Iced honey cinnamon latte lovers, this one is for you. I'm talking bold espresso, a homemade honey cinnamon syrup that takes five minutes to make, and creamy oat milk all poured over a glass full of ice. It's sweet, warm-spiced, and so refreshing at the same time. Once you make this at home, I promise you will stop spending five dollars at the drive-through.
This drink has become a regular in our house, honestly all year long. But it really shines in late summer when you still want that cozy cinnamon flavor without anything hot in your hand. I also make a big batch of the honey cinnamon syrup around the holidays and it disappears fast. If you love a good homemade coffee drink, you are going to want to keep this one bookmarked.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Ingredients for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- How to Make Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- My Top Tips for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Little Moments in the Kitchen
- Substitutions for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Variations on Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Equipment for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Storage Tips for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Olivia's Tip for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- FAQ about Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Conclusion
- Related
- Pairing
- 📖 Recipe
Why You'll Love This Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Ready in under 10 minutes. The syrup simmers in five minutes, and the drink comes together in two. Faster than the Starbucks drive-through line, every single time.
- Naturally sweetened and easy to customize. Real honey and ground cinnamon do all the work here. No artificial syrups, no mystery ingredients.
- Olivia-approved and budget-friendly. One batch of this honey cinnamon simple syrup costs less than one grande latte. And my daughter asks for this every weekend without fail.
Ingredients for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
You only need a handful of simple pantry staples to pull this together. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to find. Here is what goes into our favorite iced honey cinnamon latte at home.
What You'll Need
- Espresso shots (or strong brewed coffee)
- Ground cinnamon
- Raw honey
- Water (for the syrup)
- Oat milk (we love Planet Oat Extra Creamy Oatmilk)
- Ice cubes
- Optional: a small pinch of cinnamon for garnish on top
Why These Ingredients Matter
- Raw honey gives this latte a floral, rich sweetness that white sugar just cannot match. It also dissolves beautifully into the warm syrup so you never get a clumpy bottom in your glass.
- Ground cinnamon is where all that warm, spiced depth comes from. A little goes a long way here, especially when you bloom it into the hot syrup. It is strong, so start with less if you are new to cinnamon drinks.
- Extra creamy oat milk is the secret to that smooth, almost velvety texture. It froths nicely, pours beautifully over ice, and keeps things dairy-free without tasting watery or flat.
How to Make Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Make the honey cinnamon syrup. Add ½ cup of water, 3 tablespoons of raw honey, and ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon to a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently and bring it to a low simmer, just until the honey fully dissolves and the mixture smells warm and spiced, about 4 to 5 minutes. You will see lazy little bubbles forming around the edges. That is your cue.
Pro-Tip: Watch your heat here. Do not let this boil hard. A gentle simmer keeps the honey's natural flavor intact and prevents the cinnamon from turning bitter. Pull it off the heat as soon as it looks glossy and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 2: Let the syrup cool slightly. Take the pan off the heat and let it cool for 3 to 4 minutes. You want it warm, not scorching hot, before it hits your cold milk and ice.
Step 3: Brew your espresso. Pull two shots of espresso or brew about ½ cup of very strong coffee. I use a Starbucks Espresso Roast capsule for our Nespresso Vertuo on busy mornings. It gives you that bold, slightly dark roast flavor that holds up perfectly against the sweet syrup and cold milk.
Step 4: Build your glass. Fill a tall glass generously with ice cubes. Pour in 1 to 2 tablespoons of your honey cinnamon syrup right over the ice. Then pour in your espresso shots directly onto the syrup while it is still warm.
Step 5: Add the oat milk. Slowly pour your cold oat milk over the espresso until the glass is almost full. Watch how it layers, it looks gorgeous. Give it a gentle stir to combine everything, and dust a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon right on top.
Hint: For the coldest, most refreshing iced honey cinnamon latte, chill your glass in the freezer for five minutes before building your drink. It keeps everything colder, longer.
If you love cozy sip-worthy drinks at home, you should also check out my Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte for another easy homemade coffee shop recipe.
My Top Tips for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
The biggest thing I want you to remember is that your syrup is the heart of this whole drink. If your syrup tastes great, your latte will taste great. Use good quality raw honey, not the squeeze bear that has been in your cabinet since 2019. Real honey has complexity and warmth that store syrups cannot fake.
Gold Tip: Make a double batch of the honey cinnamon syrup and store it in a small jar in the fridge. It lasts up to two weeks and makes your morning iced honey cinnamon latte a 90-second drink instead of a 10-minute project.
Little Moments in the Kitchen
The first time I made this iced honey cinnamon latte with Olivia, she pulled up a stool next to the stove to watch the syrup simmer. She stared at it so seriously, like she was conducting a science experiment. Then she looked up at me and said, "Mom, why does the kitchen smell like Christmas right now?" I could not argue with that. She was completely right.
When she finally took her first sip, she got this dramatic wide-eyed look and announced, "This tastes like Starbucks but better." From an 11-year-old who keeps a very honest opinion about everything I cook, that is basically a five-star review. She has asked for it every single Saturday morning since.
Substitutions for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Milk options: Swap oat milk for almond milk, regular whole milk, or coconut milk. Whole milk gives a creamier texture. Coconut milk adds a subtle tropical sweetness.
- Sweetener: Replace honey with maple syrup for a deeper, more caramel-like flavor. Agave works too for a milder sweetness. Both dissolve just as easily in the warm syrup.
- Coffee: No espresso machine? Use a Moka pot, strong French press coffee, or even cold brew concentrate. The key is using something bold enough to hold its own against the syrup.
- Dairy-free: This recipe is already dairy-free when made with oat milk, making it a great naturally sweetened iced latte for guests with dairy sensitivities.
