Christmas Coffee Recipes: 15 Festive Drinks to Make at Home
Christmas coffee recipes make December mornings feel special without a trip to the coffee shop. Here are 15 festive drinks you can make at home, most in 10 minutes or less.
Below you will find a quick guide to all 15, a short recipe for each, and how to set up a simple Christmas coffee bar.
At a glance
- Drinks: 15, hot, iced and for a crowd
- Time: 5 to 15 minutes for most
- Equipment: espresso machine, moka pot, French press or percolator
- Caffeine: about 60 to 130 mg per drink, or use decaf
- Skill level: beginner
Key takeaways
- A good homemade syrup is the shortcut behind most holiday coffee drinks. Make one jar and you can mix five different lattes.
- Medium and dark roasts stand up best to milk, chocolate and spice.
- Use Ceylon cinnamon for drinks you make often; it is the gentler choice.
All 15 Christmas Coffee Recipes at a Glance
| # | Drink | Flavor | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | gingerbread-latte-recipe | Gingerbread latte | molasses, ginger, warm spice | 15 min |
| 2 | homemade-peppermint-mocha | Peppermint mocha | dark chocolate and cool mint | 10 min |
| 3 | eggnog-latte | Eggnog latte | creamy, nutmeg, custard | 5 min |
| 4 | peppermint-syrup-for-coffee | Peppermint latte | candy cane | 5 min |
| 5 | Cinnamon dolce latte | brown sugar and cinnamon | 10 min | |
| 6 | holiday-spiced-percolator-coffee | Holiday spiced percolator coffee | cinnamon, clove, orange | 15 min |
| 7 | Mexican spiced coffee | cinnamon and dark sugar | 15 min | |
| 8 | christmas-coffee-syrup | Christmas syrup latte | gingerbread spice | 5 min |
| 9 | Cardamom vanilla coffee | floral, warm | 10 min | |
| 10 | Dirty chai latte | chai spice plus espresso | 10 min | |
| 11 | Chocolate orange mocha | chocolate and citrus | 10 min | |
| 12 | Maple cinnamon latte | maple and spice | 5 min | |
| 13 | Spiced cold brew with holiday cream | smooth, sweet foam | 5 min | |
| 14 | Peppermint whipped coffee | fluffy, minty | 5 min | |
| 15 | Percolator mocha for a crowd | coffee and hot chocolate | 15 min |
Coffee Shop Favorites You Can Make at Home
1. Gingerbread Latte
The drink that tastes most like a holiday bakery. The secret is a small batch of homemade syrup made with dark molasses, fresh ginger and a little clove, which takes about ten minutes on the stove. Our full gingerbread latte recipe covers which molasses to buy and how to keep the syrup from turning grainy.
Quick version: 2 shots espresso, 1 to 2 tablespoons gingerbread syrup, 3/4 cup steamed milk.
2. Peppermint Mocha
Dark chocolate first, then a cool mint finish. This one is built right in the mug: whisk cocoa, sugar and a pinch of salt into hot coffee, add a careful amount of peppermint, then pour in steamed milk. See the full homemade peppermint mocha recipe for exact amounts.
Quick version: 1 tablespoon cocoa and 1 tablespoon sugar whisked into 2 shots espresso, a few drops of peppermint extract, 3/4 cup steamed milk.
3. Eggnog Latte
Probably the easiest drink on this list, because a carton of eggnog already has the cream, sugar and nutmeg. The only trick is heating it gently so it stays smooth. Our eggnog latte post includes iced and dairy free versions.
Quick version: 2 shots espresso, 3/4 cup eggnog and 1/4 cup milk warmed until just steaming, grated nutmeg on top.
4. Peppermint Latte
Lighter than a mocha and very easy once you have a bottle of syrup in the fridge. A homemade peppermint syrup for coffee takes three ingredients and keeps for weeks.
Quick version: 2 shots espresso, 2 tablespoons peppermint syrup, 3/4 cup steamed milk, a crushed candy cane on top.
5. Cinnamon Dolce Latte
A cozy brown sugar and cinnamon latte that tastes like the top of a snickerdoodle. Simmer 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup water and 1 Ceylon cinnamon stick for 5 minutes, then let it cool with the stick in.
Quick version: 2 shots espresso, 2 tablespoons cinnamon brown sugar syrup, 3/4 cup steamed milk, a dusting of cinnamon sugar.
Warm Spiced Christmas Coffees
6. Holiday Spiced Percolator Coffee
Whole cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peel go straight into the percolator basket with the grounds, and the whole house smells like Christmas while it brews. No syrup or sugar needed. The full holiday spiced percolator coffee recipe shows amounts for 4, 8 or 12 cups.
Quick version: for 8 cups, add 2 Ceylon cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves and a strip of orange peel to the basket with your usual coffee.
7. Mexican Spiced Coffee
Inspired by Mexico’s traditional cafe de olla, this coffee is simmered with cinnamon and dark unrefined sugar called piloncillo. The cinnamon used in Mexico, canela, is Ceylon cinnamon, so it is a natural fit.
Quick version: simmer 4 cups water with 1/3 cup piloncillo or dark brown sugar and 1 Ceylon cinnamon stick for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in 1/2 cup coarse ground dark roast, steep 5 minutes and strain. Serves 4.
8. Christmas Syrup Latte
If you want one jar that lasts all season, our big batch Christmas coffee syrup uses fresh ginger and whole spices and makes enough for about 16 drinks, or two gift jars.
Quick version: 2 shots espresso, 2 tablespoons Christmas coffee syrup, 3/4 cup steamed milk.
9. Cardamom Vanilla Coffee
Cardamom is used with coffee in many Middle Eastern coffee traditions, and it gives a cup a floral, almost citrusy warmth. It is a lovely change if you are tired of cinnamon.
