research!
The favorites seem to be the gingerbread latte, eggnog latte, peppermint mocha and then the pumpkin spice latte.
These really are very simple to make at home, so while you may not have the convenience of the drive thru, you’ll know your delicious hot beverage is made with real ingredients, and you can determine their sweeteness.
The basic ingredients for all of these crock pot lattes are the same:
- coffee (or you can use green tea)
- milk (dairy, coconut, almond, etc.)
- sweetener (stevia, honey, maple syrup, raw sugar, etc.)
Then, you just add the other spices and such that give them each their individual flair.
Check out these latte recipes. The directions are the same for all of them and are found at the end of the recipes. You can use more or less of the sweetener or spices depending on your taste.
optional: top with whipped cream, cinnamon and gingerbread cookie crumbles
optional: top with whipped cream, cinnamon or nutmeg
optional: top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg
optional: top with whipped cream, chocolate chips or broken pieces of candy cane
Optional for all lattes: a cinnamon stick and a sweet treat
Also, if you want to make these favorites fast, you can always warm them in a pot on the stove, or if you are really fancy, you could use an espresso machine.
How do you make the crock pot lattes? Here are 4 simple steps:
- Gather ingredients and plug in your crock pot.
- Put all ingredients into the crock pot; mix well.
- Cook on high for 1 hour or low for 2 hours; be sure to check & stir from time to time.
- Enjoy these holiday favorites!
When using the crock pot, don’t let this brew all day. Use within 30 minutes or so of “cooking.” Store leftovers in a glass container with an airtight lid in the refrigerator.
Want to try one more variation? Check out this honey-spiced latte in the crock pot from Keeper of the Home contributing writer Stacy!
Free Printables!
Give the gift of a warm holiday beverage this Christmas! Print recipe “tag” cards for all four of these holiday lattes and attach them with ribbon to a pretty mug. Hand deliver your neighbors, friends or family members their lattes!
(Alternately, you can print these out for yourself and stick them in your recipe box/book!)
- Click here for all four tags on one sheet.
- Click here for 4 gingerbread tags per sheet.
- Click here for 4 eggnog tags per sheet.
- Click here for 4 pumpkin spice tags per sheet.
- Click here for 4 peppermint mocha tags per sheet.
Note: If you’re looking for more crock pot recipes, check out Stacy Makes Cents’ new eBook–Crock On! The book even includes crock pot desserts–like chocolate lava cake and pumpkin apple cake! Pair one of these with one of the holiday lattes above, and impress your guests with treats that literally cooked themselves!
Tackle Housekeeping with Your Kids
Can’t wait to try these!! Do you know how long it will keep in the refrigerator? I’m thinking of making a large batch and just drinking it throughout the week. Thank you!
Jenny, I would think no longer 4-5 day to a week in the fridge. You could always make small batches each day too?
LOL This is my post today too! 🙂
I saw that & KOTH’s great editor linked to it! 🙂
OK…this is genius.
I know, right? I wish I had thought of this one. Can’t wait to try it for a party I’m hosting tonight!
This may seem a foolish question but it comes from a noncoffee drinker. When the recipe says 4C coffee – is that brewed coffee? At first I was thinking 4C of coffee out of the can and then began to question the measurement 🙂
Jodi, your question isn’t foolish at all, I should have noted that! And yes, it is 4 cups of strongly brewed coffee (or you can use green tea or another type of tea). I hope you love it!
LOVE this post, Rachel!
Thanks Erin & thanks for creating the printables! You might have to each me that trick one day!
Love these! I make a killer pumpkin pie latte mix (good enough to eat with a spoon) that can be used to make several drinks, but I never thought to put it in the crockpot – do they stay hot enough? I like a really HOT coffee. Here’s my drink mix if anyone is interested (it keeps well in the fridge for about a week): http://behealthybehappywellness.com/2012/12/homemade-pumpkin-spice-latte/
Yum Pam, thanks for your link!
Amazing recipes. Great way to sit by a warm fire and relax!
Enjoy Karen!
Wow, I didn’t even know you could make Latte’s in a crockpot!! Thanks for the recipes! My fam will love them on Christmas! We love coffee 😉
Blessings!
Shari Lynne, the pumpkin & gingerbread ones can be left in the crockpot for longer than an hour or so after cooking. But the peppermint mocha one you can’t. Hope you have a blessed Christmas!
yummmm!! I’ll have to try these!
Hope you like them Margaret!
Is that correct, 1/3 Cup of pure vanilla extract for the pumpkin spice latte? That seems like way too much? Or is it something else? Thanks!
Sara Jane, that is what I did, but you don’t have to, you could do 2 tablespoons I suppose. Hope you like it!
For the peppermint mocha could I use candy canes instead of peppermint extract?? I have a bunch of leftover candy canes from Christmas… but no extract.. seems like they would melt into it?