Spiced Gingerbread Coffee

Recipes, Seasonal & Holiday, SponsoredNovember 5, 2018December 30, 2019 Betsy Eves

This post is sponsored by the © J.M. Smucker Company, all opinions are my own.

The rich aroma of coffee paired with delicate scent of spices will fill your kitchen with warmth and your heart with joy when enjoy this Dunkin’ Donuts® Spiced Gingerbread Coffee.

Spiced Gingerbread Coffee served with gingerbread cookies and cinnamon sticks.

Summer has come to an end in my house.

Fall is here and it is officially cozy sweater and rain boots season!

One of my favorite things to do when the kids go back to school is invite a girlfriend over for coffee.

As soon as I kiss Matty and wave goodbye as he goes to school on the bus, I hurry home to prepare for my coffee date!

Sometimes a cup of black coffee with a splash of creamer is enough.

However with Fall approaching and the weather turning colder, I wanted make a special spiced coffee for this morning.

Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is a staple in our household.

In fact, I used to send Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend coffee to my husband when he was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Dunkin’ coffee got him through some long nights!

For my coffee date with my girlfriend, I used Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend coffee to make a perfectly seasoned Spiced Gingerbread Coffee.

Putting this Spiced Gingerbread Coffee together is very simple. I combined whole milk, coffee, maple syrup, molasses, and fall spices together in a pot a whisked until smooth. And, you can find the coffee and ingredients all at Walmart!

I let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes or until it reduced by a quarter. What is left is a rich, creamy, smooth, perfectly seasoned Spiced Gingerbread Coffee that is out of this world delicious!

In fact, it’s so rich and creamy that I have to sip it slow otherwise I’ll drink too fast and get a sugar rush!

I got some pre-made gingerbread men cookies, whipped cream, ground nutmeg and extra cinnamon sticks to garnish. However, all those things are optional!

The Spiced Gingerbread Coffee is delicious even without all the toppings!

Spiced Gingerbread Coffee

Name: Spiced Gingerbread Coffee
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 16 min
Yield: 4 cups
Ingredients: 3 cups brewed Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend coffee; 4 cups whole milk; 1 tsp molasses; 2 Tbsp brown sugar packed; 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup; 1 tsp vanilla; 2 cinnamon sticks (plus more for garnish, optional); 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger; 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Yield: 4 cups

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 16 minutes

The rich aroma of coffee paired with delicate scent of spices will fill your kitchen with warmth and your heart with joy when enjoy this Spiced Gingerbread Coffee.

Ingredients

3 cups brewed Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend coffee
4 cups whole milk
1 tsp molasses
2 Tbsp brown sugar packed
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
2 cinnamon sticks (plus more for garnish, optional)
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Instructions

In a medium pot, whisk together all ingredients over medium-high heat.
Cook until it begins to bubble but not quite to boiling, whisking occasionally. (6-8 minutes)
Once it bubbles, reduce to a hot simmer and let reduce by one quarter, whisking occasionally. (4-5 minutes)
Strain coffee using a mesh strainer to get out the cinnamon stick and any other unwanted bits.
Serve hot topped with whipped cream, ground ginger, a cinnamon stick and ginger cookie.

Instant Pot Soup with Pork, Smoked Sausage and Beans

Dinner, RecipesOctober 4, 2018October 4, 2018 Betsy Eves

Don’t wait hours for soup to be ready! This recipe Instant Pot Soup with Pork, Smoked Sausage and Beans is ready in 45 minutes and is the perfect dinner on a cozy fall night!

I don’t know about you, but on a week night I loathe cooking dinner. By the time 5:30 pm rolls around, I’m tired, the kids are tired and my husband isn’t even home from work yet but dinner has to be started!

With just a few ingredients and 45 minutes, this recipe for
Instant Pot Soup is the best solution for those nights you just don’t want to cook!

One of my favorite parts about this Instant Pot Soup is that the pork is precooked and the tomatoes and beans come ready in a can.

All I need to do to prep this meal is saute the veggies and dump the rest in the Instant Pot!

A few minutes of prep and only 30 minutes of cook time, this Instant Post Soup with Pork, Smoked Sausage and Beans is my go-to dinner on a cold Fall night!

The pork, smoked sausage and beans are hearty and the broth is full of flavor. I love taking a big piece of crusty bread and soaking up the broth.

So yum!

Instant Pot Soup with Pork, Smoked Sausage and Beans | The JavaCupcake Blog https://javacupcake.com

To be honest though, this is the first Instant Pot Soup recipe I’ve ever tried. In fact, this is the first Instant Pot recipe I’ve ever made period!

I know, crazy, right?! How I have survived this long without an Instant Pot?

