Enjoy cozy Christmas coffee in the morning, or spiked with Baileys on Christmas Eve! Add gingerbread syrup and top with whipped cream.

Looking for a cozy drink for the holidays? This cozy-spiced Christmas coffee is where it’s at! Mix up a homemade gingerbread syrup with brown sugar and whole spices: it infuses the best hints of cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Top with whipped cream and festive sprinkles, if you like! You can serve it at Christmas breakfast or brunch, or even spike it with Baileys for a treat on Christmas Eve. Here’s how it’s done!

What’s in Christmas Coffee?

This Christmas coffee recipe features hot drip coffee and gingerbread syrup. It’s similar to a Gingerbread Latte but it uses coffee instead of espresso. Top it with whipped cream and douse with red and green sprinkles for a festive holiday vibe. If you’d like you can add Baileys to spike it, and it comes like a spin on a classic Irish coffee. We like it both ways: it can work for mornings or evenings. Here’s what you’ll need for Christmas coffee:

• Drip coffee
• Gingerbread syrup: homemade or purchased (see below)
• Whipped cream, for garnish
• Baileys Irish Cream or milk, if desired

Coffee brewing methods

Like with any coffee drink, the higher quality the coffee, the better the flavor! Make this with a standard coffee maker and it tastes okay. But make it using one of these coffee methods, and the flavor is incredible. Here are our top coffee brewing methods:

• Chemex (pour over): This is our top choice for the best cup of coffee. There’s a bit of technique and equipment involved, but we’ve been making every morning for years. With a large pot you can make 4 cups at once. Go to Pour Over Coffee.
• French press: Another great method is French Press Coffee! It has a great flavor and is a cheaper and easier method.
• Moka Pot / Bialetti: For very strong coffee that’s almost like espresso, you can use a Moka Pot! It’s a combination between drip and espresso and has a robust flavor.

Make or purchase gingerbread syrup

Now, let’s tackle the syrup! For the best flavor in Christmas coffee, use this homemade gingerbread syrup. It’s a brown sugar syrup that’s infused with fresh ginger, allspice berries, and cinnamon sticks. Simmer it for 20 minutes and give it a taste: the flavor pops with an intensely spiced kick!

• Homemade gingerbread syrup has the best flavor here! It takes just 20 minutes and we highly recommend it. Go to Gingerbread Syrup.
• Purchased gingerbread syrup also works, though every brand has a different flavor and sweetness. Here’s a link to buy gingerbread syrup online.

Spike it for boozy Christmas coffee

If you’d like, add a little hint of booze for an adult Christmas coffee! It similar to an Irish coffee, but dressed up for Christmas! It’s great with Baileys Irish Cream, but there are lots of other options. Here are some ideas for spiked Christmas coffee:

• Bourbon
• Irish whiskey
• Peppermint schnapps
• Creme de menthe
• Brandy
• Baileys Irish Cream
• Kahlua

More Christmas drinks

There are so many tasty drinks to bring cheer at the holidays! Here are some of our favorite holiday drinks and Christmas cocktails:

• Grab Homemade Hot Chocolate or Peppermint Hot Chocolate, or even a Peppermint Patty
• Try a big batch of Holiday Punch or Mulled Cider
• Go for a Hot Toddy, Apple Cider Hot Toddy or Brandy Hot Toddy
• Opt for a Vanilla Chai Latte or Masala Chai

01

Homemade Hot Chocolate

02

Mulled Cider

03

Holiday Punch

04

Hot Toddy

This Christmas coffee recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use vegan whipped cream (or omit).

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