For the richest, creamiest, most decadent hot chocolate, turn to your slow cooker! This crockpot hot chocolate is easy to make, perfect for parties, and satisfies even the biggest chocolate cravings. Cold weather means warm drinks for me. Sure, I still love an iced shaken espresso even in the winter, but nothing makes me feel …
For the richest, creamiest, most decadent hot chocolate, turn to your slow cooker! This crockpot hot chocolate is easy to make, perfect for parties, and satisfies even the biggest chocolate cravings.
Cold weather means warm drinks for me. Sure, I still love an iced shaken espresso even in the winter, but nothing makes me feel warm and cozy quite like a warm beverage.
And they’re a must for any winter or holiday party! Whether it’s a pot of spiced apple cider or hot chocolate, I think a warm beverage station is one of the best ways to make your guests feel welcome.
This crockpot hot chocolate is one you have to try for your next party. It’s rich and creamy, perfectly chocolatey, and easy to make and keep warm for any gathering.
Enjoy a coffeehouse favorite at home with this iced shaken espresso. Flavored with brown sugar and finished with your favorite milk, this is an easy and delicious way to enjoy your morning coffee or an afternoon pick-me-up. I probably should have called this “Starbucks at home” week, because that’s what it has become. Earlier this …
Enjoy a coffeehouse favorite at home with this iced shaken espresso. Flavored with brown sugar and finished with your favorite milk, this is an easy and delicious way to enjoy your morning coffee or an afternoon pick-me-up.
I probably should have called this “Starbucks at home” week, because that’s what it has become.
Earlier this week I showed you how to make homemade versions of the brown sugar syrup and vanilla sweet cream cold foam. Today, we’re going to talk about making your own iced shaken espresso.
This drink has become super popular and I totally get why. As a iced coffee girl myself, it’s totally the type of coffee drink I love.
So even though I’ll still swing through the drive thru every now and then, it’s great to know how to make this at home for those days when I want to save money (or save myself a trip outside of the house).
Looking for the perfect coffee-shop finish to your iced coffee at home? Whip up this luxurious vanilla sweet cream cold foam! As much as I love cruising through the Starbucks drive-thru, I’ll admit that going there on a regular basis gets kind of expensive. The other day I discovered that a single slice of pumpkin …
Looking for the perfect coffee-shop finish to your iced coffee at home? Whip up this luxurious vanilla sweet cream cold foam!
As much as I love cruising through the Starbucks drive-thru, I’ll admit that going there on a regular basis gets kind of expensive.
The other day I discovered that a single slice of pumpkin loaf costs almost $4 at Starbucks. But I can an entire batch of my pumpkin bread – which makes 2 whole loaves – for less than $7.50.
You get where I’m going? Those green cups are a great treat, but not a daily habit for me.
So instead, I like finding ways to make some of my coffee-shop favorites at home. And if you like iced coffees as much as I do, this vanilla sweet cream cold brew is a must-try.
Make this easy and flavorful brown sugar syrup at home for mornings when you don’t have time to drive by the coffee shop. Its rich sweetness is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite coffees and teas. I love a morning coffee shop coffee or tea. Whether it’s hitting up my local coffee shop or swinging …
Make this easy and flavorful brown sugar syrup at home for mornings when you don’t have time to drive by the coffee shop. Its rich sweetness is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite coffees and teas.
I love a morning coffee shop coffee or tea. Whether it’s hitting up my local coffee shop or swinging through the Starbucks drive thru, it’s a great way to start my morning. Or get my second wind in the afternoon.
But doing that daily is not the best habit. It does add up after a while.
That’s why I like making homemade vanilla coffee syrup and keeping it on hand for dressing up my coffee at home. And once I became hooked on the Starbucks brown sugar syrup, I knew I had to come up with a homemade version of that, too.
Full of natural ingredients that pack a wallop of intense, true-to-life ginger flavor, this brilliant hack for making real ginger ale will make you a convert.
Full of natural ingredients that pack a wallop of intense, true-to-life ginger flavor, this brilliant hack for making real ginger ale will make you a convert.
