If you’re looking for a delicious warm beverage to concoct while cozying up at home, do we ever have a treat for you! Not one, but two, latté recipes you can do in your own kitchen, courtesy of blogger Allison Sklar. With the help of the best milk frother around and what Allison calls “the holy grail of pillowy foam makers”, she’s offered us the choice of a coffee based cinnamon bun latté or, a vanilla rooibos lavender tea latté. Haven’t tried a tea latté before? This recipe will be a great introduction to the craze that’s hitting all the most chic cafés and coffee shops around.
But don’t let us stop you at lattés! If making a cappuccino is your thing, our milk frothers can make foam for any warm drink you desire. Let Allison show you how to froth milk perfectly, or if you’re looking to go dairy-free, she can show you an option for that too. All you need is a milk frothing machine, and Stokes has you covered for that. Before getting started, check out all the choices we have, from top of the line electric milk frothers to easy-to-use manual milk frothers – with one of our frothers, you’ll be sipping a luscious warm foamy drink in no time.
Recipes
Flavour Syrup
A tip from Allison: Sure, you can go out and find flavouring syrups and spend tons of money for a bottle of sugar and artificial flavouring… OR you can make your very own at home in under 15 minutes. Yes, you! The best part is that there’s nothing artificial about it – just a couple of simple natural ingredients that you probably have lying around in your pantry, just waiting to become the star in tomorrow morning’s cup of joe.
Cinnamon Syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp of vanilla extract)
Lavender Syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp lavender flowers
Method
Bring all ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until sugar is completely dissolved. Strain & transfer unused portions to a clean jar and refrigerate for up to 6 weeks.
Lattés
How Allison got her foam just right: Let’s talk a bit about the foam. A latté just isn’t a latté without a fluffy pillow of foam piled high on top. Well, thanks to my latest collaboration with Stokes, I have discovered the holy grail of pillowy foam makers: the Cito Electric Milk Frother. This compact countertop machine heats and froths milk in seconds! Seconds! I’ve owned it all of 4 days, and I’m already addicted. 
Cinnamon Bun Latté
Make this tasty treat even more indulgent by topping it with whipped cream (or whipped coconut cream if you’re keeping it vegan) & drizzle with extra cinnamon syrup.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup hot brewed coffee (or 1/3 cup espresso)
- 3/4 cup milk, or Soy Creamer (not soy milk – see note!)
- 2 tsp cinnamon syrup (or more, to taste!)
- cinnamon, for garnish
Method
Pour coffee into a large mug and stir in syrup. Pour milk into frother (it should reach the lowest fill line) and turn on the heat setting. Allow to heat, and froth. Pour hot milk & froth over coffee. Use a small spoon to remove extra froth. Garnish with additional cinnamon or a cinnamon stick. Serve hot in our art deco mug and place it on our era charger for whimsical charm!
Vanilla Rooibos Latté with Lavender
The perfect evening drink with soothing lavender and naturally caffeine-free rooibos tea.
Ingredients
- 1 cup soy milk or homogenized milk
- 1/2 cup soy creamer or 2% milk
- 2 rooibos tea bags
- seeds from 1 vanilla bean
- 1 tsp lavender syrup
- lavender petals, for garnish
Method
Bring soy milk to a simmer with tea bags, syrup, and vanilla bean inside. Cover and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, froth soy creamer or homogenized milk. Transfer to our art deco mug & top with creamer and extra lavender flowers for garnish. Place it provencal tray for easy transport and enjoy!
A little note from Allison about soy froth: Soy milk will not froth up like regular milk – UNLESS you’re using a special formula made for frothers. Luckily, this stuff exists in Canada – you just have to know what to look for. Soy Nice has three options: Barista Blend, Soy Nice for Coffee Original and Soy Nice for Coffee Vanilla. If you want froth, these are your best buds. After a LOT of experimenting, these were the only non-dairy products that I found that behaved like regular milk does.
Here to help you achieve your at home barista goals,
Allison Sklar is a Montreal native who started her blog in 2009. Allison is an advocate of plant-based diets, and she eats mostly vegan diet at home, but she does not like to label herself. For instance, from time to time, you may catch her enjoying some sustainably sourced fish, as she did last summer in New Orleans. You may also see her occasionally drizzling some fair trade honey into her green tea. Call her a flexatarian, a pescetarian, a confused omnivore, whatever – she eats what she enjoys, and she encourages you to do the same. Allison creates the majority of her own recipes, unless otherwise stated. She is inspired by friends, family, and of course, whatever’s in her fridge. For more of Allison’s recipes visit her blog!