Must Try Instant Pot Recipes

What are some of your favorite Instant Pot recipes? Here are a few I’m dying to try…

Shredded beef filling for tacos
From Taste of Home: “Create a taco or burrito bar! For a variation, I make beef and bean burritos by mixing a can of refried beans into 3 or 4 cups of cooked beef filling.—Hope Wasylenki, Gahanna, Ohio”

Pressure Cooker Shredded Beef Burrito Filling

Faux Rotisserie Chicken
From Cooking with Curls: ”
Do you ever find yourself at the grocery store buying a week’s worth of food, then reach for a rotisserie chicken because you no long have the energy to go home and cook what you just purchased? I admit it, I am guilty. But have you ever looked at the ingredients label on that chicken? Yikes! My Instant Pot Faux-tisserie Chicken is pure goodness…..”

Your family is going to love this Instant Pot Faux-tisserie Chicken just as much as the ones you buy in the store, but you get to control the ingredients | cookingwithcurls.com

Sweet Potatoes
From Add a Pinch: “Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes Recipe – Cooking sweet potatoes in an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker makes cooking sweet potatoes so quick and easy! Perfect for enjoying as baked sweet potatoes as a side dish or for cooking to use in sweet potato casserole and so many other dishes!”

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes Recipe - Cooking sweet potatoes in an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker makes cooking sweet potatoes so quick and easy! Perfect for enjoying as baked sweet potatoes as a side dish or for cooking to use in sweet potato casserole and so many other dishes! // addapinch.com

TJCB recipes to try as Instant Pot Soup!

Now that I have this Instant Pot, I think I need to reinvent my favorite JavaCupcake soup recipes to make in the Instant Pot!

Chunky Potato Soup

Ham Hock & 15 Bean Soup

Yuengling Beef Stew

Instant Pot Soup

Below you’ll find my recipe for Instant Pot Soup with Pork, Smoked Sausage and Beans. Let me know if you try it… I’d love to hear what you think!

Cars 3 Play Date

Breakfast, Life, Party Planning & Tablescapes, Recipes, Sponsored, Tips & TricksSeptember 17, 2018September 15, 2018 Betsy Eves

This post is sponsored by Mattel. All opinions are my own.

Reward your kids who do their chores by letting them pick out their favorite Disney-Pixar Cars toys at Walmart and a Cars 3 Play Date!

What kid likes to do chores? My kids certainly do not. I definitively do not like chores either.

However, if someone were to offer me a lunch at my favorite restaurant or a massage to clean my room I would absolutely get my chores done!

That concept of rewarding good behavior is exactly what I have done with my 6-year-old son Matthew this summer.

Matty loves his toys and Matty loves to make a mess of his toys. I suppose that’s true of all kids his age.

However, I’m trying to also teach Matty the value of cleaning up, living in a home that isn’t messy and cluttered all the time, and being rewarded for good choices.

There are a lot of ways to keep track of your kids chores.

I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel by creating a new chart, however the internet is already full of some really great charts and trackers.

This website has some great ideas.

For Matty’s reward, he wanted to invite our new neighbor boys over for a Cars 3 Play Date!

I called my neighbor Chelsea and we set a date for her two boys Grayson and Cohen to come over one morning.

Mattel supplied us with so many great Cars toys from Walmart that Matty wanted to share them with his friends.

Each boy got to pick their favorite Cars toys to play with and keep.

The boy had so much fun shooting the cars out of the launcher!

Cohen, the little guy, carried around Lightening Mcqueen like the car was his best friend. So cute!

The incentive for new Cars toys from Walmart has really encouraged and excited Matty to get his chores done.

Of course, there are days where I have to ask him over and over to pick up his toys… but on a whole, the reward system really worked!

I also made jumbo blueberry muffins for the kids to snack on. Grayson and Cohen weren’t fans, but Matty and Chelsea loved them! Get my bluebery muffin recipe here.

So if you’re looking for a way to reward your kids for good behavior, make a chore chart and then head to Walmart to let your kids pick out some super fun Cars toys!

Swedish Visiting Cake Bars

Cakes, Cookies, Brownies & Bars, Recipes, Sponsored, UncategorizedSeptember 6, 2018September 13, 2018 Betsy Eves

This post is sponsored by OXO, however all opinions are mine.

The marriage of crisp almonds and chewy cake bring these Swedish Visiting Cake Bars to life making them a classically delicious dessert!

Swedish Visiting Cake Bars | The JavaCupcake Blog https://javacupcake.com #OXO #sponsored

I’m thrilled to be participating in Cookies for Kid’s Cancer again this year!

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was founded by two OXOnians (OXO employees) who were inspired by their son Liam’s battle with pediatric cancer, a disease which claims the lives of more children in the US than any other disease.

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer provides inspiration and support to allow anyone to easily get involved in fundraising to find a cure for pediatric cancer.

OXOnians regard each other as family. The news of Liam’s diagnosis hit them hard and they have been personally involved with this worthy organization from the beginning.

As part of Cookies for Kid’s Cancer this year, OXO selected group exclusive group of bloggers to to receive an exclusive recipe and a set of coordinating baking products and tools to make that recipe.

For each blog post and recipe shared, OXO will donate $100 to Cookies for Kid’s Cancer (up to their $100,000 commitment).

How incredibly awesome is that!

The recipe I was given to recreate is Dorie Greenspan’s Swedish Visiting Cake Bars.

Dorie shared her thoughts on particiapting in Cookies for Kid’s Cancer saying,

I have been a supporter of Cookies For Kids Cancer from before Day 1 and with good reason: It’s a targeted source of funding for research into pediatric cancer treatments. That pediatric cancer is so prevalent and so poorly funded is a terrible paradox. Cookies for Kids Cancer is changing this and I love helping them reach their goals.
These are a mash-up of two recipes I love: almond-meringue topping, which I usually use on fruit tarts and (a variation of the) Swedish Visiting Cake, which is usually unadorned. I can no longer remember when or why I married these two, but once I did, the knot was tied for life — the crisp almonds and chewy cake make a perfect couple.
The cake is supremely satisfying and the topping is unusual in that it bakes to a meringue finish, but there’s no whipping involved. You just mix egg whites and confectioners’ sugar together — I do it with my fingers — swish sliced almonds around in the mix and spread it over the batter. The oven does all the work.

Since 2011, JavaCupcake has participated in raising awareness and money for Cookies for Kid’s Cancer.

We started with the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap and now we’re working with OXO!

Thanks to OXO for providing me the following products:

OXO: https://bit.ly/2MEPY4k
Non-Stick Pro Cake Pan: https://bit.ly/2nsgm6T
5lb Food Scale with Pull Out Display: https://bit.ly/2MiyIVG
11″ Balloon Whisk: https://bit.ly/2OYP0l3
Non-Stick Cooling and Baking Rack: https://bit.ly/2MizDW8

It’s a fantastic way to give back to the community with my fellow bloggers.

OXO and it’s chef-supporters of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer hope this inspires people to host their own Cookies for Kids’ Cancer bake sales!

Join in the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer challenge by registering your event online. If you mark that you were inspired by OXO when you register, we’ll match proceeds from your bake sale up to our annual commitment.

Check out these cookie recipes from past Cookies for Kid’s Cancer fundraisers!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies | JavaCupcake.com — 2011 – Grinch Cookies

Apple Snickerdoodles - freshly shredded apples add another layer of deliciousness to these classic cookies! | JavaCupcake.com — 2013 – Apple Snickerdoodles

2014 – Easy Holiday Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a sponsored post on behalf of OXO.

Back to School Pencil Pops

Dessert, RecipesAugust 30, 2018August 30, 2018 Betsy Eves

These uncomplicated Back to School Pencil Pops are a delicious treat to kick off the school year!

Back to School season is always exciting in my family. My kids LOVE going back to school and seeing their friends and getting back into the swing of things.

This year, however, the weather still feels like it’s summer outside because the weather has been in the 90s!

To keep cool, my kids love popsicles and ice cream. However ice cream has so much sugar that I find it hard to justify eating ice cream every day during summer.

So, I make popsicles!

These simple to make Back to School Pencil Pops are low in sugar and high on flavor!

Using a pencil shaped popsicle mold gives an extra layer of fun to this sweet treat!

To make these fun Back to School Pencil Pops you’ll need:

pencil shaped popsicle mold
juice in yellow and orange
popsicle sticks
foil
freezer

If you don’t have a pencil mold, I’ve seen these made in regular popsicle molds as well and they’re still super cute!

The sky is the limit when it comes to color combinations and popsicles. Use your imagination and have fun!

Here are some more cute, fun ideas for back to school treats! Enjoy!

Back to School Sugar Wafer Pencil Cookies

Back to School Candy Pencils

Back to School S’mores

Back to School Crispy Rice Treats

Boozy Banana Pudding

Dessert, RecipesAugust 14, 2018August 15, 2018 Betsy Eves

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #CelebratorySips #BecauseSummer #LoveThyNeighborhood #CollectiveBias

Creamy vanilla pudding layered with shortbread cookies and bananas paired with Malibu and Jameson make this Boozy Banana Pudding the perfect grown-up treat!

I’ve never made homemade Boozy Banana Pudding before. To be honest, I did not really think it was a thing that people did because all I knew was those little pudding mix boxes from the baking aisle at the grocery store.

