Thank you to my friends at Pure Canadian Maple Syrup for sponsoring this post and the Maple Cinnamon Latte Recipe within it!
Matt and I were first introduced to the awesomeness that is pure maple syrup in coffee by my grad school friend Libby.
Ever since, our caffeine-related sweetener of choice has become pure maple syrup. I don’t sweeten my coffee that often, so it’s extra special and delicious when I do!
Maple syrup is perfect for hot drinks – already liquid so it dissolves quickly, and it has more nutrients (and flavor, in my opinion) than regular sugar. Maple syrup provides some iron, calcium, zinc, manganese and potassium – bonus! Just make sure you get the 100% pure variety, not the fake artificial syrups.
MY OTHER RECIPES
A couple tips: for drinks and pancakes, you’ll want to use Grade A syrup, either light or medium. One fun thing I learned through my partnership with Pure Canadian Maple Syrup is that maple syrup grades aren’t related to quality, but rather flavor/taste intensity! The Grade B/dark varieties are much stronger and better suited for baking vs. Grade A/light varieties, which are nice in drinks or as a topping. Also – apparently the color variation has to do with when the maple syrup sap was tapped! Sap tapped at the beginning of the harvest season is generally clearer and lighter in taste. As the season advances, maple syrup becomes darker and more caramelized in flavor. Cool!
Anyway! Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought it would be fun to share Matt’s favorite maple cinnamon latte recipe. This would be a nice way to surprise someone special (significant other, family member, or friend!) on Saturday morning (or any weekend morning, really), don’t you think?
When I told Matt I was going to share this recipe on the blog, he gave me a stern lecture before leaving me to my own devices, as he’s usually the Maple Latte Master Creator (that’s an official title). “Be sure you add the maple syrup and cinnamon to the milk BEFORE frothing it,” he advised. “Not after!” Yes, sir!
That really is the trick here – we have an awesome milk foaming machine (the Nespresso Aeroccino Plus milk foamer) that I highly recommend, but if you don’t, a little whisk and a stovetop pan will do the job just as well. Or, simply put some milk (and the maple syrup and cinnamon) in a jar (make sure it’s only half full), seal it, shake vigorously until frothy, then microwave for 30 seconds!
Here’s the recipe. Enjoy it! :)
Matt’s Maple Cinnamon Lattes
Ingredients
(1 latte)
- 2 shots espresso (or 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee)
- 1 to 2 cups whole or 2% milk (depends how milky you like it)
- 1 shake cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Add espresso shots into a mug.
- Mix together milk, cinnamon, and pure maple syrup. Froth and warm milk mixture using a machine, or simply by placing it into a jar (make sure it’s only about half full), closing the lid, and shaking vigorously, then microwaving it for 30 seconds.
- Pour frothed/heated milk mixture into mug with espresso. Top with extra cinnamon and serve hot. Enjoy!
- Have you ever used maple syrup to sweeten coffee? If not, try it!
- If you’re also a maple fan, here are a some other favorite recipes on my blog that are sweetened only with pure maple syrup:
I LOVE maple syrup and use it to sweeten most things. I only use salt and maple syrup in my homemade almond butter and it is delicious!
I will have to try this recipe out with some homemade almond or cashew milk since I can’t do dairy milk. It looks great for those cold mornings :)
It would be fabulous with an alternative milk – I’d recommend almond or coconut milk, I think they’d be great here!
oooh I’d never thought of replacing sugar with maple syrup but it sounds like an awesome idea especially since I normally use sweetener (and want to stop that!). So for regular coffee for example, would you just pour the coffee and then add some syrup or put the syrup first then add the coffee? Haha sorry that’s quite a silly question!
I’d probably do the coffee first, then the syrup, then stir it a little! :) Enjoy!
I LOVE real male syrup! I annoy the husband because I always ask at restaurants if they have real maple syrup before ordering pancakes, etc. If they don’t have it, I don’t order that dish!
Omg, I’m totally the same!! Matt always makes fun of me!
Mmm this sounds great and perfect for a cold day like today. Thanks for sharing!
I have used honey quite often, but not maple syrup. excited to try this!
What a great idea! I love making lattes at home because I can control the sweetness. A lot of places make them too sweet for my taste.
Agreed! Just a little sweetness goes a long way. :)
I just discovered my love for raw honey, but now I’ll add this to the list of natural sweeteners to try. Thanks, Anne!
I had to stop by the blog after our chat on the track today and I was DELIGHTED to see a maple syrup recipe at the top. My dad is from Vermont, so I was raised on real maple syrup. My favorite applications (besides pancakes, of course) are to substitute it for sugar in chili and spaghetti sauce. I find it goes really well with the dried spices and tomato flavors. I’m also considering training with maple syrup in addition to Gu on my long runs since my next marathon is in Vermont!
Great post!
Jackie! So fun chatting with you at the track this morning. :) Awesome ideas regarding maple syrup in chili and spaghetti sauce, I’ve never tried that! I’m totally going to give that a shot! Love the fueling with maple syrup idea, too! Yum. See you at bright and early next week!
My boyfriend told me about putting maple syrup in coffee! I usually don’t drink sweetened coffee, but I love maple syrup
I use maple syrup to sweeten things,but I’m not a fan of sweetened coffee – just give it to me straight up :-)
Nothing like it! Very nice –
Adding maple syrup to coffee!? Genius idea! This recipe gives me inspiration to whip out the milk frother we got a year ago as a wedding gift and still havent used, oops.
Now I want pancakes! Maple syrup just make me immediately think of those fluffy scrumptious breakfast circles!!! =)
I use maple syrup pretty frequently. A favorite of my kids is a banana with peanut butter drizzled with maple syrup and chia seed (yes they actually love this combo). I use the grade B even though harder to find and more expensive. It supposedly has a much higher mineral content :-)
Mmm sounds delicious!
I just tried Matt’s latte recipe! It was a delicious treat to warm me up after shoving yet more snow in Boston! We also have the Nespresso frother…love it!!
Yay, glad you liked it! Stay warm up there! !
Maple syrup in coffee is so good! Glad to know I’m not the only one who loves that combo. Most people look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them I use maple in my coffee.
I’m all over the maple syrup! I use it for oatmeal as well :) I’m going to try it in coffee now!