Red Velvet Latte Recipe
My delicious homemade red latte is topped with a whipped cream cheese topping reminiscent of the filling you’d find in the cake. The silky texture and tangy flavour combined with the sweet cocoa is well worth the effort to make. The perfect indulgent treat!
Inspired by the delicious red velvet cake which became popular back in the 1940’s and 50’s! It has definitely had a resurgance in popularity this past 10 years for sure. Who else remembers when they suddenly popped up in bakeries everywhere?
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Ingredients needed for your red velvet latte recipe
Scroll down to the recipe card for exact quantities.
Whole milk – semi-skimmed, skim milk or any non-dairy milk: oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk.. as long as it steams, it’ll work.
Hot chocolate drinking powder – I used the Cupsmith hot chocolate flakes as that’s all I had in. They do give a richer, tangier flavour as there’s no added sugar. You can use whatever hot chocolate you have in. Even cacao powder if you wish.
Red food colouring – make sure It’s an edible dye. Most of them are if they are ‘food’ colouring.
Shot of espresso – I used a nespresso coffee pod from Starbucks but you could use any coffee of your choosing. Coffee from the Italian Moka would also do, or any espresso from freshly ground beans.
Cream cheese – for the classic red velvet topping.
Icing sugar – to add a little bit of sweetness to the cream cheese.
Whipped cream – to lighten up the cream cheese.
Decorations optional – I went for mini pink hearts as I’m following the Valentines theme!
I love a slice of red velvet cake with my coffee, so why not combine the two into coffee form – a red velvet coffee! I know some people like to dye their red velvet latte with beet juice but I’m not a huge fan, so I’ve gone for red food colouring instead. The colour is just as bright!
How to make this red velvet latte (step by step)
Step 1 – Make your hot chocolate how you usually would. I used my Lavazza A Modo Mio frother by pouring in the milk and adding my hot choc flakes and pressing the button to froth. You could also heat your milk in a small saucepan (to a steaming temp – look for the steam – not boiling!), add your hot choc and whisk.
Step 2 – Make your espresso as you normally do and pour into the mug you’ll be using. I used a Starbucks Nespresso pod in my Nespresso machine. You could start preparing your cream cheese topping now (see below).
Step 3 – When your hot chocolate is done, add in your food colouring and give it a stir. It should be bright red!
Step 4 – Pour the milk over your coffee. Now to make the topping If you haven’t already.
Make the cream cheese topping
Step 1 – Whisk the cream cheese and icing sugar together in a bowl until there are no lumps.
Step 2 – Whisk in a fair amount of whipped cream. You want the cream cheese to almost appear similar to the lightness of whipped cream.
Step 3 – Spoon it on top of your coffee and decorate if you wish. Enjoy!
A red velvet latte would be perfect to make for a loved one for Valentine’s Day – it is the colour of love after all! How cute would this look paired with a box of choccies!
How you could decorate your red velvet latte
- Chocolate chips
- White chocolate shavings
- A dusting of cocoa powder
- White chocolate hearts
Making this for valentines?
All of the below will give this coffee the extra love factor!
- Red and pink hearts
- Pink heart metallic sprinkles
- Freeze dried strawberry pieces
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this latte vegan?
This red velvet latte can of course be made vegan. You can use any alternative milk: oat, coconut, soy. The taste will vary depending on which milk you choose, but just choose your fave and go from there. I’m sure you know what you like!
Can I make this coffee without an espresso machine?
Yes! You could use an Italian Moka pot to get the closest to a shot of espresso. A Moka pot uses ground coffee and water to brew. A cafetiere may also work but the coffee will be a more watery than this recipe requires.
Can I make an iced red velvet latte?
An iced red velvet latte would be perfect for the summer months. You could definitely make the hot chocolate as above and then add in some ice after you‘ve added in your drops of red food colouring. I reckon you could still top with the cream cheese topping and it would be just as nice!
I don’t want to use red food dye – what else can I use?
If you don’t like the idea of drinking food dye, you can also use beetroot juice. This may give the drink a slightly earthy note. Beet powder is another suggestions. Just stir it in once the hot chocolate is made to achieve the red colour.
Red Velvet Latte
Equipment
- 1 milk frother or you could use a saucepan + a whisk
- 1 small teaspoon
- 1 glass mug
- 1 coffee machine I used a nespresso machine
- 1 Small bowl
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- 120 ml milk whole, semi-skimmed or your alternative
- 2 tsp drinking chocolate
- 2 tsp red food colouring
- 1 espresso shot
- 1 tbsp cream cheese
- 1 tsp icing sugar
- whipped cream I used about 5 big squirts from the bottle. You need enough so that it loosens up the cream cheese.
Instructions
- Make your hot chocolate how you usually would. I used my Lavazza A Modo Mio frother by pouring in the milk and adding my hot choc flakes and pressing the button to froth. You could also heat your milk in a small saucepan (to a steaming temp – look for the steam – not boiling!), add your hot choc and whisk.
- Make your espresso as you normally do and pour into the mug you'll be using. I used a starbucks Nespresso pod in my Nespresso machine. You could start preparing your cream cheese topping now (see below).
- When your hot chocolate is done, add in your food colouring and give it a stir. It should be bright red!
- Pour the milk over your coffee. Now to make the topping If you haven’t already.
Cream cheese topping
- Whisk the cream cheese and icing sugar together in a bowl until there are no lumps.
- Whisk in a fair amount of whipped cream. You want the cream cheese to almost appear similar to the lightness of whipped cream.
- Spoon it on top of your coffee and decorate if you wish. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More hot drink recipes –
White Chocolate Mocha Starbucks Copycat
