The other day on Instagram, I posted this picture and said, “I am officially giving up The One Ingredient Diet in favor of The Cookie Butter Diet.” I was joking, of course, but here we are: 3 days later and cookie butter has already nudged its way onto One Ingredient Chef. Maybe I wasn’t joking…
What is cookie butter, you ask? Trader Joe’s carries a product which is basically Speculoos cookies and sugars and oils blended together like peanut butter. Like a good disciple of The One Ingredient Diet, I always passed it up. But last week, I finally caved and bought a jar. It was a mistake. I quickly learned that cookie butter is the most obnoxiously delicious (and unhealthy) food that has ever crossed my lips.
At this point, I am considering a move to Australia just so I can get away from Trader Joe’s and permanently cut myself off from this delectable spread which may quickly become an uncontrollable – and very anti-one-ingredient – addiction.
The real problem, however, came when I discovered that this stuff melts perfectly in hot liquid. A lightbulb went off in my head: why not combine the new addiction (cookie butter) with my old addiction (coffee) to create the most marvelous latte the world has ever seen?
It worked even better than I expected.
This is going to be a problem.
Makes 1 latte
Ingredients:
- 1 packet Starbucks VIA
- 1 cup non-dairy milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cookie butter
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- (optional) Coconut whipped cream
Step One – Instant Espresso
Did you know you can make instant espresso in 30 seconds without an espresso machine? All you have to do is use a packet of Starbucks VIA instant coffee. You see, lattes are about 80% milk and 20% highly-concentrated espresso. Normal drip coffee can’t reach that concentration and there’s no way to incorporate it into a latte, but you can easily dissolve a whole packet of VIA in a few ounces of hot water to make “instant espresso” that works great in a latte.
Note: If you’re worried about additives, preservatives, or weird ingredients in Starbucks VIA, it is surprisingly a “one ingredient” beverage with nothing but 100% coffee.
Step Two – The Latte
Simply combine all ingredients into a saucepan – non-dairy milk (I use soy), cookie butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and “instant espresso” – and warm until the temperature is to your liking and the cookie butter is fully dissolved. If you want the latte to be even more rich, add a few tablespoons of soy or coconut-based coffee creamer.
If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, don’t despair, you need not miss out on all the fun. Another spread called ‘Biscoff’ is nearly identical and can be found in several national grocers and also online if you search around.
Step Three – Serve!
Pour into a mug and (optionally) top with coconut whipped cream (see How to Make Coconut Whipped Cream for a tutorial), sprinkle a dash of cinnamon, take a sip, and try not to die from an overdose of bliss.
O boy! Looks like I need to go to trader joes today!
You need to go yesterday! 🙂
I know better than to let that stuff into my house! I won’t be able to control myself. Tho, the recipe does sound yummy!
That’s probably for the best, Lisa! 🙂 I mean, it sounds really terrible and it IS processed fats/sugars, but in reality, it has less fat than peanut butter and only 5 grams of sugar per tablespoon. So it’s far from healthy, but it’s not quite as bad as I’m making it seem.
It may have less fat than peanut butter but it also has less protein. It is as bad as you’re making it seem, it’s also as good as you’re making it seem. Cookie Butter is evil and I love it…
This is one of those rare times I feel like I’ve lucked out for being a Celiac ;0). I’m not even tempted, because the seemingly delicious (if all gluten-eaters are correct :0)!) speculoos is “certain death” & the coffee is certain acid reflux. I’m just inspired :0). Your recipe drove me to stop just hearing about this delight but to search for a gluten-free & healthyish alternative! Look it exists : http://www.foodiefiasco.com/so-take-that-homemade-cookie-butter/ (I just found it)!!! Yay!! Now, I “must” use this girl’s recipe & yours to create fun & tasty experiments! Thanks!!
Oh wow, that cashew/cookie butter looks pretty awesome! Yay! 🙂
I’m going to pretend that I didn’t see this.
