Ward Off Old Man Winter With These Wonderful Holiday Coffee Beverages
Brrr! It’s getting cold outside. When the mercury falls and the nights get longer, sometimes you need a little holiday cheer to lift your spirits. If you’ve got a bad case of the winter doldrums, don’t fret; we’ve got just the thing. Actually, we have five things to cheer you up this winter!
Read on for more details about five holiday coffee beverages that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and a warm, fuzzy feeling in your belly. Bottoms up!
Eggnog Latte
Nothing quite embodies the flavor of the season like eggnog. Why not incorporate the joys of ‘nog with the pick-me-up of your favorite coffee? Start off with a shot of quality espresso. Mix half a cup of eggnog, ¼ cup of milk, and sugar (raw if you prefer), and heat in a small saucepan. Whisk until frothy, then pour over your espresso shot. Yum!
Salted Caramel Mocha
You’re already on board, am I right? Of course you are! Who could resist? To make this masterpiece, you’ll need a robust cup of coffee, a cup of milk, a tablespoon of cocoa, whipping cream, a tablespoon of honey or sugar, sea salt, and two tablespoons of caramel syrup. You can use a store-bought variety, but we prefer homemade. It’s totally up to you.
Anyway, kick things off by heating the milk over low heat until steamy, then whisk your coffee, cocoa, sweetener of choice, and caramel syrup together. Once the milk is hot, remove it from the burner and whisk it until it’s nice and frothy. Split the coffee into two mugs and top with your delicious topping. Add a layer of whipped cream and a sprinkle of sea salt, and serve!
Coffee Mint Snuggly
This one’s for days when you don’t have to drive anywhere, if you catch our drift. If you have things to do, you could easily substitute mint syrup for the tequila and make a less-boozy version.
Pick up some Mexican hot chocolate, a decent bottle of agave tequila, some cayenne pepper, and some savory, dark roast coffee beans for a smooth, earthy foundation. Make a strong pot of coffee, and substitute coffee for half of the milk called for in the chocolate milk recipe. Stir in half a teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper. When the cocoa’s ready, add a shot of tequila and top with whipped cream and cayenne flakes.
Spiced Cardamom Latte
When you think of holiday spices, cardamom may not be the first one that comes to mind. But you may be surprised to learn that it’s one of the main spices in both eggnog and chai tea.
Give cardamom the starring role it so richly deserves with this cardamom coconut latte recipe. You’ll need 2 cups of milk, two shots of espresso, 1/3 cup of cream, ½ tbsp. of ground ginger and cardamom, a pinch each of ground cinnamon, cloves, and cayenne, and two generous tablespoons of grade A maple syrup: the fake stuff will work in a pinch, but it’s way better with the genuine article.
Once you’ve gathered all of the ingredients, this recipe is easy to make. Just put everything together in a saucepan, and simmer it on low heat for around 15 minutes so the flavors have a chance to flirt with each other. Enjoy!
Spanish Coffee
There are plenty of variations on the Spanish coffee, but we’re big fans of the original. This coffee cocktail was invented at Huber’s restaurant in Portland, Oregon, which also happens to be a great city for coffee lovers. Stand back! This recipe involves fire!
Ready? Okay. Let’s get started.
First, fill an 8-ounce wineglass with hot water to heat it up. That way, it won’t steal any warmth from the beverage. Dump the water, and rim the glass with lime juice and sugar. Add a dash of Triple Sec to ¾ ounce of Bacardi 151, and then light it on fire with a long match. Watch those eyebrows, now!
Carefully swirl your flaming glass until the sugar on the rim melts. Add 1.5 ounces of Kahlua, and fill with coffee. Top with home-style whipped cream (none of that cool whip stuff) and nutmeg. Enjoy! Also, stop trying to make these after you’ve had a few because, you know, booze and fire don’t mix so well.
Yum, Yum, Yum! Bring on the Seasonal Coffee Drinks!
We hope you’ve enjoyed making these delicious holiday coffee drinks as much as we have. Until next time, keep your toes warm and your cup full of great coffee. Happy holidays from the Exotic Bean!
[Photos Via: TopInspired; Rotana; LintVKoin]