With warmer days approaching (and the end of the school year), my mind drifts towards the slower days of summer. I've stuffed the sweaters into the back of the closet, bringing the t-shirts front and center.
A defining line between the cold and warm months, however, is my switch from hot coffee to cold brew.
As a teacher, I drink my fair share of coffee. My favorite moments to enjoy a cup is relaxing after a long day at work, with my feet up on the couch, or on a slow-moving weekend morning.
Lately, I've been drinking Dunkin' Donuts Cold Brew. It's easy to prepare and has a smooth finish, with no acidity or bitter taste.
On Sunday nights, I prep the cold brew by placing two coffee pouches into a two-quart pitcher with four cups of water and leave it to steep in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, I remove the pouches, add a few cups of water to dilute it to my taste, and it is ready to enjoy. Best of all, the pitcher lasts the rest of the week so the work is complete in two simple steps.
One of my favorite cold brew tricks is to freeze some of the cold brew into ice cubes after it has finished brewing. Then, when it's time to enjoy the coffee, I add a few cold brew cubes. The drink stays cold longer, and the coffee cubes prevent the drink from becoming watered down as the ice melts.
I prefer my cold brew with creamer to add a hint of flavor and sweetness. After finding disappointment with dairy-free brands, I set out to create my own. As I often do for a dairy-free alternative, I reached for the can of full-fat coconut milk. While homemade coconut milk creamer works well in hot beverages, the fat separates to the top when it hits a cold beverage, rendering it undrinkable.
Almonds, however, do the job and do it well.
This homemade almond milk creamer holds together well in a cold drink and lends itself to customization. To give the creamer its creaminess, I follow a similar approach as I do with my recipe for homemade almond milk. The difference is that I add less water when blending so the almond milk is concentrated.
With pure vanilla extract for flavor and maple syrup to sweeten to taste, this homemade almond milk creamer is complete. I adore this creamer because it mimics the coffee house experience with simple, wholesome ingredients.
The coffee creamer may appear to separate if it is left to rest, but a quick swirl of the glass will bring it back to a uniform appearance. Use as much or as little as you like in your next glass of cold brew.
This cold brew with homemade vanilla almond milk creamer works as a great afternoon pick-me-up. Brewed with Dunkin' Donuts Cold Brew Coffee Packs, the coffee has a smooth, rich finish. I prefer to enjoy it with homemade creamer flavored with vanilla and sweetened with maple syrup, but you can customize the drink to your taste. Enjoy!
1 pouch Dunkin’ Donuts Cold Brew Coffee Packs 1 cup (120 grams) raw almonds 3 1/2 cups (830 mL) filtered water, divided 3-5 tablespoons maple syrup, to taste 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
The cold brew and almond milk creamer need to be started the evening before serving.
To prepare the cold brew coffee, follow the directions according to the package.
To prepare the almond milk creamer, place almonds in a container and cover with 2 cups filtered water. Seal container and allow to soak overnight, for at least 8 hours or up to 2 days.
Strain almonds and rinse with fresh water. (The almonds release phytic acid while soaking, which prevents the body from absorbing nutrients; rinsing the almonds removes this acid.) Place almonds and 1 1/2 cups filtered water in a blender. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes. Using a nut bag, layered cheesecloth, or fine mesh strainer, strain the almond milk to remove the pulp. If using the fine mesh strainer, run the milk through several times to eliminate pulp. The leftover pulp can be used in smoothies, muffins, or bread, or it can be dehydrated and used in the same manner as almond flour. Add maple syrup and vanilla extract to the almond milk.
Keep the almond milk creamer refrigerated. It should stay fresh for 5 to 7 days. The creamer may undergo separation in the refrigerator. Give the creamer a good shake and it will come back together quickly.
To prepare the cold brew coffee drink, place prepared cold brew in a glass with ice and add almond milk creamer to taste. For best results, freeze some of the cold brew into ice cubes in advance. This method keeps the cold brew chilled and prevents it from getting watered down as the ice melts.
