Ever wanted to mix red velvet cake with a matcha latte? Well, this red velvet matcha latte is perfect for you! All you need are some simple kitchen ingredients to make this easy red velvet flavor, and with the matcha, it tastes incredible. It tastes just like eating the cake with a hint of tea.

Here’s how to make a red velvet matcha latte at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s super easy to make at home, and you don’t need fancy syrups.
• The red color is stunning and perfect for Valentine’s Day or other celebrations.
• You can follow this recipe to make a cafe-quality beverage at home.
• Get creative with your matcha lattes and try different flavors!

What is Red Velvet?

Many people think red velvet is chocolate cake dyed red, but it’s actually its own flavor! If you’ve ever eaten red velvet cake, you’ll notice that it’s slightly tart.

Red velvet cake is made with cocoa powder, buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla, and red food coloring. Traditionally, red velvet’s color came from a natural reaction between unprocessed cocoa powder and the buttermilk and vinegar. The acidic ingredients not only create a red color, but it also limits the cake’s gluten development.

In the 1800’s, velvet cakes referred to cakes with a soft, tender crumb, hence the velvet in red velvet. But it didn’t really become super red until Adams Extract helped popularize red velvet by promoting its red food coloring for home baking during the Great Depression.

What is a Red Velvet Matcha Latte?

A red velvet matcha latte is a matcha latte with red velvet-flavored milk topped with cream cheese whipped cream. The cream is optional, of course, but really mimics the flavor of a slice of red velvet cake.

Normally, people make the base of the matcha latte red velvet, but I like to layer it so that there is a layer of white separating the matcha and red velvet milk.

What Does a Red Velvet Matcha Latte Taste Like?

It tastes like red velvet cake with a slightly earthier, tea flavor. The base flavors are sweet cream cheese, cocoa, and vanilla. Which then has an earthy matcha aftertaste, albeit subtle. This latte is definitely more decadent than your regular matcha latte, and the matcha flavor is not the primary flavor.

So, if you’re expecting a strong matcha flavor, this is not the drink for you. It’s a dessert-y matcha latte with a delicious cake-like flavor!

How to Make Red Velvet Flavor

There are numerous ways to add red velvet flavor, including using red velvet powder or red velvet syrup, but I like to make it from scratch. Nothing wrong with the first two options, but I like a challenge. Plus, fresh always tastes great!

To get that signature red velvet flavor, I use cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and a little buttermilk to get that tang. These are the 3 key ingredients you need to make anything red velvet flavored. I add those to milk with a little sugar, and you’ve got yourself the perfect red velvet milk.

But to make it red, I use beetroot powder as a natural alternative to red food coloring. A half tablespoon is already enough to make your milk bright red.

Red Velvet Matcha Latte Recipe: Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make a delicious red velvet matcha at home:

• Cocoa Powder — Light or Dutch-processed cocoa powder works great. I would avoid regular chocolate as it might overpower the other flavors.
• Beetroot Powder — Any beetroot powder works! Just make sure it’s fresh and still bright red; it won’t be as bright if it’s oxidized.
• Buttermilk — This is the secret ingredient to getting that classic tangy red velvet flavor. Although you can leave this out if you want a smoother flavor that’s more chocolatey.
• Vanilla Extract — You can also use vanilla bean or a vanilla syrup.
• Milk — 2% is my go-to but feel free to swap with a plant-based milk for a dairy-free option.
• Cream Cheese — Let it come to room temperature so that it’s easy to whip into your cream. You can also use Greek yogurt as a replacement.
• Heavy Cream — You need at least 30% milk fat to whip it well! Half and half doesn’t have enough fat to become fluffy.
• Sugar — I use granulated white sugar, but you can use light brown sugar, agave, or another sweetener.
• Matcha Powder — Use a slightly more bitter and umami powder if possible! Usually, these are marketed as cafe-grade or second-harvest even. This will give you the most flavor in your latte after you add all the flavorings.
• Water
• Ice

You’ll also need:

• A handheld frother
• A matcha bowl and whisk

How to Make Red Velvet Matcha Latte

1. Make Red Velvet Milk. Add cocoa powder, beetroot powder, vanilla, buttermilk, and milk to a cup. Using a spoon or whisk, mix the ingredients until smooth. There shouldn’t be any powder clumps at the bottom. If there are clumps, use the back of a spoon to smooth them out. You can also run it through a small strainer.
2. Whisk Matcha Powder. Sift matcha powder into your matcha bowl and add hot water at around 175 F. Vigorously whisk the tea using a chasen for 20 – 30 seconds in a zigzag motion, slightly hovering over the bottom of the bowl.
3. Keep whisking until frothy—there should be a thin layer of foam on top with small, tight bubbles that resemble espresso crema.
4. Whip Cream Cheese Cream. Add cream cheese, sugar, and heavy cream to a cup or bowl. Whip the cream using a handheld frother until it doubles in size and is smooth and fluffy. You can keep it at a pourable consistency or whip until soft peaks.
5. Assemble Drink. Add ice, red velvet milk, regular milk, and whisked matcha to a separate glass. Then, top with the cream cheese foam and garnish with a dusting of beetroot powder or red velvet cake crumbles.
6. Mix and Enjoy! Serve and mix with a straw and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Red Velvet Matcha Latte

• Make Layers: This is the perfect opportunity to create pretty layers, especially if you use a glass. Start with the sweetened red velvet milk, then add ice and pour the regular milk slowly on top, creating a white layer. Then, repeat with the whisked matcha to make a green layer. It looks kind of like a slice of cake!
• Don’t Use Too Much Beetroot: Beetroot is great for color, but it also has a really earthy flavor. Luckily, the cocoa powder and matcha mask the flavor, but if you use too much, it can come out as an aftertaste. You can also omit it if you don’t care about the color.

FAQ’s

Can I use red velvet powder?

Yes! You can find red velvet latte powder online, but check that the ingredients have some sort of cream cheese or tangy flavor in them. It also might be made from artificial flavors (if that doesn’t bother you) or just be colored cocoa powder, so read the reviews before you buy! Just mix the powder with water and add it to your milk.

Do I need to use beetroot powder?

No, the beetroot powder is optional; it’s purely for color and doesn’t affect the flavor. Honestly, if you use too much, it can affect the flavor! It’s just a natural red food coloring, but you can also use regular food coloring, too.

Other Matcha Lattes to Try

Making matcha at home is super fun, cheaper than buying out, and sometimes, more delicious! If you like this red velvet matcha, here are some other great matcha recipes to try next:

• Sugar Cookie Matcha Latte
• Cannoli Cream Matcha Latte
• Cornbread and Milk Matcha Latte
• Cookie Butter Matcha Latte
• Oreo Matcha Latte