The holidays are a festive time of year for parties, intimate get-togethers or simply to cozy up at home with friends or family. Coffee drinks are a delicious way to add to the fun, and there are a variety of recipes for both espresso and coffee. You can make both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with a variety of added flavors and spices. Here are a few favorite recipes:
Espresso Recipes
Eggnog Latte
Eggnog is here for only a few short weeks of the year, so why not incorporate it into a fancy latte? No need for a Starbucks run when you have an easy recipe like this:
- 2 shots espresso
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup eggnog
- whipped cream
- freshly grated nutmeg
Directions: Brew coffee. Add milk and eggnog to a cup to steam with an espresso machine. You can also use a saucepan to heat it over the stove or warm it in a coffee mug in the microwave. Add espresso, milk and eggnog to a coffee mug. Garnish with whipped cream and nutmeg. See the full recipe on Babble.
Cuban Coffee Affogato
Here's an easy and delicious dessert recipe with a Caribbean flavor:
- 4 teaspoons of sugar
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup espresso
Directions: Evenly spoon sugar into four small coffee cups. Top each with a scoop of ice cream; then pour in espresso. See the full recipe on Yummly.
Coffee Recipes
Hazelnut Macchiato
Here's a skinny version of a chocolate, nutty favorite:
- 1 cup (8 oz) hazelnut coffee
- ½ cup fat free milk
- 1 tablespoon Torani Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup
- 2 tablespoons light whipped cream
- 1 teaspoon fat-free chocolate syrup
Directions: Brew coffee. In a saucepan, whisk together milk and vanilla syrup over medium heat. Remove from heat. Transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. Pour into a large mug. Add the hot coffee on top. Top with two tablespoons of whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. See the full recipe on Skinny Kitchen.
Gingerbread Spice Coffee
No need for the "bread" in this gingerbread spice recipe! Here's a low-carb version with tons of flavor:
- 1 ½ teaspoons Sukrin Fiber Syrup Gold
- ½ teaspoon Sukrin Gold
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup hot brewed coffee
- whipped cream
- dash of ground cloves
Directions: Mix together heavy cream, sweeteners, ginger and cinnamon in a large mug. Add a cup of hot brewed coffee. Stir until spices have been blended into coffee. Top with whipped cream and cloves. See the full recipe on Low Carb Yum.
Alcoholic Coffee and Espresso Recipes
Spanish Coffee – The Fire Drink
This one is a great party trick. Recipes vary, but the most exciting include a little fire:
- ¾ oz. 151-proof rum
- ½ oz. Triple Sec
- 2 oz. Kahlua
- 3 oz. fresh-brewed coffee
- a lighter
- sugar crystals
Directions: Add the rum and triple sec to a sugar-rimmed glass and carefully ignite. Add Kahlua and top with hot coffee. Garnish with whipped cream and ground nutmeg. See the full recipe on Imbibe.
Kentucky Coffee – The Derby Doozy
This drink will send you galloping into the holidays:
- 1 part bourbon
- 1 part Irish cream
- 1 splash of hazelnut liqueur
- hot coffee
- whipped cream
Directions: Pour bourbon and cream liqueur into an Irish coffee glass. Add hazelnut liqueur and fill with hot coffee. Top with a dollop of whipped cream. See the full recipe on The Cocktail Project.
Pumpkin Spice Margarita – The Feliz Navidad
Full of spice and tequila, this coffee recipe will liven up anyone's holiday:
- ¼ cup tequila
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin spice syrup
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 ½ cups hot coffee
Directions: Combine cream, pumpkin spice syrup, vanilla, sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a cup and stir. Pour into hot coffee and add tequila. Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon. See the full recipe on Cosmopolitan.
The Holidays Are Always Perfect for the Old Standbys
Are you a coffee or espresso purist? Perhaps all the fluff of whipped cream and shaved spices are too much for you, and you'd prefer to enjoy the flavor of the bean itself. Milk-based coffee drinks like cappuccino, café latte and café mocha are simple and can be enjoyed in the early morning or late into the evening. Pure, non-milk based espresso drinks like a short black, caffe americano or a ristretto are often stronger and appeal to the serious coffee drinker. Happy holidays!