I also have a regrettable addition to Trader Joes – and thank you for giving me a new recipe to use! Have you tried their cookie and cocoa swirl? It consists of their version of nutella swirled with speculoos cookie butter. I have gone beyond addiction! I understand (but have yet to try) that it hardens like magic shell when put on ice cream. 🙂
I know! I saw that the other day, unfortunately. I haven’t tried it (and hopefully I won’t be buying it anytime soon, haha) but it looks even better than plain cookie butter…
C’mon Trader Joe’s! What are you trying to do to me?! 🙂
Hi Andrew, did you know your cookie latte recipe is on vegnews at http://vegnews.tumblr.com/post/66025045679/veganinspo-cookie-butter-latte
?
I saw that, Carmen! They shared it on Tumblr and Facebook and I’m beyond excited about it. Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
I just made a latte with the Trader Joe’s Cookie & Cocoa Swirl. Amazingly delicious! To make it easier I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk and heated that first in the microwave and then threw all the ingredients in my Vitamix. So creamy and frothy that way! I don’t do coffee, so I subbed Dandy Blend. Thanks again for sharing your recipe. I have also tried it with peanut butter and cocoa powder and it was great. Happy New Year!
Awesome! I like the Dandy Blend idea because I too don’t drink coffee (often). The vitamix technique sounds much faster, thanks for sharing! 🙂
One of the (many) reasons I love your blog is because you always expose me to new and wonderful things. Like Trader Joe’s! I’ve never been there before but I went to see what this cookie butter is about.
This latte is sooo delicious!
Ohhh nooo! I’d love to expose you to new and wonderful things, like umeboshi plums and lychees and black garlic. But cookie butter?! 🙂 Why did I post this recipe… haha 😀
I hate/love you for this idea!
Ah… I don’t know what I was thinking posting this wonderful/terrible recipe :p
I just tried this with grocery store instant coffee and it was fantastic. I’ll bet it’s even better with Starbucks Via and the coconut whipped cream. I think I’ll try an iced latte version next, or maybe a mocha version or a hot cocoa version. See what you started!
Oh no! What have I done! 🙂
I am soo making this. I love cookie butter!
“Misery loves company”, Andrew . . . . that’s why you posted this decadence :):):)
I just had to click on this after reading your newest article… and now I wish I didn’t. Cookie butter sounds like heaven! If you move to Australia you’d have to bring some with you!
Why do we not have Trader Joe’s here!??!?!?
Nooo, don’t make it, Toni! :p
I have recently fallen for Cookie Butter! Now they have a Cookie Butter ice cream!! It’s even more dangerous! Thanks for the recipe it looks delicious!
No way! Cookie butter ice cream?! Next time I make my coconut milk ice cream, I’m totally trying that… except, I’m not because I ran out and vowed never to buy it again 🙂
Is there a reason why it has to be non-dairy milk?
Delicious! Also great with almond milk, in case there were any doubts.
I don’t know if you live near The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, but they do serve Cookie Butter Latte’s for the holidays. It is one heck of a tasty drink.
That’s crazy! I just looked it up… they took my idea 😛
Hi Andrew!
Can you tell me what flavor Starbucks via this is? Italian roast, Columbia, etc.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the dutch, you see we don’t have trader joes here, but we have this thing called speculoos spread, and if I understood your discription right it is basically the same, and you have it in like all supermarkets, I never was really interested in it though because if I want speculaas (speculoos but better and the traditional cookie) on my bread I just put two cookies on it. But we dutch people have a weird thing where we have a lot of sweet stuff on our bread, we also have “hagelslag” which is pretty much chocolate sprinkles on bread, it is delicious with some peanut butter, some banana and a bit of maple syrup, and we have like mini cookie things that you can also put on bread and all those things. (I used to think peanut butter was typically dutch when I was young)
But I need to try this, and I have been looking around your site and my bf and I (I am a vegetarian and he eats meat but loves eating vegetarian or vegan with me too) are definitely gonna try different of your recepts
Very cool! Yes, cookie butter is the same thing as speculoos spread 🙂
recently went to a coffee bean here in LA and had a cookie butter coffee and i’m obsessed. unfortunately the closest coffee bean is 2 hours from me, hoping this recipe hits the spot
thank you!