Sweet Potato Latte

Cold, bitter days call for hot, sweet drinks -like hot toddies, hot cocoa and sweet potato lattes! I know maple lattes are all the rave ever since Jake & Taylor placed their order in Brooklyn that one fine day, but come on, sweetening your latte with a sugar alternative - not so alternative. Sweet potato lattes on the other hand, very alternative.

Apparently sweet potato lattes are a common menu item at Korean coffee shops in Los Angeles and you won't even have to search high and low. LA Weekly says that the chain Hollys Coffee serves them up hot and iced. Koreans use sweet potato in various foods like sweet potato noodles, porridge (like my sweet potato oatmeal!) and donuts, so this isn't a novelty for them by any means.

I've heard of spiced pumpkin lattes, so why not sweet potato lattes? I love sweet potatoes so sweet potato flavored anything is right up my alley (and yours too I'm sure). I searched around but couldn't find a recipe so I came up with one of my own. This is what I imagine it would taste like, subtle and sweet, but I can't wait to get out to California and compare the real thing to my creation!

Let's start from the bottom...

• Espresso - I wanted to use 2 shots of espresso because the majority of a latte is milk and I hate when you can't taste the coffee, but in this case, the flavor is in the milk so 1 shot of espresso is the way to go!
• Milk - I used soy but of course use whichever milk you prefer. I would recommend a lighter milk than whole because the sweet potato will be mixed into the milk and make it thick and heavy.
• Sweet potato - I love baking my sweet potatoes so they reach that rich, caramelized flavor. The flesh is also much more dense. I baked one and had enough for a latte and leftover to spread on my fennel biscotti!
• Sweets and spices - Maple syrup and sweet potatoes are a given, but if you don't have any pure maple, I would suggest something similar in flavor like brown sugar. If you like that "spiced latte" idea, cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice are all great choices.

Sweet Potato Latte

1 shot of espresso

1/3 cup milk

3 tablespoons mashed sweet potato + more for garnish

1 teaspoon maple syrup

Dash of cinnamon

Heat/steam your milk and try to create some foam. Add mashed sweet potato; stir until milk turns orange. Add maple syrup. Taste and adjust sweetness to your liking. Pour milk into cup with espresso; spoon foam onto the top. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with a spoonful of sweet potato. This is the best part because when you take a sip you'll get bits of sweet potato in your mouth - yum!

A bit of mash adds the crowning touch!