Recipe: Slow Cooker Eggnog Lattes

Christine Gallary
Christine GallarySenior Recipe Editor at The Kitchn
I grew up in a Chinese food-loving family, eating my first restaurant meals in Oakland's vibrant Chinatown. My love of food but lack of cooking experience led to me Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where I graduated with a Diplôme de Cuisine in French cooking. After culinary school, I learned how to test and edit recipes in test kitchens at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW, falling in love with the process of rigorously testing recipes to make sure they were foolproof for the home cook. I've worked with thousands of recipes over the past 15 years, including developing recipes for the James Beard-award winning Mister Jiu's in Chinatown cookbook. Living in the delicious diversity of San Francisco, I never get tired of finding new ingredients or cuisines to try. My favorite type is Cantonese home cooking — I'm on a quest to recreate the dishes my grandmother used to make. All the food I test at home is eagerly tasted and enjoyed by my husband, Hayden, and daughter, Sophie, while our little dog, Mochi, looks wistfully on.
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updated Jan 29, 2020
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Credit: Joe Lingeman
Rich eggnog and strong-brewed coffee join forces in a slow cooker for the ultimate Christmas hot beverage.

Serves12 to 14

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Skip the long line at the chain coffee shop when you’re craving an eggnog-flavored latte and settle for the real deal at home instead. With the help of a carton of store-bought eggnog and the slow cooker, you can make a big batch of eggnog lattes for a decadent holiday morning treat, or you can spike it with your favorite alcohol to sip after dinner while relaxing by the fire. This rich, sweet coffee drink has an extra boost of spices and a secret trick for making the flavors in the spices sing.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Stick with Store-Bought Eggnog

For this recipe, just go with store-bought eggnog. Since you’ll be adding coffee to these lattes, just get something inexpensive at the store. Save your homemade, aged, tasty eggnog for sipping straight-up. Also, the eggs in store-bought eggnog are already heat pasteurized, so they won’t scramble or curdle while heating in the slow cooker.

We’ve added cinnamon sticks, vanilla, and freshly grated nutmeg to the lattes because they make the whole house (and drink) smell amazing, but here’s the key: Add half of the nutmeg in the beginning, then add the rest of it with the vanilla just before serving. This two-step process ensures that there’s nutmeg simmering in the drink, but the addition at the end means the nutmeg stays vibrant and really sings as you sip it.

These lattes are tasty straight from the slow cooker, but feel free to garnish with whipped cream, more nutmeg, cinnamon, or a shot of your favorite alcohol if you want to make it extra special.

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Slow Cooker Eggnog Lattes

Rich eggnog and strong-brewed coffee join forces in a slow cooker for the ultimate Christmas hot beverage.

Serves 12 to 14

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the lattes:

  • 6 cups

    water

  • 3/4 cup

    ground dark-roasted coffee

  • 1/2 gallon

    (2 quarts) store-bought eggnog

  • 2

    (3-inch) cinnamon sticks

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    freshly ground nutmeg, divided

  • 1 teaspoon

    vanilla extract

For serving (optional):

  • Sweetened whipped cream

  • Freshly grated nutmeg

  • Cinnamon sticks

  • Bourbon, brandy, or aged rum, for spiking

Instructions

  1. Brew the coffee with the 6 cups of water in a standard drip coffeemaker. (Alternatively, do it in batches in a French press.) Transfer to a 5-quart or larger slow cooker.

  2. Add the eggnog, cinnamon sticks, and 1/4 teaspoon of the nutmeg and stir to combine. Cover and heat on the LOW setting until the flavors meld and the mixture is heated through, about 3 hours. Stir in the vanilla and remaining 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Keep on the WARM setting for up to 3 hours.

  3. Serve in mugs topped with whipped cream, freshly grated nutmeg, and a cinnamon stick if desired. Spike each 8-ounce serving with 1 1/2 ounces bourbon if desired.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Filed in:
Beverages
Coffee
Cooking Methods
easy
Gluten-Free
Keeps Well