Check out the recipe below, followed by photos, cooking tips, and reader reviews.
Cinnamon Dolce Latte Recipe
(Ratings: )INGREDIENTS
- 1.5 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (can substitute with other nut milks, ideally unsweetened and vanilla-flavored; found in the refrigerated fresh milk section of U.S. supermarkets)
- 2 tablespoons
confectioners swerve (this is a dry sweetener with same sweetness as sugar; can be replaced with your preferred sweetener) - 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder (equal to 3 servings, for extra strength; I use Nescafe Dark Roast)
- 1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract - 1/4 teaspoon
ground cinnamon - 1/8 teaspoon
ground nutmeg - (optional) whipped cream, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add almond milk, sweetener, coffee powder, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a measuring glass (or microwave-safe bowl); stir with a spoon for a few seconds. If you are using a sweetener other than listed and don’t know how much to use, you can add to taste in Step 4.
- Microwave uncovered for 90 seconds on high (100% power), then stir with a spoon to mix the ingredients.
- Microwave uncovered on high power again until liquid reaches a sufficiently hot drinking temperature, and instant coffee and sweetener are completely dissolved, about 90 seconds (based on a countertop 700 watt microwave oven). Do not overheat; see below section called "Tips For Success." Stir with a spoon until well-mixed.
- Pour liquid into a mug with at least a 14 fluid ounce capacity. If using a sweetener other than listed, stir it in to taste. Optionally, top with whipped cream. Serve while hot.
NUTRITION
| Makes 1 Serving |
| Amount Per Serving (14 fluid ounces): |
| Calories 60 (66% from fat) | |
| Total Fat 5g | 7% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 210mg | 9% |
| Net Carb 1.5g | |
| Total Carb 3.5g | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
| Sugars 0g | |
| Protein 2g |
❗Tips For Success
- Avoid overheating almond milk. Compared to dairy milk, almond milk has less protein so it’s less heat-stable and more likely to split. My estimated cooking times are based on my 700-watt microwave, and yours will likely be different. Heat the almond milk mixture until the powders are dissolved and it’s at an optimal temperature for a hot drink.
- You may need to adjust the instant coffee powder to your preference. I use instant coffee powder where a single serving is 1 teaspoon to produce 1 cup of coffee. In this recipe, I use 1 tablespoon (equal to 3 teaspoons) for a stronger coffee flavor. Check your instant coffee powder’s packaging to figure out the correct amount for 3 servings. Or experiment a bit with the amount so it’s just right for your palate.
- Scaling up? This recipe makes 1 drink, and you can easily scale up by making multiple servings at a time. The ingredient amounts will increase proportionally. Note that the microwave cooking time will need to be increased.
🔧 Behind The Scenes: Recipe Development
I love Starbucks’ Cinnamon Dolce Latte, but a tall (12-fluid-ounce) drink with default options has 270 calories and 34 grams of net carbs. So I set out to make my own version, which has only 60 calories and just 1.5 g net carbs.
Lattes are hot drinks with 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk. I use instant coffee powder because of its convenience and availability, and use 3 times the normal amount to mimic the more highly-concentrated espresso.
Instead of dairy milk, I use unsweetened almond milk for its lower carb impact. Since almond milk is mostly water, I dissolve the instant coffee powder directly into the milk instead of hot water to avoid an overly watery drink.
To sweeten the latte, I use swerve because it has zero net carbs, instead of a sugary cinnamon dolce syrup.
Microwaving led to better results for heating almond milk, compared to stovetop heating which can quickly overheat and split the almond milk. Microwaving also yielded more consistent results.
🔆 Try This Variation: Iced Latte
Want a cold drink? Use the same ingredients in this recipe, with one change: dissolve the instant coffee powder and sweetener using a few tablespoons of hot water. Without microwaving the almond milk, combine all of the ingredients and pour over ice.
I just found Kitu Super Creamer – which uses monk fruit and mct oil as its ingredients. The label says 0 sugar, 0 carb so I’m excited because I really miss sugar! Have you cooked or baked with it?
Thanks for sharing! I haven’t heard of it before. If you’re missing something sweet in your drinks, you can use liquid stevia drops to adjust the sweetness to your liking. It’s shelf-stable too, which is a benefit over creamers that need to be refrigerated after opening.