Copycat Starbucks Eggnog Latte (Hot or Iced)

✔ Updated November 3 · new copycat recipe with step photos, hot and iced versions and Starbucks' own description of the drink

This copycat Starbucks eggnog latte is espresso under steamed eggnog and milk, with a thin cap of foam and a dusting of nutmeg. It's the holiday drink I miss most, so I make it from the first eggnog carton of the season.

How Do You Make a Starbucks Eggnog Latte at Home? (Quick Answer)

Why You'll Love This Eggnog Latte

• Tastes like the real thing because Starbucks builds it the same way: espresso, steamed eggnog and milk, nutmeg on top.
• Ready in 10 minutes with a saucepan and a whisk, no espresso machine required.
• Hot or iced including a 30-second eggnog cold foam for the iced version.
• Alcohol-free as written so the whole family can have one, with a splash of spiced rum for the grown-ups if you want it.
• Available all season not just the few weeks the drink is on the menu.

What Is in Starbucks' Eggnog Latte?

Starbucks keeps this one simple. On its holiday menu and in its announcement of the drink's return, the company describes the Eggnog Latte as steamed eggnog and its signature espresso, topped with creamy foam and a dusting of ground nutmeg. It also calls it the first holiday espresso beverage Starbucks ever sold, back in the 1980s.

Baristas steam the eggnog with milk rather than on its own, which is why the drink is rich but still drinkable. That's the build I copy here: 2 parts eggnog to 1 part milk, a thin foam, espresso underneath and nutmeg on top. The amounts are mine, since Starbucks doesn't publish its recipe.

Ingredient Notes

Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Eggnog: full-fat dairy eggnog from the refrigerated case. Shelf-stable cartons work but taste flatter. Homemade cooked eggnog is the best of all; I make a batch for my copycat McDonald's eggnog shake and use the rest for lattes.
• Whole milk: thins the eggnog so it steams and pours like a latte. 2% is fine; skim makes it watery.
• Espresso: 2 shots per latte. Strong moka pot or AeroPress coffee works, and so does double-strength drip.
• Nutmeg: freshly grated if you have a whole nutmeg, ground from the jar if not. A pinch inside, a dusting on top.
• Whipped cream (optional): Starbucks finishes the hot drink with foam rather than whipped cream, but a spoonful of my copycat Starbucks whipped cream never hurt anyone.
• Heavy cream (iced version): frothed with a little eggnog it turns into a thick, pourable eggnog cold foam in 30 seconds.

Step-by-Step Photos

Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.

Tips for Success

• Buy full-fat eggnog. Light eggnog is thin and foams badly, and it tastes watery once the espresso goes in. The regular carton from the dairy case is what I use, and homemade cooked eggnog is even better.
• Cut it with milk. Straight eggnog is too thick and too sweet against coffee. Starbucks steams eggnog with milk, and the 2 to 1 ratio here is what tastes closest to the cup I remember. For a lighter latte go 1 to 1.
• Watch the thermometer. I pull the pan at 150°F to 160°F. The first winter I made these I walked away from the stove, it boiled, and I poured two mugs of sweet scrambled custard down the sink.
• Expect less foam than a normal latte. Eggnog is heavy with fat and sugar, so you get a thin, fine cap rather than a big cappuccino dome. That is right; the Starbucks version is barely foamed too.
• No espresso machine? No problem. Use a moka pot, an AeroPress, or brew drip coffee at double strength. Instant espresso powder works in a pinch: 2 teaspoons in 1/4 cup hot water per latte.
• Nutmeg: grate it fresh if you can. A whole nutmeg on a little grater smells like Christmas and tastes far brighter than the jar. A tiny pinch goes in the eggnog as it warms, and the rest goes on top.
• Serve it fast. The foam sinks within a couple of minutes, so have the mugs warmed and the nutmeg ready before you start steaming.
• Spike it only for the adults. If you want a nightcap, 1 tablespoon of spiced rum or bourbon per mug goes in with the espresso, before the eggnog. Keep the kids' mugs on the other side of the counter.

Starbucks Sizes vs This Copycat

A standard Starbucks latte gets 1 shot in a tall, 2 in a grande and 2 in a venti hot. Here is how I scale the eggnog to match each cup size at home.

Size	Espresso	Eggnog	Milk	Finish
Tall (12 oz)	1 shot	1/2 cup	1/4 cup	Thin foam, nutmeg
Grande (16 oz)	2 shots	2/3 cup	1/3 cup	Thin foam, nutmeg
Venti hot (20 oz)	2 shots	1 cup	1/2 cup	Thin foam, nutmeg
This recipe (per mug)	2 shots	1/2 cup	1/4 cup	Thin foam, nutmeg, optional whipped cream

Variations

Once you have the basic build, it takes well to small changes. These are the ones that get made in our kitchen.

• Iced eggnog latte: espresso over ice, chilled eggnog and milk, and a spoonful of eggnog cold foam on top. Full steps are in the recipe card.
• Eggnog chai: swap the espresso for 1/2 cup of strong brewed chai, or use the concentrate from my copycat Starbucks chai latte. Caffeine-light and very cozy.
• Eggnog mocha: stir 1 tablespoon of chocolate sauce into the espresso before the eggnog goes in.
• Kids' eggnog steamer: skip the coffee, steam the eggnog and milk with a pinch of cinnamon, and top with whipped cream and nutmeg.
• Dairy-free: use oat or almond eggnog and leave out the milk. It foams a little less, so give it the full 20 seconds with the frother.
• Spiked eggnog latte (adults): 1 tablespoon of spiced rum, bourbon or brandy per mug, added with the espresso.

Make-Ahead and Storage

This is a make-it-and-drink-it latte; the foam sinks and the eggnog forms a skin if it sits. You can, however, warm the eggnog and milk mixture ahead, chill it in a jar for up to 3 days, and reheat one mug at a time in 30-second microwave bursts.

Keep opened eggnog refrigerated and use it by the date on the carton, usually 5 to 7 days after opening. Leftover espresso can be cooled and kept in the fridge for the iced version the next day.

More Starbucks Holiday Copycats

I've rebuilt most of the red-cup lineup at home in my Starbucks copycat recipes collection. The peppermint mocha is the other one on repeat here all December, and a slice of gingerbread loaf beside this latte is my idea of a good afternoon. You'll find more festive drinks and bakes in our Christmas recipes collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Starbucks eggnog latte?

Starbucks describes its Eggnog Latte as steamed eggnog and signature espresso, topped with creamy foam and a dusting of ground nutmeg. It is a holiday seasonal drink. This copycat uses the same build: espresso, eggnog steamed with a little milk, a thin layer of foam and nutmeg on top.

Does the Starbucks eggnog latte have alcohol in it?

No. The Starbucks drink is made with regular, alcohol-free eggnog, and so is this recipe. If you want a boozy version at home, add 1 tablespoon of spiced rum, bourbon or brandy per mug, and keep those mugs clearly separate from the ones for kids.

How much caffeine is in an eggnog latte?

It depends on the espresso. A grande Starbucks latte has 2 shots, which is roughly 150 mg of caffeine. This recipe uses 2 shots per latte too. For less caffeine use 1 shot, or make it with decaf espresso and nobody will taste the difference under all that nutmeg.

Can I make an eggnog latte without an espresso machine?

Yes. Use 1/4 cup of very strong coffee per latte from a moka pot, AeroPress or French press, or brew drip coffee at double strength. Instant espresso powder also works: 2 teaspoons dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water. The eggnog carries most of the flavor, so the coffee just needs to be strong.

Can I make the eggnog latte iced?

Yes, and Starbucks has sold an iced version too. Fill a glass with ice, add 1/2 cup chilled eggnog and 2 tablespoons milk, pour 2 shots of espresso over the top, and finish with a quick eggnog cold foam made by frothing equal parts heavy cream and eggnog for 20 to 30 seconds.

Why did my eggnog curdle when I heated it?

Eggnog is a thin custard, so it tightens and turns grainy if it gets near a boil. Warm it over medium-low heat, stir often and stop at 150°F to 160°F. A microwave works too: heat in 30-second bursts and stir between each one, stopping as soon as it steams.

What eggnog is best for a latte?

Full-fat dairy eggnog from the refrigerated case gives the creamiest latte and the best foam. Light and nonfat eggnogs taste thin once coffee is added. Oat and almond eggnogs work for a dairy-free latte; they foam a little less, so skip the extra milk and use all eggnog instead.