How to DIY the Perfect Cheeseboard

What does the Whole Foods Brown Butter Cookie Latte taste like?

Though cheap, is the Whole Foods Brown Butter Cookie Latte *actually* yummy? The internet is divided. While others are saying it’s way too sweet, some report that it tastes like… nothing. This discrepancy could be attributed to the fact that no two Whole Foods stores are the same (at least in my experience), and the baristas could be making the latte differently across states. Nonetheless, I’ve landed on a very important inside scoop from one of the Whole Foods latte-makers themselves!

What's actually in the Whole Foods Brown Butter Cookie Latte?

TikTok user and Whole Foods barista, Madeline, recently spilled the beans (ha!) on what *exactly* goes into the Brown Butter Cookie Latte – and it’s hilariously easy to make at home. Contrary to what you’d think, the latte doesn’t actually have brown butter in it. It’s crafted from a mix of pumpkin and caramel syrup that work together for that deliciously buttery taste. Who would’ve thought? Not I.

She details that Whole Foods coffee bars use the 1883 Maison Routin brand of syrups to make their drinks. Of the fantastic flavors they offer (pistachio! Lychee! blueberry muffin!), the pumpkin spice and caramel syrups can be purchased online for around $9 each. From there, you can be on your way to Brown Butter Cookie Latte heaven.

How To Make The Whole Foods Brown Butter Cookie Latte At Home

Ingredients:

• 1-2 espresso shots
• 8 oz cold milk, of your choice
• 1 handful of ice
• 2 pumps pumpkin spice syrup
• 1 pump caramel syrup (Some reports differ, but the ratio of syrup to make the heralded latte is 2 pumps of pumpkin spice to one pump caramel. If you like your latte on the sweeter side, you can double the amount – or play around with different numbers of pumps.)

Directions:

1. Using an at-home espresso machine, moka pot, or Aeropress (basically any device that can make strong coffee), pull 1-2 shots of espresso into a small cup.
2. While your espresso is pouring, mix the syrup and cold milk together in a tall glass.
3. Once finished, pour your espresso shots into the tall glass and stir.
4. Top off with ice, and your latte is complete!

What is Chili Oil?

Chili oil holds a significant place in Chinese culinary traditions, serving as an essential pantry ingredient. It combines the harmonious blend of oil infused with aromatic spices and fiery chili flakes, providing both a flavorful essence and a satisfying crunch. You have the freedom to select any variety of chili pepper, ranging from gentle and mild to intensely fiery and superhot depending on how you take the heat.

Homemade Chili Oil Ingredients

• Oil: Ideally, a neutral flavored oil, such as vegetable, canola, peanut, soybean, or grape seed oil.
• Spices: Some essential spices you'll need are star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, Sichuan peppercorns.
• Salt: Very important as it helps bring out the flavor of all the spices and aromatics.
• Chili flakes or crushed dried chili peppers
• Optional spices and add-ins: Whether or not you want to add anything further is up to your personal preference. If you prefer a bit more flavor, you can incorporate spices such as black cardamom, cloves, fresh garlic, or soy sauce.

How To Make Chili Oil Recipe Instructions

1. Collect all the aromatic ingredients you intend to incorporate. Combine the chosen oil and aromatics in a pot. If you opt for using just the essential spices, approximately 1 ½ cups of oil will suffice. You may increase the oil quantity to up to 3 cups if you decide to go a bit more complex on the ingredients.
2. Begin by placing the pot over medium heat and gradually reduce it to medium-low or low heat as the oil heats up. The goal is to reach an oil temperature of approximately 110-120°C, at which point you should observe small bubbles gently emerging from the aromatics. Allow the aromatics to infuse for a duration of at least 30 minutes up to 1 hour.
3. Remove the spices first with a fine-meshed strainer, then heat the oil as it needs to be between 110-120° C when poured over the chili flakes.
4. Prepare your chili flakes in a bowl that can withstand heat. You can experiment within the oil-flakes range, but usually, 1½ cups of oil to ¾ cup of chili flakes should work.
5. With caution, slowly pour the hot oil through a strainer, allowing it to pass onto the Sichuan chili flakes. Give it a gentle stir to ensure the even distribution of the oil's heat.
6. Incorporate the salt into the chili oil while giving it a gentle stir, and then let the mixture cool down. For safe storage, transfer the chili oil to airtight containers and keep them refrigerated. Remember to use clean utensils whenever handling the oil.

