Add some citrusy, chocolatey magic to your day with my easy Orange Mocha Latte recipe! With just 5 basic ingredients and a few minutes of effort, you’ll have a delicious café-worthy creation that’s sure to bring a smile to your face.
You know those foil-wrapped chocolate oranges you get in your Christmas stocking? You know, the kind you smash on a table to separate it into segments? Well, if that’s your cup of tea, I can basically guarantee this orange mocha latte will be your cup of coffee.
This spectacular sipper is imbued with all the rich, dark chocolate flavors of a regular mocha latte, but brightened up with a splash of homemade blood orange simple syrup—like a liquid version of your favorite seasonal treat. It’s the perfect cozy drink for cold winter days, when we could all use a little extra sunshine in our lives.
Best of all, orange mochas are a snap to make at home! You only need 5 ingredients (most of which I bet you already have in the pantry) and about 5 minutes to mix one up—making it easy enough for even busy weekday mornings.
Jump to:
- What is an orange mocha?
- What does it taste like?
- Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Blood Orange Latte Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions
- How To Make An Orange Mocha Latte
- Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Success Tips
- FAQs
- Homemade Orange Mocha Latte Nutrition
- Other Latte Recipes
- Orange Mocha Latte
What is an orange mocha?
This yummy concoction is a chocolate orange coffee drink made with freshly brewed espresso, creamy milk, plenty of chocolate, and a squeeze of blood orange syrup. Think of it like a tart twist on my spicy Mexican mocha—we’ll use orange instead of cinnamon and chili powder to add another layer of flavor.
What does it taste like?
Imagine a cup that is filled with equal parts bright sunshine and dark chocolate—that’s an orange mocha for you. The bold notes of espresso heighten the bittersweet flavor of the chocolate, while creamy milk helps to soften the edges. The real star of the show is the orange syrup, which adds an unmistakable citrusy zest, providing a beautiful contrast to the richness of classic mocha flavors.
Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Blood Orange Latte Recipe
- Quick & Easy - Forget long lines at the drive-thru. This homemade café-style treat takes just 5 minutes to make, meaning you can spend a few extra minutes of your morning relaxing.
- Budget-Friendly - If your wallet is feeling light after the holidays, you’re definitely not alone. Luckily, replacing your daily coffee run with a DIY treat like this orange mocha will save you about $4 every time!
- Beautifully Balanced - Between the pleasantly bitter espresso, semisweet chocolate, sweet-tart orange, and creamy milk, this chocolate orange coffee drink hits pretty much all of the yummy notes.
Ingredients Needed
- Whole Milk - Using whole milk ensures a deliciously rich and creamy latte experience.
- Blood Orange Syrup - My easy homemade recipe requires just sugar and blood oranges, though you’re welcome to use store-bought if you prefer.
- Chocolate Chips - I recommend using semisweet chocolate chips, but you’re welcome to swap in milk chocolate or bittersweet chocolate chips instead
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - For an extra hit of chocolate flavor. If possible, use Dutch-processed or black cocoa powder, which have a smoother, chocolatier, and less bitter flavor profile than conventional cocoa.
- Orange Extract - This is an optional add-in, but helps create a more potent orange flavor.
- Espresso - Because what’s a latte without coffee? (Hot milk, that's what.)
Substitutions
- Whole Milk - You can easily swap in any dairy or plant-based milk of your choice.
- Blood Orange Syrup - Since chocolate plays well with just about everyone, you are welcome to swap in any flavored coffee syrup you prefer.
- Chocolate Chips & Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - If you have mocha sauce on hand, use it as a shortcut.
- Orange Extract - Feel free to omit this, or replace it with a complimentary flavor (e.g. vanilla or nut).
- Espresso - You can substitute strong, freshly brewed coffee for the espresso, but you’ll need a bit more (around 8 ounces) for the same bold coffee flavor.
How To Make An Orange Mocha Latte
As promised, this yummy chocolate orange coffee recipe comes together in just a few minutes. Here’s how:
Step 1: Mix & Warm. Add the milk, blood orange syrup, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder to a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat.
Step 2: Froth. Whisk frequently until the chocolate is melted and everything is well combined and smooth. Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat, add the orange extract (if using), and froth with a milk frother. Set aside.
Step 3: Brew your espresso or coffee into a mug.
Step 4: Top with the frothed orange chocolate milk. Drink up!
