Skip the coffee shop and make your Butterscotch Latte at home in minutes! It’s just my homemade butterscotch sauce, a couple shots of espresso, and some milk! So much more budget-friendly and you can control all the details to make the perfect latte!
The homemade sauce makes it.
As much as I love a sweet little coffee treat, I’m actually super picky about it and I want it made jussssst right. Not too sweet, not too milky, I never want fruity tasting beans (whyyyy does every local shop have fruity beans?!), and I want a homemade syrup or sauce, because those bottled ones are just not it.
Like I said – picky about my latte. So I usually just make them at home and my butterscotch sauce is perfect for making a little butterscotch coffee. I like them iced, but you can do hot too!
No espresso machine? No problem – I’ve got you. This instant espresso is actually insanely good. I do have an espresso machine and I still sometimes reach for the instant! I’ll give tips on how to use it down below!
☕ 3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
It’s way cheaper than the coffee shop. One batch of sauce makes a whole bunch of lattes for a fraction of what you’d pay at the drive-thru.
It’s ready in minutes. Once your sauce is in the fridge, you’re just a spoonful of sauce, a couple of espresso shots, and some milk away from a cozy latte.
You control the sweetness. Start with a tablespoon of sauce and add more until it tastes just right to you. No more drinks that are way too sweet (or just not sweet enough).
Espresso Options:
No espresso machine? This particular brand of instant espresso is a favorite of mine. It’s very smooth without being bitter. The jar calls for 1 teaspoon of powder per 2 ounces of hot water. I actually like it a bit stronger and do 1 1/2 teaspoons of powder per 2 ounces of hot water. For a double shot, that’s 1 tabespoon of powder + 4 ounces (1/4 cup) of hot water. Easy!
Have a Nespresso machine? Me too! I use these pods and I run them through twice. (Just hit the button, let it run as usual, and then hit the button again before opening the machine.) The shots are just as tasty and it makes them half the price. Those little pods do get pricey. I also use these because I’m a bit of a caffeine wimp.
Looking for a fancy espresso machine? My daughter has a really nice Breville, but she’s off to college (and took it with her), so I’ve been eyeing this Ninja. I just love the colors and it has great reviews! Big Ninja fan around here.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
What You Need for a Butterscotch Latte
Homemade butterscotch sauce: The star of the show. It takes about 10 minutes to make and keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Espresso: Two shots. More if you like it strong.
Milk: Any milk you like. Whole milk makes the creamiest latte, but use what you prefer.
Whipped cream or cold foam: Because why not?
Swaps & Tips
- No espresso? No problem. Use 1 tablespoon of instant espresso dissolved in ¼ cup of hot water. You could also try very strongly brewed coffee – around 1/4 to 1/2 cup depending on how much coffee flavor you like.
- Any milk works. Oat milk is nice and creamy if you want to go dairy-free with your milk. Just know the sauce itself has butter and cream, so the drink won’t be fully dairy-free.
- Warm the sauce first for iced lattes. Cold sauce straight from the fridge is very thick. Stirring it into hot espresso first is the easiest way to get it to blend in. I brew my espresso right over the top of the sauce.
- Make it decaf. Decaf espresso or coffee works exactly the same if you want one in the afternoon.
- Go lighter on the sauce. Start with 1 tablespoon. You can always add more, but you can’t take it back out.
- Line the cup. Want coffee shop vibes? Warm the sauce and drizzle it around the cup for the prettiest little latte.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes. Bottled butterscotch syrup for coffee works, but it’s thinner and usually sweeter, so start with a little less and adjust. Homemade sauce gives you a richer, more buttery flavor.
It tastes like a caramel latte with a deeper, more brown sugar flavor. It’s sweet, buttery, and cozy without being over the top.
No. Butterscotch doesn’t contain any scotch. It’s just brown sugar, butter, and cream.
Easy Butterscotch Latte (Iced or Hot)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butterscotch sauce more to taste
- 2 shots espresso
- 8 ounces milk any variety
- whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Add the butterscotch sauce to the bottom of your mug and brew the espresso directly over the top. Stir well to melt the sauce into the espresso.
- If making an iced latte, fill the glass with ice and pour the milk over the top. Add the espresso and stir well. Top with whipped cream and serve.
- If making a hot latte, steam the milk (or just pop it in the microwave for to heat it up) and use a frother to froth it. Add the espresso to your mug and pour the steamed and frothed milk over the top.
Leave a Review