Vanilla Latte Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/13/21
Spiked Vanilla Latte
The Spruce / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Add a little oomph to your vanilla latte with this fun and simple vodka-spiked recipe. The iced coffee cocktail is an excellent use for your favorite vanilla vodka, and it's very easy to mix up.

The vanilla latte cocktail brings everything that's great about the coffee shop favorite into the world of mixed drinks. It has a sweet cream and vanilla flavor with a rich coffee base. And, it's even quicker to make than a caffe latte because there's no milk to steam or froth.

For this alcoholic latte recipe, you need a cream liqueur, vanilla vodka, and the most flavorful coffee you can brew. It's a fantastic alternative to all those fruity brunch cocktails and makes a fabulous afternoon drink on hot summer days.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce vanilla vodka

  • 2 ounces cream liqueur

  • 3 ounces chilled coffee

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a Spiked Vanilla Latte
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  2. In a highball glass filled with ice, pour the vanilla vodka, cream liqueur, and chilled coffee.

    Spiked Vanilla Latte
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  3. Stir well. Serve and enjoy.

    Spiked Vanilla Latte
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Tips

  • This latte is also great when the ingredients are shaken with ice then strained over fresh ice. Or, strain it into two cocktail glasses for vanilla latte martinis.
  • To reduce water dilution, freeze chilled coffee into ice cubes to use for this drink.
  • For the cream liqueur, RumChata and Irish cream are fantastic options. Heavy cream, half and half, and whole milk are good substitutes, as are vanilla-flavored plant milks such as almond or soy.

What's the Best Way to Brew Coffee for Cocktails?

Just like any latte, espresso is preferred over standard drip-brewed coffee because it's more flavorful. You can also use other brewing methods, such as a drip cone or French press. Another option is to use cold-brewed coffee. It takes about 12 hours to make because there's no heat involved, but this method produces a rich, thick coffee with a true flavor of the beans. Get in the habit of always having some in the refrigerator, and you'll see an improvement in every iced coffee (spiked and not) you make.

  • Be sure to thoroughly chill hot-brewed coffee before using it in an iced coffee drink. For a quick chill, place a cup in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

Recipe Variations

  • Make the drink with hot coffee for a warm, spiked cup of joe.
  • Switch to vanilla whiskey or rum for a little more depth.
  • Add extra flavor with a splash of cinnamon syrup or caramel syrup.
  • You can also make a spiked latte with other flavored liquors. Try coconut rum or vodka, cinnamon whiskey, whipped cream vodka, or go fruity with a berry-flavored vodka.
  • Bring in another liqueur to complement or replace the cream. Try a honey liqueur for extra sweetness, or give it a nutty twist with amaretto or hazelnut liqueur.

How Strong Is a Vanilla Latte?

This may be a spiked latte, but it's not particularly strong. The alcohol content is similar to wine, at around 11 percent ABV (22 proof).

Can Vanilla Extract Be Used to Make Vanilla Vodka?

Due to the high cost of vanilla beans, it is tempting to make vanilla vodka with vanilla extract. However, the added flavor will be negligible. If you want to try it, use 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract (not imitation) per 1 cup of vodka. For a truer and deeper vanilla flavor, make a vanilla bean-infused vodka instead:

  1. In a large jar, add three whole vanilla beans (split lengthwise) to 750-milliliters of vodka.
  2. Shake daily and infuse for 5 to 7 days. (If you use fewer vanilla beans, it will take longer.)
  3. Remove the vanilla beans when it reaches your desired flavor.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
279 Calories
0g Fat
24g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 279
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 8mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 65mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)