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Dairy-Free/Vegan - Use your favorite plant-based milk and ensure your chocolate chips are made without dairy.
- Reduced Sugar - Make your blood orange syrup with your favorite sugar alternative (e.g. monkfruit) and use either sugar-free chocolate or extra dark chocolate chips.
- Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate - Skip the espresso and enjoy a fun twist on hot cocoa. Don’t forget to top it with whipped cream or marshmallows!
- Decaf - Use decaf espresso to dramatically cut the caffeine content. To make a fully caffeine-free orange mocha, swap in your favorite coffee alternative (e.g. Dandy blend or roasted chicory).
Serving Suggestions
Whether you’re in need of a little Mommy Me-Time 🙋🏻♀️, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or a fun new coffee treat for your next weekend brunch, this mocha orange latte is here for you. In case you need some inspiration, try these fun serving suggestions:
- Car Line Calm - I love making myself a fancy Starbucks-style drink right before I go and pick up my kindergartener. This one is especially great for the winter—I like to make double the chocolate orange milk mixture so I can treat my girl with a mug of her own.
- Coffee Break Bliss - Hitting that 3pm slump? Give yourself the will to keep going by making one of these chocolate orange mochas. Adding a crispy chocolate-dipped biscotti doesn’t hurt, either.
- Impress Your Besties - Next time you host a weekend brunch, try making a giant batch of these delicious orange chocolate coffees. Consider the brunch bar raised. 😉
- Cool It Down - Need to lower the temp? Serve your orange mocha over ice.
- Gussy It Up - Get fancy with your garnishes—whipped cream, a light dusting of chocolate shavings, and a few rasps of orange zest. Chocolate dipped orange slices or orange zest, or a square of dark chocolate on the side will make it feel très chic.
Recipe Success Tips
- Quality Matters - Use high-quality (preferably fair-trade) chocolate and coffee beans for the best possible results.
- Wait a Sec - Hold off on brewing your espresso shots until your orange chocolate milk mixture is ready to go. The flavor compounds in espresso are best right away, so it should be your last move before assembly.
- Heat It - I like to add boiling water to my mug or thermos before I pour my coffee in so my drink stays as hot as possible for as long as possible. (Don’t toss the water; just pour it back into the kettle!)
FAQs
Orange is definitely a winner in my book, but don’t feel limited. Strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry are all great choices too! Hot take: nut flavors pair great with mochas, too.
You can definitely make the orange chocolate milk mixture ahead of time; it should keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, use a saucepan over medium-low or microwave in short 45-second bursts, stirring between each so you don’t scald the milk.
Homemade Orange Mocha Latte Nutrition
This yummy chocolate orange coffee drink clocks in at 362 calories per serving, which definitely puts it in treat territory. Granted, it has 13 grams of fat and 10 grams of protein per serving, so it’ll help fill your tummy a bit. 116 milligrams of sodium is pretty negligible, so don’t stress too much about it. The thing to keep an eye on here are the sugars—there are 59 grams of carbs, 52 grams of which come from sugar.
If you’re concerned about any of these values, there are plenty of ways to tweak them. Swap in lower-calorie or lower-fat milk options (e.g. almond or skim); make reduced-sugar blood orange syrup and/or use extra dark chocolate or sugar-free chocolate; or add a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder or unflavored collagen.
In any event, I’m a firm believer in giving yourself permission to include treats in any diet—it makes it much easier to stick with if you aren’t limiting your pleasure! However you make it, enjoy this chocolate orange mocha sans guilt—just make smart decisions with your other meal and drink choices throughout the day!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 362 calories
- Total Fat: 13 grams
- Protein: 10 grams
- Sodium: 116 mg
- Carbohydrates: 59 grams
- Sugar: 52 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Other Latte Recipes
Orange Mocha Latte
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice (I used whole milk)
- 3 tablespoon blood orange syrup
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon orange extract (optional for more orange flavor)
- 2 oz espresso (or 8 oz freshly brewed coffee)
Instructions
- Add the milk, blood orange syrup, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder to a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Whisk frequently until the chocolate is melted and everything is well combined and smooth.
- Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat, add the orange extract (if using), and froth with a milk frother. Set aside.
- Brew your espresso or coffee into a mug, then top with the frothed orange chocolate milk. Drink up!
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
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