​Tuna Pasta with Capers

Pasta is basically a clean slate for any and all ingredients—which is what makes it perfect for tinned fish, like tuna. This tuna pasta with capers recipe includes only seven ingredients and approximately seven minutes of your time (give or take). Pro tip: do not skip the anchovies! They actually add an abundance of flavor and are included in some of your lunchtime favorites, such as a Caesar salad. (via Vikalinka)

​Filipino Pancit Canton With Sardines

If you needed a way to use canned sardines, this is it. Sardines lend a mild fishy taste (lesser than anchovies), and this Filipino pancit canton with sardines recipe is as flavorful as it sounds. Pancit canton is a type of Lo Mein noodle that pairs nicely with a soy or oyster sauce, just like this recipe calls for. Writer’s note: several of these ingredients can be found in the Oriental aisle of the grocery store. (via Woman Scribbles)

Creamy Tuna Carbonara

Don’t know what to do with a new ingredient? Add pasta and cheese—it’ll likely taste amazing. This creamy tuna carbonara recipe puts a slight twist on the classic Italian meal, with a short cooking time. For this plate, The Fast Recipe recommends using canned fish that is in brine (water with a high salt concentration) instead of oil, along with anchovies that will enhance the dish without you even realizing they’re there. (via The Fast Recipe)

​Sardine Toast

Sardines are actually used in breakfast foods quite frequently (think smoothies or scrambled eggs), with this sardine toast being just one recipe variation. Grab that sourdough bread, a garlic clove, cultured butter, fennel, lemon and those sardines for a quick ten minute snack, appetizer, or breakfast. We said it here first: sardine toast is the new avocado toast! (via Most Hungry)

Loaded Tuna and Feta Salad

When in doubt, salad it out. A loaded tuna and feta salad is not only healthy, but also extremely rich in flavor. It requires you to whip up a simple homemade olive oil-based dressing that tops a tuna avocado salad (with frozen peas, lettuce, onion, parsley, etc.). It’s full of greeny nutrients that will make your stomach and taste buds very happy. (via Where Is My Spoon)

​Canned Salmon Salad

Yes, canned salmon exists, and you can turn it into a mouth-watering salad. This canned salmon salad recipe can actually be stuffed into a sandwich with additions like lettuce, tomato, and cucumber (whatever you enjoy on a sandwich!). This recipe uses canned salmon with bones, but if that’s not your preference you can certainly use without. (via Salt & Lavender)

​Chickpea Tuna Salad

Chickpeas and canned tuna make for one protein-packed dish. The chickpea tuna salad is the perfect go-to for the warmer months, due to its lightweight and refreshing ingredients. A creamy dill dressing, arugula, and cucumbers all scream a poolside lunch during the summer. If you opt for an oil-packed tuna, you can actually incorporate the oil into the dressing. You can easily store it for leftovers too! (via Vikalinka)

​Spicy Tuna Sandwich

This is your sign to get back into a sandwich phase. A tuna salad is one of the most classic recipes out there—just throw it in between bread slices to create this spicy tuna sandwich. You can prepare the salad in advance and assemble the sandwiches at a later time, ideal for when you're short of time and need to pack a quick bite. The spiciness from this recipe derives from the hot sauce of your choice! (via The Fast Recipe)

California Sushi Bowl Recipe

A California sushi bowl is one of those recipes that is a hit every single time. This one opts for imitation crab meat which you can easily sub for canned tuna (drain it as much as you can!). The key flavor to this bowl is the spicy mayonnaise that brings the rest of the ingredients—avocado, white rice, cucumbers, etc.—come together! (via Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog)