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A few weeks ago while sitting at a signal light, I noticed a sign in front of our local coffee shop advertising a gingerbread latte. I loved the idea, but figured that they probably used a syrup or processed sugar to achieve the flavor. So of course I wondered if I could create a healthy version with ingredients similar to my superfood vanilla latte.
I enlisted the help of my professional taste testers (aka- my kids) and after a little experimentation, we settled on a recipe that has hints of the gingerbread cookies my family used to make as a kid with added nutrients, protein, and healthy fats for a satisfying and delicious drink.
What Makes This Gingerbread Latte Better?
Instead of just coffee, milk, and a gingerbread flavored syrup, this version packs a lot of nutrition with the addition of these beneficial ingredients:
- Collagen: Contains beneficial long-chain amino acids that are great for skin and hair and a good source of protein. The addition of collagen adds protein and creaminess to this recipe without changing the flavor.
- Grass-fed butter: High in CLA, vitamin K2, butyrate and other beneficial substances, grass-fed butter is a nutrient powerhouse that also adds the familiar creaminess to this recipe. This and the collagen add protein and beneficial fats that make this latte satisfying and filling.
- Coconut oil: A superfood with many benefits, coconut oil adds lauric acid and medium-chain triglycerides to this recipe as well as a slight sweetness and depth of flavor. Not a fan of coconut or allergic to it? Use extra butter instead or omit the coconut completely.
- Molasses: One of the healthiest sweeteners available that is relatively low in sugar and high in b-vitamins, magnesium, calcium, copper, and one of the few non-animal sources of iron. Molasses may have benefits for blood health, digestion, menstrual health, and nutrient absorption.
- Coffee or Dandy Blend: Coffee can have benefits on its own, but for those who prefer to avoid the caffeine or just don’t love coffee, Dandy Blend is an excellent substitute in this recipe. It is a gluten-free and sugar-free alternative that is naturally sweet and a great base for the gingerbread taste.
- Raw honey: Another powerhouse natural sweeter with antibacterial and antiviral properties. It is even used as a burn salve by top hospitals for its healing abilities.
- Cinnamon: A delicious spice with a long history of use for immune boosting, infection fighting, and soothing digestive troubles. Cinnamon completes the gingerbread flavor in this recipe and adds an immune boosting punch.
Superfood Gingerbread Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup brewed coffee or Dandy Blend (warm)
- 1 tsp collagen powder (optional)
- 1 TBSP butter
- 1 tsp coconut oil (or extra butter)
- 1 tsp blackstrap molasses
- ½ tsp honey
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ inch fresh ginger (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until frothy, about 15 seconds. Do not use a Magic Bullet or closed in blender as the heat can cause it to crack.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ever created your own healthy version of a favorite coffee shop drink?
Delish! My daughter and I have been enjoying this drink every morning for a few months now! We make it with an organic swiss water decaf coffee from our local co-op. For a long time we made the recipe as written, which is so good we didn’t think it needed improving. My daughter experimented with adding a little nutmeg and clove which she likes even better. This morning I made it as usual but instead of cinnamon I added a splash of vanilla…oh my, it was soo good! Anyway, thank you Katie for this recipe!
This was a great excuse to pull out the ground dandelion roots I harvested this past fall and use them to make this drink! It was delicious! I subbed maple syrup for the honey and added a bit of salt and ginger. Next time I will try with Turmeric as per Amanda’s suggestion!
made it this morning. AMAZING! So good! Made it with the dandy blend.
This is so good! I made a shot of espresso and added hot water, americano style. I also added turmeric, because turmeric! 5 star wellness mama 🙂
Hi wellness mama! A couple questions for you? What is your take on coffee? Is it good to drink? I am nursing right now also.. Is it fine while nursing? Also , do you get most of your spices from thrive or from Amazon or mountain rose herbs? I see all three used in diff recipes depending which one I’m looking at
https://wellnessmama.com/23596/coffee-healthy/
I made this today: delicious! I did add some ground ginger too though.
Well, wow! I saw this recipe about 30 minutes ago and headed for my kitchen. It looked good, but the actuality is far better than I could have imagined. I gave up dairy some time ago, and haven’t found a dairy substitute that I like in lattes. Somehow this is the perfect combination for a winter treat. Thank you!
For anyone who wonders, yes, I know that butter is dairy. Oddly, grass-fed butter is the one dairy product that doesn’t bother me and it tastes amazing in this latte.
PLEASE…PLEASE…PLEASE…
CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO MAKE HOT DRINKS IN THE BLENDER WITHOUT BEING SCALDED? I tried to make the Bulletproof coffee, which I dearly love, two different times and even tho I used much force to hold the lid down I was still scalded badly both times! Thank God for egg whites that kept it from hurting so long and decreased healing time! Eagerly awaiting some advice ! Thanks in advance!
You *have* to use a blender with a vent, like a Vitamix, to blend hot things. You are lucky that so far you have only been scalded: some blenders will actually explode from the steam. An alternative would be to use a stick blender in a deep bowl.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING ME!!! I would never have known! ?
So I have a slightly different method. Use a Magic Bullet, only a little coffee (1/4 cup) with 3 Tbs nut milk (no butter) and coconut oil and honey and molasses and cinnamon, its only warm then, and blending isn’t an issue. After it’s all whipped up I add it back to the rest of my cup of coffee, and it’s perfect. Hope that helps someone out there trying to blend and get the dairy out.
I use the magic bullet and don’t have problems. If you put the lid on and give it a few shakes, then open to release the pressure, you’ll eliminate this problem. It takes 2 or 3 times doing this. Also, I use an aeropress for my coffee, so I add a couple ounces of hot water to my brew once it’s been pressed. When I make bullet proof style I just add the ingredients (butter, etc) to the extra water without the coffee and blend them in my magic bullet. Then I pour it into my coffee. I think it tastes better this way and I don’t have any scalding issues.
I just have to let you know! I’ve been looking into getting a stick blender to make these drinks but I’ve had one before and I really don’t care for them. After you telling me about the pressure buildup problem I’ve had time to ponder. There’s a rubber stopper that closes a small half moon opening in the top of my blender, ( I thot it was there to add ingredients and keep it from spewing out) I decided that I would attempt the bulletproof coffee with the stopper out…now…I was terrified of a repeat…so I started on low after putting in the hot water for preheating the glass. I didn’t want to waste my good ingredients if it didn’t work! Low worked fine with steam billowing out of the opening so I went to medium then high with no problem! My hubby came in to see what I was so excited about then backed off bc of my previous fiasco! Lol! He saw the water spinning but not spewing. Still when I dumped the water and put in the ingredients he backed off even farther! Lol! It worked great! Tastes great and now I can try this recipe! I’ve read so many recipes and instructions about how to make the bulletproof coffee but never read anything about venting! I am soooo grateful that you responded to my plea for help! You’re my hero for coffee now! ? Truly cannot thank you enough! God bless you even more!
I use my immersion/stick blender for stuff like this! Works great and easy to clean up.
You could consider MCT Oil–I’ve seen it at Health Food Stores and Whole Foods, too. MCT stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides. I think I’ve accumulated a body of information–some of which, for this topic, is from the website for bulletproof coffee, here with Katie, and other sites discussing the benefits of combining fats in the place of cream or milk for a latte. Good luck!
I am not a big fan of ginger being the main ingredient of anything but I sure believe this recipe is a blast. I haven’t tried it but the pictures alone are tempting me to dash for the kitchen and make one. I hope you create and share more of these recipes.