The Spooky Latte: Halloween-Inspired Drinks to Make at Home

The Spooky Latte: Halloween-Inspired Drinks to Make at Home

A little ghost on your morning coffee? That’s Halloween enough for us.

This latte starts with strong coffee and soft milk, then gets its spooky finish from cocoa and a marshmallow ghost. It looks like a treat, but it still tastes like the coffee you wanted in the first place. Make one for a slow October morning, or bring it to the table as a small surprise for someone else.

Start with the coffee

Brew one or two shots of espresso. If a compact espresso machine is already part of your routine, use it here. If not, ¼ cup of strong brewed coffee will do the job. You want enough coffee flavor to come through the milk and the sweet finishing touch.

For a cup you can repeat, measure your coffee with a scale and timer. It’s helpful if you enjoy adjusting your brew, but don’t let it turn a playful drink into homework. Start with coffee you like, and pour it into your serving glass while it’s hot.

Give the milk a softer texture

Warm about ¾ cup of milk until hot but not boiling. Froth it briefly with a handheld milk frother. Stop when the milk looks creamy and pourable. A thick, stiff cap of foam makes the ghost harder to settle on top.

A stainless-steel milk pitcher gives you space to froth and helps you pour slowly over the coffee. Don’t worry about perfect latte art. Once the milk is in, leave a little room at the rim for the decoration.

Make a little ghost

Dust the foam lightly with unsweetened cocoa. It adds a gently bitter note, as well as a dark background that makes the white ghost stand out. Add a small spoonful of whipped cream in the center to give the marshmallow a soft place to sit.

Use a small white marshmallow as it is, or trim a larger one into a loose ghost shape with clean kitchen scissors. Add two tiny eyes with melted chocolate and let the chocolate set before placing the marshmallow on the whipped cream. A slightly uneven shape is part of the charm. Keep it small enough that the latte is still easy to drink.

One cup, made at home

Serve the latte in a double-wall glass cup if you want the coffee and milk layers to show beneath the cocoa. Bring it to the table right away, before the marshmallow softens into the warm drink.

For one latte, you’ll need:

  • 1–2 shots of espresso, or ¼ cup strong brewed coffee
  • About ¾ cup milk
  • About ½ teaspoon unsweetened cocoa, for dusting
  • 1 tablespoon whipped cream
  • 1 small white marshmallow
  • A little melted chocolate, for the eyes

Brew the coffee, warm and froth the milk, then combine them in the glass. Add the cocoa and whipped cream. Finish with your marshmallow ghost just before serving.

It’s a familiar latte with one unexpected guest on top. No elaborate setup, no parade of Halloween drinks, just a good cup of coffee that makes an ordinary October morning feel a little more fun.

Shop the Spooky Latte

Five things for one delightfully spooky cup:

Back to blog