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This vanilla rose latte recipe is quick and easy to make with a lovely hint of floral flavor.
Back in Barcelona, we lived above the cutest little art café that served a gorgeous selection of cakes, pastries, coffees, and teas each day in their impressive collection of antique chinaware. It always felt like a step back in time cozying up at one of their bistro tables, sipping tea from a delicate antique cup while watching the modern world whirl by just outside the windows. But we absolutely loved it. And over the years, I came to know and love their delicious menu too.
Especially, you guessed it, their vanilla rose latte. ♡
This simple, floral, warm drink became one of my favorite treats during the wintertime, especially after chilly days of running errands all around the city. It was always wonderfully comforting and cozy without being too heavy. And as a bonus, I always loved that it was caffeine-free, which meant I could pop by to enjoy a latte at any time of the day or evening.
I pretty quickly figured out how to make my own homemade rose latte, which I rarely did in Barcelona because the café was simply too convenient and too charming to pass up. But now that we’re back in Kansas City and the weather is cooling off, I’ve been getting in the habit of making them in the evenings, and they’re just so delightful. All you need is your choice of milk, a splash of rose water, and a few pantry staples, and your own warm (or iced!) rose latte can be ready to go in just a handful of minutes. So if you’re looking for a cozy new drink to enjoy this winter, I hope you’ll join me and give this one a try!
Rose Latte Ingredients
Here are a few quick notes about the rose latte ingredients that you will need to make this recipe:
Milk: I recommend some variety of plain milk — either dairy or plant-based — to serve as the “latte.” I generally use plain oat milk to make this recipe, but the rose flavor in this latte also pairs beautifully with nut-based milks such as almond, pistachio or macadamia milk.
Rose water: A splash of food-grade pure rose water is my favorite way to add a lovely hint of rose flavor to this latte. If you are new to cooking with rose water, please note that it is quite potent. I recommend beginning with 2 teaspoons of rose water, then you can always add more if you would like. Alternately, you can steep dried rose petals in the milk to add rose flavor to this latte, but I find it’s easier to control the intensity of flavor with the rose water.
Sweetener: I love adding a hint of maple syrup to sweeten this latte, but feel free to use any sweetener that you prefer such as honey or sugar.
Vanilla extract: A quick splash of vanilla extract adds a lovely layer of warmth to this latte.
Ground ginger: I also love adding in a bit of ginger powder (or you could brew a few thin slices of fresh ginger) to this latte, whose gentle spice complements the floral notes of the rose just beautifully.
Dried rose petals (optional): Finally, I love sprinkling some edible dried rose petals on this latte as a garnish. Totally optional, but they always make this drink feel extra fun and lovely.
How To Make A Rose Latte
The steps for making a hot or iced version of this rose latte recipe are nearly the same. Simply…
Mix. Combine all of the ingredients in a glass and stir to combine. (If making the hot version of the drink, you’ll want to use steamed milk which you can either make in a milk frother or by whisking warmed milk on the stove.)
Taste and adjust. Give the latte a taste and add extra sweetener or adjust other ingredients, to taste.
Serve. Serve warm in a mug or cold over iced, garnished with dried rose petals if you would like, and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Here are a few more variations that you’re welcome to try with this rose latte recipe:
Add espresso: Add a shot or two of espresso to the latte, adjusting any of the other ingredient amounts if needed to taste.
Add tea: Brew a bag of chai, earl grey, chamomile, hibiscus, or any other tea (one whose flavor pairs well with rose, of course) in the latte.
Add different spices: Add a pinch of another warming spice to the tea, such as ground cardamom or nutmeg.
Add beet powder: Add a spoonful of beet powder to the tea to give it extra nutrients and a vibrant pink color.
More Latte Recipes To Love
Looking for more homemade latte recipes to try? Here are a few of our favorites:
Steam. Combine the milk, rose water, maple syrup, vanilla extract and ginger in a milk frother and heat until warm and frothy. Or heat the mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until nearly simmering, and whisk until frothy.
Add extra sweetener if needed. Give the latte a taste and add extra sweetener, if needed.
Serve warm. Serve immediately, garnished with dried rose petals if you would like, and enjoy.
To Make An Iced Rose Latte:
Combine. Combine the milk, rose water, maple syrup, vanilla extract and ginger in a large glass with ice and stir until evenly mixed.
Add extra sweetener if needed. Give the iced latte a taste and add extra sweetener, if needed.
Serve cold. Serve immediately, garnished with dried rose petals if you would like, and enjoy.
Hi Ali!
I love a tea latte, almost any kind! This sounds amazing! Is there a way to make this is into a concentrate so that one can just pour it into tea or milk?
Malaz —
You can use rose syrup. But be careful, it’s more potent than rose water so use less of it and of course lessen added sugar. You can find it in international grocery stores and middle eastern grocery stores as well as online. You can also make it at home with some rose pedals. There are recipes online :)
Hi Ali!
I love a tea latte, almost any kind! This sounds amazing! Is there a way to make this is into a concentrate so that one can just pour it into tea or milk?
You can use rose syrup. But be careful, it’s more potent than rose water so use less of it and of course lessen added sugar. You can find it in international grocery stores and middle eastern grocery stores as well as online. You can also make it at home with some rose pedals. There are recipes online :)
Beautiful. 🧁