A Healthy Whipped Coffee Recipe Everyone Will Love

Whipped coffee became a social media obsession in 2020, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The concoction ranked number two among most-Googled recipes in the U.S., second only to another quarantine craze, sourdough bread.

While the Instagram-worthy treat may be novel to many, it’s actually not new. Whipped coffee drinks have been popular around the globe for years, including in India, Greece, and China.

The version dubbed dalgona coffee, which became especially trendy this year, got its name from another treat. “The coffee’s caramel-hued foam resembles a spongy toffee-like candy peddled by street vendors in Korea, much like the candied peanut carts all around New York City,” says Maggie Moon, RD, a registered dietitian in Los Angeles.

So why did dalgona coffee suddenly blow up in North America? “We live in an Instagram world, and it’s a pretty picture,” says Moon. “Plus, we’ve all had more time at home to experiment in the kitchen this year. And Korean culture has become trendy beyond its borders.”

(Related: Is Black Coffee Good for You?)

Ingredients in dalgona coffee

If you search for dalgona or whipped coffee recipes online, you’ll find that most include instant coffee, sugar, and hot water, whipped together, and poured over ice and milk.

I played around with a number of combinations, and I have to admit—it was a lot of fun! But apart from an appealing photo, my goal was to strike the perfect balance of delectable coffee flavour (without too much bitterness), and include the least amount of sugar needed to give the drink its characteristic sweetness.

Swap sugar with coconut sugar and maple syrup

Many dalgona coffee recipes call for one to two tablespoons of sugar for a single serving. That’s a big red flag from a dietitian’s perspective. “Too much added sugar contributes to chronic inflammation, higher blood pressure, and even a greater risk of dying from heart disease,” says Moon.

Even one tablespoon is half of the recommended maximum intake of added sugar per day for women, and one third for men, based on guidelines from Heart & Stroke.

After experimenting with several recipes I found that two teaspoons of sweetener was just enough, and I chose two different types: coconut sugar and maple syrup.

What is coconut sugar?

Coconut sugar is a granulated sugar similar to brown sugar. It’s made from sap extracted from the buds of coconut palms, which is then boiled, dried, and powdered. While it provides the same amount of sugar as white table sugar—four grams per teaspoon—coconut sugar also contains antioxidants and minerals, according to a study in a 2020 issue of Food Science & Nutrition.

This sweetener also boasts a lower glycemic index (GI) of 36, compared to 60 for table sugar, which means it triggers a lower rise in blood sugar, or better glycemic regulation.

Plus, there’s a bonus: coconut palm sugar is also considered to be an eco-friendly sweetener. That’s because the plants require minimal amounts of water, and can produce sap for decades.

The benefits of maple syrup

Maple syrup is another sweetener that offers bonus nutrients. A study in Pharmaceutical Biology shows that maple syrup can pack dozens of unique antioxidants. It also delivers manganese, a mineral that supports bone health, collagen production, and wound healing, as well as smaller amounts of calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc.

To create dalgona coffee’s signature “fluff,” I found that using all granulated sugar resulted in the most volume. But a mixture of granulated and maple syrup tasted best. And a single teaspoon of instant coffee crystals resulted in the most balanced flavour.

(Related: Is Maple Syrup Healthy?)

Regular vs. decaf coffee

Both regular and decaf coffee can be healthful in either brewed or instant form. They both provide antioxidants and nutrients, including some magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins. And drinking either type has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

Decaf coffee, specifically, has also been shown to protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, one of the most common liver diseases worldwide, according to research published in 2019 in the journal Redox Biology.

Swap dairy with oat milk or any unsweetened plant milk

To make my whipped coffee dairy free, I chose oat milk over cow’s milk. This creamy plant option made from whole grain oats provides energy-supporting B vitamins and antioxidants. It is also one of the most eco-friendly options, due to its lower water requirements, according to a study published in a 2018 issue of the journal Science.

Dalgona Coffee Recipe

You can trade the oat milk for any other unsweetened plant milk of your choice. And while I delight in enjoying spoonfuls of the foam straight off a spoon (or as a frothy mustache after each taste), I prefer to let it sink into the milk or stir it in–and savor each delightful sip.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon instant coffee
• 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• 5-6 ice cubes
• 1 cup unsweetened oat milk
• Dash cinnamon

Instructions

1. Combine the instant coffee, coconut sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and water in a small bowl.
2. Whip, using a frother, handheld mixer, or by hand until it forms a stiff, creamy foam, about two to four minutes (hand whipping may take a little longer).
3. Fill a cup or mug with the ice and oat milk. Top with the foam and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

Next: 7 Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee