Salted Caramel Brûlée Latte.

If you love that cozy coffee-shop latte with the crackly sugar cap, this at-home version is even better. Real espresso, creamy milk, and a simple caramel you can whip up on the stove.

It’s smooth, toasty, and just sweet enough—ideal for crisp fall mornings and holiday brunch.

Happiest December 1st! Christmas is just twenty-four days aways and as I’ve been saying a lot lately, I plan to enjoy every minute of this holiday season. We all need the cheer this year more than ever!

And today? The sweetest caramel brûlée latte recipe for your mid-morning cravings or late nights watching holiday movies by the fire. And I do mean the sweetest. I think we all know the inspiration for this latte, it’s a seasonal Starbucks holiday favorite. And the real truth? It’s made one hundred times better…and it’s so much easier than you’d think.

If you love treating yourself to that seasonal caramel brûlée latte, you’ll love this homemade version even more.

Here’s The Story.

I spend a lot of time envisioning and brainstorming recipes I plan to share with you guys, but even more so for the month of December. Both November and December are always our busiest months. Everyone seems to make more time for cooking and baking during the holidays, so I always try to share the recipes I think we’ll all love the most. I actually overthink them, but thankfully I’ve got a pretty solid team helping make decisions these days.

I sent over my mile-long list of holiday sweets to my cousins. Almost immediately both of them replied back, number three for sure. That’s my favorite seasonal drink!

Their excitement was obvious, and it was clear this was the recipe to welcome in December. And you know? Sometimes recipes turn out and sometimes they don’t, but this latte turned out even better than I had envisioned. I could not think of a better recipe for December first.

This is basically Christmas in a mug.

The steps are easy.

Before you do anything, you have to make the salted caramel brulee topping. It’s going to get very hot, so just make sure you’re being careful when handling this.  This is that extra special holiday touch the latte needs. It’s very easy to make and requires just two ingredients, sugar, and flaky sea salt.

You’ll melt granulated sugar on the stove until it turns deep caramel in color, then spread the caramel out over a piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle with sea salt and let the caramel sit for a few minutes. And then? In almost no time at all, the caramel has hardened and can easily be smashed into small shards for sprinkling over your latte. Again, be sure you’re being careful when handling this.

I have not a clue what Starbucks used for their brûlée topping, but these sweet little pieces are the most delicious flavors to sprinkle over a latte. They melt into the whipped cream leaving an instantly sweet and salty caramel swirl throughout the latte.

It. Is. Delicious.

Once the candy is hardened, you can keep it in a sealed container in the pantry for a month or so. Then it’s ready to make lattes at a moment’s notice!

Once you have that caramel brûlée candy ready and waiting, make the caramel brulée latte.

Just warm your favorite milk (oat milk, almond milk, and skim milk all work) together with a couple of tablespoons of caramel sauce. I used leftover caramel from these cookies, which I’d highly recommend keeping on hand this month. It’s great drizzled over cookies, swirled into brownies, and of course, used for this latte. All that said, you can easily use a store-bought caramel sauce too.

Once the milk is steaming, add a splash of vanilla, then whisk or froth everything for a minute or two to make the milk a little frothy.

Brew a couple of shots of espresso or your favorite strong coffee and pour that steamy caramel frothed milk over the espresso. Add a couple dollops of whipped cream and sprinkle over the brûlée candy.

So easy, so cute, so fun…and so delicious. This is the perfect December sweet. It’s indulgent, but making it at home ensures it’s made using simple ingredients and nothing weird. Sweeten it up or down depending on your taste.

And we get to finish each mug with as much whipped cream as we’d like.

Each steaming latte is thick, creamy, perfectly sweet, and made with the perfect ratios of caramel and espresso.

A couple of final notes…

You can easily make this vegan by using your favorite nut-based milk. When not using goat milk, I almost always use coconut milk, it’s extra creamy and rich. I love using it for lattes and homemade hot chocolate.

If you want to make this for your kids, just leave the coffee out of their lattes.

And finally, if you need something sweet to warm things up today (or anytime this December), make this delicious caramel brulee latte recipe. Regardless of age, it’s universally loved by all.

FAQ:

Can I make this without an espresso machine?
Yes—use a Moka pot or extra-strong coffee. Expect a slightly lighter body and less crema, so keep the caramel modest to avoid overpowering the coffee.

What if I don’t have a kitchen torch?
Use the broiler and keep the sugar layer very thin; watch closely and pull once glassy. Or skip the brûlée and finish with a quick drizzle of hot caramel for a similar effect.

How do I keep the latte from tasting too sweet?
Use less caramel in the mug and keep the brûlée cap for crunch. A pinch of flaky salt also balances the sweetness.

Can I prep parts ahead for a holiday brunch?
Yes—make the caramel in advance and warm gently until pourable. Brew espresso and brûlée the sugar right before serving so the cap stays crisp.

Looking for other warming December drinks? Here are my favorites: 

Creamy Coconut Hot Chocolate

Vanilla Mocha Hot Cocoa

Gingerbread Latte

Lastly, if you make this Salted Caramel Brûlée Latte, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!