Cup of (Frozen) Coffee

It's almost April and the weather is getting warmer.  At the very least, there hasn't been snow on the ground in a while.  It's a step in the right direction!  While I like a hot cup of coffee when it's cold outside, I'm not a big fan of hot beverages during the warm months.  That makes coffee ice cream a great alternative.  It's easy to make and you can swirl in fudge or almonds to make it something different.

A really easy way to enjoy a cold cup of coffee is with coffee granitas.  You make yourself hot coffee with the sugar and flavorings that you love and slowly freeze it, so it gets the texture of shaved ice.  This is such a light and refreshing dessert and it is perfect with a big scoop of whipped cream (think of it like creamer).

For another Italian spin on coffee with cream, try making affogato.  You may never have heard of this dessert, but you will be amazed at how easy it is.  All you have to do is pour an ounce of espresso over a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.  It's a totally different expression of coffee and cream.  Try shaving chocolate over the top for another layer of flavor and texture.

These recipes would all make great afternoon pick-me-ups!