The other day on Instagram, I posted this picture and said, “I am officially giving up The One Ingredient Diet in favor of The Cookie Butter Diet.” I was joking, of course, but here we are: 3 days later and cookie butter has already nudged its way onto One Ingredient Chef. Maybe I wasn’t joking…

What is cookie butter, you ask? Trader Joe’s carries a product which is basically Speculoos cookies and sugars and oils blended together like peanut butter. Like a good disciple of The One Ingredient Diet, I always passed it up. But last week, I finally caved and bought a jar. It was a mistake. I quickly learned that cookie butter is the most obnoxiously delicious (and unhealthy) food that has ever crossed my lips.

At this point, I am considering a move to Australia just so I can get away from Trader Joe’s and permanently cut myself off from this delectable spread which may quickly become an uncontrollable – and very anti-one-ingredient – addiction.

The real problem, however, came when I discovered that this stuff melts perfectly in hot liquid. A lightbulb went off in my head: why not combine the new addiction (cookie butter) with my old addiction (coffee) to create the most marvelous latte the world has ever seen?

It worked even better than I expected.

This is going to be a problem.

Makes 1 latte

Ingredients: 1 packet Starbucks VIA

1 cup non-dairy milk

1 1/2 tablespoons cookie butter 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

(optional) Coconut whipped cream

Step One – Instant Espresso

Did you know you can make instant espresso in 30 seconds without an espresso machine? All you have to do is use a packet of Starbucks VIA instant coffee. You see, lattes are about 80% milk and 20% highly-concentrated espresso. Normal drip coffee can’t reach that concentration and there’s no way to incorporate it into a latte, but you can easily dissolve a whole packet of VIA in a few ounces of hot water to make “instant espresso” that works great in a latte.

Note: If you’re worried about additives, preservatives, or weird ingredients in Starbucks VIA, it is surprisingly a “one ingredient” beverage with nothing but 100% coffee.

Step Two – The Latte

Simply combine all ingredients into a saucepan – non-dairy milk (I use soy), cookie butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and “instant espresso” – and warm until the temperature is to your liking and the cookie butter is fully dissolved. If you want the latte to be even more rich, add a few tablespoons of soy or coconut-based coffee creamer.

If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, don’t despair, you need not miss out on all the fun. Another spread called ‘Biscoff’ is nearly identical and can be found in several national grocers and also online if you search around.

Step Three – Serve!

Pour into a mug and (optionally) top with coconut whipped cream (see How to Make Coconut Whipped Cream for a tutorial), sprinkle a dash of cinnamon, take a sip, and try not to die from an overdose of bliss.