Name: Easy Homemade White Chocolate Espresso
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk (you can use oat milk, almond milk, cashew milk, or any other regular milk or non-dairy milk you like.); 1/2 cup heavy cream (you can also sub more milk, half n' half, or a dairy-free option); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 cup white chocolate chips; 1/4 cup hot strong coffee OR 1 tbsp instant coffee + 3 tbsp hot water OR Instant Espresso Powder; Whipped cream* (optional for serving ); Cardamom or Peppermint extract (optional for serving )

This easy homemade white chocolate espresso (also called a white chocolate mocha latte) is the perfect winter drink! The creamy white chocolate, combined with rich espresso, heavy cream, and steamed milk, make this drink cozy and delicious. This yummy white chocolate drink is sure to be a hit, and the best thing is it couldn’t be easier to make at home!

a mug of white chocolate espresso with a spoon in it. There are some coffee beans, white chocolate chips, and cardamom sprinkled around it, and you are see part of tea towel in the background

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This post may contain affiliate links. For more information see my full disclosure here.

Jump to Recipe

Print Recipe

This easy homemade latte was inspired by Yvette van Boven’s white chocolate coffee from her book Homemade Winter and my favorite Christmas drink from a local coffee shop I used to work at. Both of these recipes combined two of my favorite things, espresso, and white chocolate, and while both recipes were great in and of themselves.

Well, let’s just say over the years I’ve learned a couple of things about myself. 1. I can’t follow a recipe to save my life, and 2. I’m never going to not add heavy to cream something if it’s an option.

Knowing this plus how much my family loves coffee and chocolate. I figured it would only be a matter of time before the recipe came about, and needless to say, I was right:)

a finished latte in a mug with cardamom sprinkled on top of it. There are chocolate chips, coffees beans and cardamom sprinkled around it, a spoon is laying in front of the mug and there is a tea towel in the background

Over the past few years, I’ve been working on perfecting this recipe and I’m happy to report that not only is this recipe perfectly creamy and delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness. But also that is one of the easiest homemade lattes out there.

With just 5 ingredients this white chocolate espresso can easily be whipped up in under 5 minutes. Whether you are making 1 or enough for the whole family this latte is quick, easy, and delicious.

It’s the perfect drink for cozy winter evenings, Christmas mornings, or any time of the year!

a close up of a mug of white chocolate espresso, there are some coffee beans, white chocolate chips, and cardamom sprinkled around it, and you can see part of a tea towel behind the mug

How To Make White Chocolate Espresso

If you have an espresso machine you can definitely use it to make this recipe! Personally, I don’t have one, and I know not many people have access to an espresso machine, and I wrote this recipe was written with that in mind. The options listed below are great, simple, and easy espresso substitutes/easy ways to make espresso at home without a machine. If you do own an espresso machine though, I would recommend using 1-2 shots of espresso for this latte depending on how strong you want the coffee taste to be.

Ingredients.

Whole milk, -you can use oat milk, almond milk, cashew milk, or any other regular milk or non-dairy milk you like.
Heavy Cream
Vanilla extract
white chocolate chips, I like to use Ghirardelli, but you can use whatever brand you like. You can also substitute chopped white chocolate.
Strong coffee, OR 1 tbsp instant coffee + 3 tbsp hot water OR Instant Espresso Powder
whipped cream*, optional for serving
cardamom OR Peppermint extract, option for serving

Directions

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, heat the milk heavy cream, and vanilla extract, until small bubbles form around the edges, stirring constantly to ensure that the milk doesn’t scald.

While the milk mixture is heating prepare your coffee/espresso of choice. Make sure your coffee is very hot so it doesn’t get cold while you are finishing the milk.

Once the milk mixture is hot and steaming, remove the pan from the heat. Add the white chocolate chips and whisk until they are completely dissolved.

Pour your prepared coffee, or espresso shots into a mug, and pour the white chocolate milk over it. Stir gently with a spoon to combine. Enjoy!

To make this a peppermint white chocolate mocha, add 1/4-1/2 tsp peppermint extract, top with whipped cream, and enjoy! For a more traditional white chocolate espresso, top the finished drink with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cardamom.

a close up of a finished latte, with a dusting cardamom on top of it. There are coffee beans and white chocolate chips sprinkled around it, and you can see a tiny bit of tea towel off to one side

Notes

*Here is my easy homemade whipped cream recipe! Combine 1 cup heavy cream, 2 tbsps powdered sugar, and 3 tsp vanilla extract in a large bowl. Beat using an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form. And enjoy!

This drink does tend to develop a film on top rather quickly, so for that reason, I wouldn’t recommend making this drink ahead of time at all. It is best made and enjoyed immediately, but if you do happen to have any leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

If you don’t have white chocolate chips, you can also use white chocolate syrup or sauce.

a mug of white chocolate espresso with a dusting on cardamom on it and a spoon in it. There are coffee beans, white chocolate chips and cardamom sprinkled around it, and a tea towel in the background

If you are making this recipe for kids, you can easily turn this white chocolate espresso into a white hot chocolate. Simply leave out the coffee/espresso, you can still add the peppermint extract, cardamom, or whipped cream. It will still be fun and fancy, but you won’t have to worry about the caffeine!

This recipe can also easily be turned into an iced white chocolate espresso(also called an iced white chocolate mocha) Simply fill a large glass with ice, and add your strong coffee hot espresso, or cold brew coffee. Pour in the white chocolate milk mixture, top with whipped cream, and enjoy!

If you aren’t a big fan of white chocolate this recipe can easily be made with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or even cocoa powder.