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Vanilla-Hazelnut Café au Lait

A cozy, café-style drink that blends rich coffee, steamed milk, and the warm flavors of vanilla and hazelnut for a sweet, nutty twist on the traditional café au lait.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 1
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: French
Calories: 170
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup Strong brewed coffee (e.g. French Press or drip, bold roast) (≈120 ml) Use freshly ground beans for best flavor.
  • ½ cup Whole milk (or 2% / oat / almond if dairy-free) (≈120 ml) Steamed, with a light foam.
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla syrup Or use vanilla extract + a little sugar if you prefer.
  • ½ tbsp Hazelnut syrup Adjust up/down to taste.
  • Optional garnish chopped toasted hazelnuts; a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa powder

Equipment

  • Coffee brewer (French press, drip or pour-over)
  • Milk steamer or small saucepan + whisk
  • Spoon for stirring
  • Cup or latte glass

Method
 

  1. Brew the coffee: Brew roughly ½ cup strong coffee. If using drip, use a more concentrated ratio (e.g. 1:14 instead of 1:18) or use French press with coarser grind.
  2. Prepare the milk: Steam the milk until it’s hot (around 150-160°F / 65-70°C), creating light froth on top. If you don’t have a steamer, heat gently in a saucepan and whisk vigorously to get some foam.
  3. Flavor the base: In your mug, add vanilla syrup + hazelnut syrup. Pour in the brewed coffee and stir to combine so the syrups dissolve.
  4. Add the milk: Slowly pour the steamed milk over the coffee mixture, holding back foam with a spoon. Then spoon the foam on top for texture.
  5. Garnish & serve: Sprinkle a few chopped toasted hazelnuts over the foam. Optionally, dust lightly with cinnamon or cocoa powder.

Notes

Tips & Variations

  • Adjust sweetness: You can substitute syrups with natural sweeteners (maple syrup, honey) or even flavored sugars.
  • Alternative milks: Hazelnut flavor plays nicely with oat or almond milk. For dairy-free, steam oat milk well (helps with foam).
  • Spice it up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon into the milk while steaming.
  • Make it iced: Brew strong, chill the coffee; cold-froth or shake the milk mixture over ice.