How to Make Dessert Coffee

While the coffee machine you own might produce an exciting range of coffees, dessert deserves a little something extra, especially when the coffee is being enjoyed by some guests in lieu of a dessert dish. This article provides a few delicious suggestions for dessert coffees, and you will undoubtedly come up with more of your own variations.

EditIngredients

Georgia n' Ginger: Serves 6

• 1 can/450g-500g/1-1 1/4lb sliced peaches, in syrup
• 750ml/1 1/4 pints/3 cups strong coffee
• 120ml/4 fl oz/1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• Ground ginger, generous pinch
• Grated orange rind for garnish

Irish coffee: Serves 1

• 2 lumps/1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 measure (45ml/1 1/2 fl oz) Irish whiskey
• Hot, strong black coffee
• Cream

Coffee frappé: Serves 2

• 450ml/3/4 pint/2 cups chilled strong coffee, brewed (do not use instant coffee!)
• 8 drops vanilla extract (essence)
• 300ml/1/2 pint/1 1/4 cups crushed ice
• 60ml/4 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
• Whipped cream
• Slices of banana for garnish (optional)

Spiced Vienna coffee: Serves 2-3

• 3 cups strong, hot coffee, brewed
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 cloves
• 4 allspice berries
• Whipped cream
• Nutmeg to garnish

Hot mint julep coffee: Serves 2

• 120-150ml/4-5 fl oz/1/2-2/3 cup Bourbon
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 450ml/3/4 pint/2 cups hot, strong black coffee, brewed
• 2 tbsp double (heavy) cream
• 2 fresh sprigs of mint

Vanilla dessert coffee: Serving depends on amounts used (at your discretion)

• Coffee
• Vanilla extract (essence), imitation or real
• Water
• Sugar
• Milk
• Heavy cream (double cream)
• For those who like ice cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream (optional)

EditSteps

Georgia 'n Ginger

This coffee originated in Georgia, a state renowned for its peaches.

1. 1
   Drain the peaches. Keep the syrup.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Place the peaches into the food processor or blender, along with half of the coffee. process or blend for 1 minute.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Whip the cream in a separate bowl.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Pour 1 cup of cold water into a saucepan. Add the sugar, cinnamon, ginger and the reserved peach syrup. Bring to the boil over medium heat.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 minute.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Add the pureed peach and coffee blend. Stir to combine.
   
   
   
7. 7
   Pour the coffee into individual mugs or glass mugs. Add whipped cream to the top of each coffee and a sprinkling of orange rind to garnish.
   
   
   

Irish coffee

A traditional dessert coffee, this one still manages to delight guests who like a little alcohol after dinner.

1. 1
   Place the sugar and Irish whiskey into a warm, tall stemmed glass.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Fill the glass two thirds full with the hot coffee.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Stir briefly. Then add the cream. To add, pour it over the back of a spoon––doing this ensures that the cream remains on the surface of the coffee.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Serve. In case guests want to know, inform them that this coffee is meant to be left alone and drunk through the layer of cream, rather than mixed in.
   
   
   

Coffee frappé

Perfect for warm nights, this is like a coffee milkshake and it's a little more exciting than plain iced coffee, although you could serve that too. And while this recipe uses vanilla extract, there is nothing stopping you from using different ones, such as maple, peppermint, strawberry, almond, etc.

1. 1
   Pour the chilled coffee into the blender.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Add the vanilla, ice and condensed milk. Blend until the mixture turns smooth.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Pour the coffee mixture into tall, clear glasses. Add sugar or other sweetener to taste.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Add whipped cream to the top. Balance 2 or 3 banana slices on top, if using. Serve.
   
   
   

Spiced Vienna coffee

This is a spicy coffee version, perfect for colder nights.

1. 1
   Pour the coffee into the saucepan. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves and allspice berries. Simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Remove from the heat and strain to remove the spices.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Pour the simmered coffee into warmed glasses or mugs.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Top with whipped cream. Sprinkle nutmeg over the top of the cream.
   
   
   

Hot mint julep coffee

A variation on the traditional julep drink, Bourbon and mint are added to coffee for a warmer drink.

1. 1
   Warm two large wineglasses. Simply dip them into warm water for a few minutes and dry quickly in order to warm them up. Or retrieve them straight out of a just-finished dishwasher cycle.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Pour the Bourbon and sugar into the warmed wineglasses.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Pour in the hot coffee. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Add cream to the top. Pour this over the back of a spoon to ensure that it remains sitting on the surface of the coffee only. Do not stir.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Add a sprig or two of fresh mint for garnish. Serve.
   
   
   

Vanilla dessert coffee

This is a very simple dessert coffee that will take you half a minute to put together.

1. 1
   Measure the water according to instructions on the package.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Use 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla extract (essence) for every 2 cups of water.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Brew slowly and let the steam come out of the vents.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Once brewed, add sugar, milk, and heavy cream.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Stir through. It's now ready to serve; serve alongside a dessert dish that complements coffee.
   
   
   
   • If adding ice cream, do so before pouring in the coffee. The coffee needs to be poured at an angle down the side of the cup if using ice cream, to prevent it from melting too quickly.

Other coffee ideas for dessert

1. 1
   If none of the suggestions above meet your needs, here are some more possibilities for dessert coffee:
   • Arabic coffee
   • Turkish coffee
   • Greek coffee
   • Chocolate mint ground coffee
   • Black Forest mocha
   • Vanilla frappuccino
   • A coffee wallbanger
   • Caramel coffee
   • Cinnamon hazelnut coffee; and
   • Pumpkin flavored coffee.