Quick version: crush 2 green cardamom pods and add them to the grounds for 2 cups of coffee. Warm the milk with a few drops of vanilla extract.
10. Dirty Chai Latte
A chai latte with a shot of espresso added, so you get black tea spice and coffee in one mug. Use a homemade concentrate from our homemade chai recipes or a good store bought one.
Quick version: 1/2 cup strong chai, 1 shot espresso, 1/2 cup steamed milk, sweetened to taste. Note that this one has caffeine from both the tea and the coffee.
Chocolate and Maple Coffees
11. Chocolate Orange Mocha
If you love those chocolate oranges that show up in Christmas stockings, this is the drink for you. A little orange goes a long way, so start small.
Quick version: whisk 1 tablespoon cocoa and 1 tablespoon sugar into 2 shots espresso, add a strip of orange zest or 1/8 teaspoon orange extract, then pour in 3/4 cup steamed milk.
12. Maple Cinnamon Latte
The simplest drink here, made with ingredients most kitchens already have. Pure maple syrup gives a rounder sweetness than white sugar.
Quick version: 2 shots espresso, 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, a pinch of Ceylon cinnamon, 3/4 cup steamed milk.
Cold and Whipped Christmas Coffee
13. Spiced Cold Brew With Holiday Cream
Not everyone wants a hot drink, especially in warmer places. Cold brew is smooth and low in bitterness, and a quick spiced cream turns it festive. Our French press cold brew recipe makes the base overnight.
Quick version: froth 1/4 cup cold cream with 1 tablespoon Christmas or gingerbread syrup until thick, then spoon it over 1 cup cold brew and ice.
14. Peppermint Whipped Coffee
The fluffy whipped coffee trend in holiday colors. Spoon it over cold or warm milk and add a crushed candy cane on top. You will find the base method in our instant coffee whipped recipes.
Quick version: whip 2 tablespoons instant coffee, 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons hot water until thick, about 3 minutes with a hand mixer. Fold in 1 teaspoon peppermint syrup and spoon over 1 cup milk.
Christmas Coffee for a Crowd
15. Percolator Mocha for a Crowd
Perfect for Christmas morning when the whole family comes down at once. Brew a big pot, then turn it into mocha in a saucepan so everyone can help themselves. For bigger groups, see how to make hot chocolate in a percolator or hot chocolate in a coffee urn.
Quick version: brew 8 cups of coffee. In a large saucepan, whisk 1/2 cup cocoa and 1/2 cup sugar into 2 cups hot milk until smooth, then stir in the coffee. Serves about 10.
How to Set Up a Christmas Coffee Bar
A coffee bar lets guests make their own drink and takes the pressure off the host. You only need a few things:
- Two syrups: one spiced (gingerbread or Christmas syrup) and one peppermint.
- Two milks: whole milk and one plant milk such as oat, which froths well.
- Toppings: whipped cream, crushed candy canes, cocoa powder, cinnamon sugar and grated nutmeg.
- Coffee: a full percolator or carafe, plus a jug of decaf for evening guests.
- Small labels: a card next to each syrup that says how much to use, for example “2 tablespoons per mug”.
Set everything out on a tray in the order people use it: mug, coffee, syrup, milk, toppings. It looks festive and nobody has to ask how it works.
Which Coffee Works Best?
Medium and dark roasts taste best in milky, sweet or spiced drinks because their chocolate and caramel notes stand up to the extras. Very light roasts can taste sour next to milk and sugar. No espresso machine is needed. A moka pot, an AeroPress or strong French press coffee all work, and our Coffee Ratio Calculator works out the amounts.
How Much Caffeine Is in These Drinks?
According to the Mayo Clinic, one shot of espresso has about 63 mg of caffeine and an 8 ounce cup of brewed coffee about 96 mg. Most of these drinks land between 60 and 130 mg, and the Mayo Clinic notes that up to 400 mg a day appears safe for most healthy adults. If you are pregnant, sensitive to caffeine or take medication, ask your doctor and choose decaf. Any of these recipes works with decaf. You can check your own mug with our Coffee Caffeine Calculator.
A quick note on cinnamon: cassia, the most common supermarket cinnamon, contains much more coumarin than Ceylon. The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that large amounts may affect the liver in sensitive people, so Ceylon is the better pick for drinks you make every day.
More Holiday Drinks to Try
If you are hosting, a pot of percolator mulled cider is a great alcohol free option for kids, and our 10 creative coffee percolator recipes have more ideas for the big pot. Save this list to your Christmas & Holiday Drinks board on Pinterest so it is ready for the first cold morning of December.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular Christmas coffee drink?
Peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes are two of the best known holiday coffee drinks, and eggnog lattes are a close favorite.
How do you make Christmas coffee at home?
Add a holiday flavor to your usual coffee: a spoon of homemade gingerbread or peppermint syrup, whole spices in the percolator basket, or warm eggnog in place of milk.
Can I make these drinks without an espresso machine?
Yes. Use 1/2 cup of very strong coffee from a moka pot, AeroPress, French press or percolator in place of 2 espresso shots.
What spices go well in Christmas coffee?
Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom and orange peel. Whole spices give the smoothest flavor in brewed coffee.
How do I make Christmas coffee for a crowd?
Brew a full percolator with whole spices in the basket, or turn a big pot of coffee into mocha with cocoa, sugar and hot milk. A coffee bar with syrups and toppings lets everyone make their own.
Can I make these drinks dairy free?
Yes. Oat milk froths best, and most syrups are dairy free. For the eggnog latte, use a plant based nog.
How this post was made: the recipes and text were drafted with help from AI writing tools, then checked and edited by Yousuf before publishing. Read our Editorial Policy.