Boozy Banana Pudding | The JavaCupcake Blog https://javacupcake.com #BecauseSummer #LoveThyNeighborhood

When I thought about making banana pudding from scratch, I reached out to my friends on social media and asked them what made their favorite banana pudding so amazing.

Every person answered that the pudding had to be made from scratch and contain at least rum.

So that’s what I did. I made a Boozy Banana Pudding from scratch featuring Malibu, an original coconut rum from the Caribbean, where the spirit of summer shines all year round, and Jameson, a blend of pot still and grain whiskey from Ireland that is triple distilled; and remarkably smooth.

Making the pudding for this Boozy Banana Pudding isn’t a difficult undertaking. In a sturdy medium size pot, combine sugar, corn starch, salt and egg yolks.

blend of pot still and grain whiskey. Triple distilled, remarkably smooth, and unmistakably Jameson from Ireland.

Whisk all those ingredients together until you get what looks like a clumpy mess. No worries, though, because it will loosen up as soon as you add the milk.

Pour in the milk and whisk together over medium heat until the sugar and eggs dissolve and the mixture is smooth.

You’ll want to pay very close attention to this next part. I made the mistake of stepping away and burnt the pudding. You don’t want that. Learn from my mistake and DO NOT STEP AWAY for the next 5-7 minutes!

Whisk, whisk, whisk your little heart out until the mixture comes to a simmer and begins to thicken. As soon as the pudding begins to thicken up (it happens quick and you’ll have mere seconds before it burns) remove it from the heat and whisk until thick.

This next part you'll want to pay very close attention to. I made the mistake of

Next up is the butter, vanilla paste, and Malibu.

The rum what gives this Boozy Banana Pudding it’s distinct flavor and the butter ensure it will be velvety smooth.

You’ll whisk all of that together while the pudding is still warm. Transfer the entire mixture to a large glass bowl.

Make sure to scrape down the pot to ensure every last drop of pudding gets in the bowl!

Finally, press a piece of plastic wrap over the pudding so that a film does not form on top while chilling. Place bowl in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours so that the flavors have time to form and the pudding sets.

When you’re ready to serve the boozy banana pudding, get 4 mason jars, shortbread cookies, bananas, and make the Jameson whipped cream.

I liked using shortbread cookies for this Boozy Banana Pudding because they seemed to hold up a lot better than the traditional vanilla cookies that are normally used.

There is a lot of moisture sitting on top of the pudding and under the bananas and having a cookie that is not only delicious but will stand up to that is essential in creating the perfect Boozy Banana Pudding.

Assembling these desserts is quick and easy. Simply layer pudding, cookies, bananas three times. Add a dollop of Jameson whipped cream to the top, sprinkle cinnamon and garnish with a cookie and banana.

Pure Boozy Banana Pudding Perfection.

Serve the Boozy Banana Pudding immediately. You can store them overnight if you have extra, but the cookies will get a bit soggy the next day.

My husband enjoyed his delicious dessert with a glass of Jameson on the rocks and said it was the perfect night cap for his long day.

The perfect drink to go with this Boozy Banana Pudding needs to be light and refreshing.

A Rum Raspberry Spritzer will cool you down on the hottest day and is the perfect sidekick to the banana pudding.

To make the Rum Raspberry Spritzer, you’ll need:

Malibu Rum
Raspberry Seltzer Water
Fresh Raspberries
Ice

Depending on how strong you like your drinks, pour 1-2oz of Malibu into a glass filled with berries and ice. Fill the glass with the bubbly water and give it a quick stir with a spoon. Pop in a straw and enjoy!

This spritzer could be easily changed using any flavor seltzer water and any fruit you like! Pick your favorite flavors, the combination possibilities are endless!

Save $2.00 now
- Start date: 07/15/18
- End date: 08/18/18
- Offer: Save $2.00 NOW on the purchase of any ONE (1) 750ml bottle of JAMESON® IRISH WHISKEY or MALIBU®.
- Valid in: Alaska, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, West Virginia, Wyoming
Save $3.00 by mail
- Start date: 07/15/18
- End date: 08/18/18
- Offer: Save $3.00 BY MAIL on the purchase of any ONE (1) 750ml bottle of JAMESON® IRISH WHISKEY or MALIBU®.
- Valid in: Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Washington

SIP EASY. ENJOY MALIBU RESPONSIBLY. MALIBU® Caribbean Rum With Coconut Liqueur. 21% – 24% Alc./Vol. ©2017 Pernod Ricard USA, New York, NY

JAMESON® Irish Whiskey. 40% Alc./Vol. (80 Proof). Product of Ireland. ©2018 Imported by John Jameson Import Company, New York, NY