Drinks Nonalcoholic Drinks Fig Balsamic Latte Be the first to rate & review! Inspired by a classic Fig Newton, this latte calls for two unlikely ingredients: balsamic glaze and fig spread. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 29, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Food & Wine / Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 5 mins Total Time: 10 mins Yield: 1 drink Each season, baristas at New York City-based Joe Coffee Company enter recipes in a seasonal latte competition, with the winning drink landing up on menus of Joe’s nearly two-dozen locations around the city. This winning combination comes from Rose Lesko, a barista at Joe Coffee’s Bryant Park location, who was inspired by the classic, nostalgic childhood favorite Fig Newton. The similarities are impossible to miss — the latte has a rich, sweet flavor that builds with every sip owing to the interplay between the fig spread and balsamic glaze. Delightful either hot or iced, it’s an espresso drink designed for all seasons and one that shrub fans are sure to enjoy. What makes the Fig Balsamic Latte work? Tangy balsamic glaze — a thicker, more viscous version of balsamic vinegar with a caramelized sweet flavor — is an unexpectedly strong counterpart for bittersweet espresso. A dollop of charcuterie board-friendly fig spread adds additional fruity, slightly tart notes to the drink, while a dusting of Burlap and Barrel’s earthy, smoky Cinnamon Verum stops things from getting too saccharine. Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen While this recipe calls for oat milk, you can swap in your plant-based milk of choice, as well as dairy milk. Ingredients Fig Balsamic Syrup 2 ounces water 1 ounces fig spread (such as Divina brand) 2/3 ounces sugar 1/3 ounce balsamic glaze such as Colavita brand) 1 teaspoon cinnamon Fig Balsamic Latte 1 1/2 ounces espresso 1 cup oat milk (as needed) 1 teaspoon cinnamon (for dusting) Directions Make Fig Balsamic Syrup Add hot water to a heat-safe pitcher or handled measuring cup. Add fig spread, stir with a whisk until integrated. Add sugar, glaze, and cinnamon. Stir thoroughly. Strain with a sieve into another vessel. Scrape a spoon along the mixture to help it strain more evenly and quickly. Make Fig Balsamic Glaze Latte Pour 2 ounces of fig balsamic syrup into a 12 ounce cup. Add 1 1/2 ounce espresso and stir. Top with hot or cold oat or other milk of choice (and ice if cold). Sprinkle with a light dusting of cinnamon before serving. Rate It Print