EditTips

• For best results, use very cold water to brew all coffee.
• For a different and richer dessert, add a large scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream in a half-filled large mug of coffee; or just blend together for a great, easy shake.
• Dessert coffee can be garnished with ground cinnamon, freshly ground nutmeg, chocolate sprinkles or grated chocolate, powdered chocolate (vanilla flavored chocolate is a good choice) or a dollop of whipped cream.

EditThings You'll Need

• Coffee pot or brewing facilities
• Teaspoon
• Serving cups/glasses of a large size or mugs; tall glasses are also suitable––always check that glassware can handle hot liquids
• Blender or food processor for some methods (ensure that there is sufficient space in the processor or blender)
• Saucepan for some methods

How to Explain Violence in Cartoons to Kids

The history of extreme slapstick within comedy has brought us such scenes as the Three Stooges hitting each other in the head, throwing pies into each other's faces and poking their fingers in each other’s eyes. Maybe you have seen older versions of theTom and Jerry cartoons, where they pulled each other’s tails and spun the helpless victim around in the air. Scenes like these have lessened in more recent cartoons, as has the promotion of cigarette smoking as something "cool" to do. However, while we consider ourselves smarter now than in those "good" old days, violence in cartoons is still accessible through online, DVD and TV sources, whether it's in old or recent cartoons. For children, it's important to help them realize that what they are watching is not something to be emulated in real life; here are some suggestions to get across this message gently and without nagging.

EditSteps

1. 1
   Be willing to discuss depictions of physical violence that your child has seen in cartoons, TV shows or movies. Avoiding mentioning it can leave the child with the impression that violence is normal, okay and to be expected. It is very important to help your child see that creative depictions of violence are not something to be transferred to real life.
2. 2
   Explain to kids that while they might see something violent treated as funny in a cartoon or movie, that it is not something that can be done in real life. For example, a 1943 movie depicted the Three Stooges putting a head into an electric saw and setting fire to the head. While it was intended purely as comedy, a younger child may lack the ability to discern that this is not real and can be upset by seeing it or might consider that violence is appropriate when you are frustrated or annoyed with someone or something.
   • Explain that violent scenes in comedy are very carefully put together to look real but that they are not real because nobody should ever do anything so dangerous in real life.
   • Spend some time showing your children how movie makers use props, tricks and special effects to make dangerous things seem real but don't actually do the real thing themselves even. Also discuss how stunt people are used to do dangerous tricks precisely because only people with very high levels of training and skill can do things like dangle off the edge of buildings or leap off moving cars. Showing children what is really behind these scenes may burst their unreality bubble but it's far better that they understand the mechanics than that they entertain violent thoughts and try to put these into action.
3. 3
   Explain to your kids that it is very easy to use aggression as a way of getting what you want but that it is something every person, including yourself, has to learn to overcome. Obviously, explain using language suited to your child's level but make it clear that anger is something we can choose to act out or we can choose to deal with in more constructive ways.
   • It may help you to borrow or buy books written for children about dealing with anger if this seems to be a problem with your own child. There are many good books available and one-to-one time spent discussing this with your child is never a waste of time.
4. 4
   Talk to children about what would really happen to an actor in a movie or show if the things shown were real. Some examples include:
   • Humans biting one another can spread germs. And that even though these germs are invisible to the naked eye, they can actually cause illness or even death in the person who is bitten.
   • Explain that is not appropriate to hit, punch, kick or pull the hair of other people.
   • Explain that pulling noses, ears or any other body parts hurts and can cause injuries.
   • Most children are aware that buildings falling on top of people who then get up and walk around or people who jump from a rolling car and act like nothing happened is just imaginary; however, realize that if your child has experienced living in a quake zone during a quake or has been in a car accident, that seeing such skits can cause deep upset. Talk to your child about his or her feelings and be reassuring.
5. 5
   Help your children to see that verbal violence is also not acceptable, including bullying language or concepts. In former times, many media used to depict poking fun at people's disabilities, handicaps or difficulties. For example, movies of a visually impaired man called Mr. Magoo showed that he would get himself into trouble but could not see how much trouble he was in. Then he would say, “Oh, Magoo you have done it again”. Today, this would not be acceptable as it would considered cruel to laugh at a person’s disability. Help your children to see that such depictions are very old-fashioned and representative of a time that we have grown beyond. Help them to see that human beings are always striving to be better as individuals and as societies, and that past attitudes are not always in sync with how we have evolved socially and ethically.
   • There is no need to get a four year old into a philosophical discussion; indeed, that won't do a thing! However, be conscious all the time when you notice that your children have seen something that is no longer a norm. For example, simply say something like: "Oh people used to say things like that. Fortunately, we are much kinder about X now and it's not right to say that sort of thing because..."
6. 6
   Show your children that it is never okay to harm a living thing. Tell your child that what they see in the cartoons, movies and videos is not real and should never try anything that hurts another being at home.
   • Don't just talk about caring for living beings. Show by actions that you care for animals. Have well-cared for pets, read stories about caring for animals together and visit the zoo or a nature park to discuss the conservation needs of animals. Immerse your children in caring about other living beings through actions.

EditWarnings

• Be sure that your stance on violence in shows and movies is aligned with how you treat children.