Variations on Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Spicy: Add a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper or a few red chili flakes to your syrup while it simmers. It gives the iced honey cinnamon latte a subtle kick at the end of each sip. Start with just a pinch because a little goes a long way.
- Deluxe: Top your finished latte with a small swirl of frothed oat milk or a dollop of whipped cream. Add a cinnamon stick for stirring and an extra drizzle of honey right over the top. It looks like something straight off a coffee shop menu.
- Kid-friendly: Skip the espresso entirely and make this with half-strength decaf coffee or even warm oat milk. Pour it over ice with the honey cinnamon syrup and your little ones get all the cozy flavor with zero caffeine. Olivia loves this version as an afternoon treat.
If you love warm spiced drinks, my Black Forest Hot Chocolate is another cozy recipe the whole family will enjoy.
Equipment for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Small saucepan: Essential for making the honey cinnamon simple syrup. A small pan heats up quickly and gives you better control over your simmer temperature. Medium or large pans spread the heat too much and you risk burning the syrup fast.
- Espresso machine or Nespresso: Gives you the bold, concentrated coffee base this drink needs. A Moka pot works as a budget-friendly alternative and gets you very close to real espresso flavor.
- Tall glass: At least 16 oz so you have room for ice, espresso, milk, and a little breathing room at the top. A mason jar works perfectly and looks cute too.
- Fine mesh strainer (optional): If you want a super smooth syrup without any floating cinnamon bits, strain it before storing. Not required, but it gives you a cleaner pour.
Storage Tips for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
- Honey cinnamon syrup: Store in a sealed glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Give it a quick stir or shake before each use since the cinnamon may settle at the bottom.
- Assembled drink: This iced honey cinnamon latte is best enjoyed fresh right after building. Once the ice melts, the flavors dilute quickly.
- Do not freeze the syrup. Honey-based syrups can crystallize and change texture in the freezer. Stick to the fridge and make small batches more often.
- Leftover espresso: Store cooled espresso in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Use it to make your next iced honey latte in under 2 minutes.
Love quick drink recipes that come together fast? My Strawberry Iced Tea Starbucks Copycat is another great one to add to your rotation.
Olivia's Tip for Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
Olivia says: "Always put the ice in first, then the syrup, then the coffee. That way it mixes itself a little and you don't have to stir as much!" She is not wrong. The layering method really does make a difference, and it looks pretty too.
FAQ about Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
What is a honey and cinnamon latte called?
There is no single official name for it, but most coffee shops and home baristas call it a honey cinnamon latte or a honey cinnamon iced latte. Some people also call it a cinnamon honey flat white depending on how it is made. At our house, we just call it our Saturday drink.
Are honey and cinnamon good in coffee?
Yes, they are a really wonderful combination in coffee. Honey adds a natural, floral sweetness that is softer than sugar, and cinnamon adds warmth and a little spice. Together in a homemade syrup, they balance out bold espresso perfectly without overpowering it.
Can you get a honey cinnamon latte at Starbucks?
Starbucks does not have an official honey cinnamon latte on the permanent menu right now, but you can order a custom version by asking for an iced latte with honey blend syrup and a cinnamon dolce sprinkle. That said, making your own iced honey cinnamon latte at home with a real honey cinnamon simple syrup is honestly so much better and way cheaper.
How many calories are in a honey cinnamon latte?
The honey cinnamon latte calories in this homemade version depend on your milk choice and how much syrup you use. With oat milk and 1.5 tablespoons of syrup, you are roughly looking at 120 to 160 calories per serving. That is significantly less than most coffee shop versions, which can run 250 to 350 calories for a grande.
Conclusion
This iced honey cinnamon latte is one of those drinks that feels like a little treat every single time, and I love that it takes less than 10 minutes to make right in your own kitchen. Real honey, bold espresso, creamy oat milk, and that warm cinnamon syrup make it taste like something you would pay way too much money for at a coffee shop. Now you don't have to.
Give this iced honey cinnamon latte a try this week and let me know what you think in the comments below. I would love to hear how you make it yours. And if you are in the mood to explore more cozy homemade drink ideas, here is a great Chai Tea Latte recipe from AllRecipes to add to your list. Also don't miss my Blue Moon Milk Tea right here on the blog for another cozy sip-worthy moment. Happy brewing!
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte :
📖 Recipe
Easy Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte (Better Than Starbucks!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a small saucepan, I gently combine the water, raw honey, and ground cinnamon over medium heat. Olivia always stands on her little stool watching closely as we wait for those tiny bubbles to form. Stir until the honey melts into a warm, fragrant syrup, about 4-5 minutes. I always remind her: low and slow keeps the flavors soft and cozy.
- Remove the pan from heat and let the syrup cool for a few minutes. This is our little pause moment, Olivia usually sneaks a smell and says it reminds her of the holidays. Let it cool just enough so it blends smoothly with the cold drink.
- While the syrup cools, brew your espresso or strong coffee. I love using bold espresso because it balances the sweetness perfectly. Olivia calls this the 'grown-up magic step' because the smell fills the whole kitchen.
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes, then pour 1-2 tablespoons of the warm honey cinnamon syrup over the ice. Olivia insists we do this in layers, it makes it look like a coffee shop drink right at home.
- Slowly pour the hot espresso over the syrup, then add the oat milk until the glass is full. Watch the layers swirl together, it's always Olivia's favorite part. Give it a gentle stir and finish with a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon on top.
Nutrition
Notes
- Make a double batch of the honey cinnamon syrup and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, it makes mornings so much easier.
- For a dairy-free option, stick with oat milk or try almond or coconut milk.
- Swap honey with maple syrup for a deeper, caramel-like flavor.
- If making for kids, skip the espresso and use warm milk for a cozy treat.
- For the coldest drink, chill your glass in the freezer for 5 minutes before assembling.
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