This post may include affiliate links; see our disclosure policy.

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

Christmas Coffee
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Need a cozy drink for the holidays? Try this cozy-spiced Christmas coffee! Start with a batch of gingerbread syrup with brown sugar and whole spices, infused with bold cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Drizzle it in coffee, then top with whipped cream (and festive sprinkles, if you like.) This irresistible mug of joy works at Christmas breakfast or brunch, or even spike it with Baileys for a Christmas Eve treat!

Ingredients in Christmas coffee

This Christmas coffee recipe pairs hot drip coffee and gingerbread syrup for the perfect holiday drink! It’s similar to a Gingerbread Latte, but it’s easier to make since 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’s customizable so 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
Gingerbread Syrup

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 pretty good. 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 daily 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 coffee and espresso, and has a robust flavor.
Gingerbread Syrup

Make or purchase gingerbread syrup

For the best flavor in Christmas coffee, make up a batch of 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! But if you’re low on top, you can purchase it as well.

  • Homemade gingerbread syrup has the best flavor in just 20 minutes! Go to this Gingerbread Syrup Recipe.
  • Purchased gingerbread syrup also works, though every brand has a different flavor and level of sweetness. Here’s a link to buy gingerbread syrup online.
Christmas Coffee

Spike it for boozy Christmas coffee

Dress up this drink with a hint of booze for an adult Christmas coffee! It’s a similar idea 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:

More Christmas drinks

Let us know what you think of this Christmas coffee in the comments below! There are so many more drinks to bring cheer at the holidays. Here are some of our favorite holiday drinks and Christmas cocktails:

This Christmas coffee recipe is…

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

Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Print

Christmas Coffee

Christmas Coffee
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

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

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Coffee
  • Cuisine: Coffee
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces (1 cup) hot coffee
  • 2 teaspoons Gingerbread Syrup (homemade or purchased)
  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Baileys or a splash of milk of choice, optional
  • Homemade whipped cream, for topping (optional; or vegan whipped cream for vegan)
  • Sprinkles, for topping (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the Homemade Gingerbread Syrup in advance (or use purchased syrup).
  2. Make the coffee, using your favorite method (we like Chemex pour over or French press).
  3. Make the homemade whipped cream, making sure to whip to soft peaks.
  4. Add the coffee to a glass or mug, leaving about an inch at the top for the whipped cream if using. Stir in the gingerbread syrup.
  5. Gently float the whipped cream on top using the back of a spoon.

Did you love this recipe?

Get our free newsletter with all of our best recipes!

About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

Leave a Comment

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

1 Comment

  1. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!