“Coffee, the finest organic suspension ever devised.”Captain Janeway – Star Trek
Coffee is the world’s favorite hot beverage. Approximately two billion cups are consumed daily around the globe. Here in the U.S., nearly three in four Americans enjoy coffee every day. Most of us appreciate consistency in our coffee. We find what we like, and we stick to it. But occasionally, especially at this time of year, it can be fun to change things up a bit. Consider spicing up your coffee. This Christmas, try making some howling holiday treats!
The first rule for making Christmas coffee is to add what you like to your cup. This may require some experimentation. Common coffee additives include cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, vanilla, honey, and of course your creamer of choice. Note – I am not recommending the addition of commercial bottled creamers that you find in your supermarket. These are full of seed oils and chemicals and are not good for you. Coffee is good for you. Don’t mess it up with poison creamers.
Here are a few holiday worthy recipes you might consider:Everyday Christmas Coffee
The first is my simple and quick everyday Christmas coffee recipe. When in the mood for something different, I drink this year-round. Start with good quality freshly roasted specialty coffee, if possible. Brew your coffee (I prefer using a French press, 66 grams of coffee per liter of water, steeping time exactly four minutes). After coffee is brewed, I fill my 16 oz. travel mug ¾ full and add ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, one scoop of collagen powder (optional, but gives coffee extra creamy texture), and two tablespoons honey. Mix well. I like to use a small handheld frother. This gives your coffee a nice mild foamy texture. Then add creamer to taste. I prefer heavy cream and like to stir in creamer instead of frothing it for this recipe. Frothing creamer makes coffee too bubbly for my taste. Add a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkles if you are in a party mood. This recipe can be adjusted as you like.
Basic Peppermint Mocha
Brew your coffee as you like. Then in a bowl mix two tablespoons cocoa powder, one tablespoon sugar (or other sweetener – maple syrup or honey are good), ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract. Next, steam ½ cup of milk (dairy or non-dairy). If you don’t have a steamer, you can heat milk on stove and then use mixer or other means to froth. You can also steam milk in the microwave. Place milk in glass bottle and shake well. Then place the open bottle in microwave and heat. Pour your coffee into a mug and stir in peppermint cocoa mixture. Top with steamed milk. Cover with whipped cream. Add a candy cane, or peppermint bits for color.
Good Gingerbread Coffee
Brew your coffee as before. Heat ½ cup of milk that you have already frothed in a pan, and whisk in 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Pour coffee into your mug, top with ginger-spice milk and gently stir. Add whipped cream on top and sprinkle with nutmeg for fun.
Cinnamon Spice Latte
Brew coffee and keep warm. In a small pot warm milk that has already been frothed and stir in one teaspoon ground cinnamon and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour coffee into a mug, add frothed milk mixture and stir. Top with whipped cream and add a cinnamon stick for flavor.
For coffee recipes, I like to use heavy whipping cream. It enhances coffee flavor and texture. But dairy is not required. If you prefer, non-dairy options can work well too. Consider the following: Almond milk – has a subtle nutty flavor, good choice if you like your coffee less creamy. Oat milk – naturally sweet and creamy, it is good for lattes because it froths well. Cashew milk – creamy and slightly sweet with smooth and rich texture, works well for Christmas coffee. Coconut milk – thicker, rich and creamy with hint of coconut flavor.
Hope you enjoy some good coffee with your family this season. Merry Christmas!
© 2024 Jody Dyer
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