Homemade Horchata Coffee Creamer
'Tis the season for...more caffeine please. Just kidding! (Not really). The holiday craze is in full swing which means more things to check off our lists, more gatherings to entertain, and more out of town gusts to host. It can all feel a little bit much - but does it really have to?
The answer is no. Honestly, 'Tis the season to spread some love and make people feel warm and invited - which can be achieved with just a few simple gestures and far less errands out on those busy streets (don't even get me started on those parking lots).
When hosting friends for a holiday dinner or family staying from out of town, there's one thing that makes most everyone happy: A really good cup of coffee. Be it after dinner with a homemade dessert, or first thing in the morning while trying to gear up for the day ahead - coffee is a simple way to make someone feel good in that moment.
As much as my house loves the care and routine of pour over coffee - not everyone has the patience to wait for their perfect brew...Enter your holiday lifesaver - The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Coffee Maker. Not only does it make a full pot of coffee (up to 12 cups at a time) it also makes single serving cups of joe for those on the go...or just really needing a little jolt on the quick.
Does a particular family member LOVE their particular K-cup flavor of choice? No problem...this machine takes both fresh grounds and individual coffee pods meaning everyone can have the perfect cup no mater what their preference. Or no matter what time of day - thank goodness for the pre-programing options because I will not be getting up at 6am with the in-laws...ya girl is tired! You are tired! Let's sleep in that extra bit and let the coffee brew itself.
Now that we've got the machine to take care of our caffeination station - what about a few extra special touches to make guests feel at home?
Stock Up On Artisanal Beans
I love having a stockpile of goods from local coffee roasters or beans collected from our travels. This way you can offer up an interesting selection of coffee that guests might have never tried before. Make sure to have a variety of dark and light roasts so you've got everyone's palette covered...and still take any requests ahead of arrival, such as pod flavors of choice...just in case!
DIY Coffee Creamer - With a Holiday Twist
Everyone has their own preference when it comes to coffee creamer. Give them another option with a homemade horchata coffee creamer that is sure to be an unexpected new treat to their morning routine. What I love about this flavor is that it feels holiday, but isn't on the nose with overly sugared spice. It's easy to make and will keep in the fridge for weeks - plus it makes for a great holiday gift. So make up a large batch, bottle up with a ribbon and consider yourself a hero at your workplace. Just make sure to save some for yourself because you deserve a little treat too.
Slow Down!
The coffee is taken care of. It's perfect. It's time to sit down and enjoy your company! Let's remember that the most important thing about the holidays is quality time with those you love. So pour yourself a hot delicious mug, settle in and let the good times (read relaxing times) unfold.
Happy Holidays to you my friends!
- Horchata Coffee Creamer -
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup long grain rice
2 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup diary of choice (cream, whole milk or almond cream for non-dairy)
Ground cinnamon to taste
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
DIRECTIONS
First make the horchata by adding rice and cinnamon stick to food processor and pulse until coarse. Add 2 cups water and allow to sit for a minimum 3 hours to overnight. Blend mixture until smooth again in a food processor or blender and strain through a cheesecloth. Discard solids and mix in dairy of choice and an additional sprinkle of ground cinnamon to taste. Keep refrigerated.
To make the creamer, simply combined a 1:1 ratio of horchata to sweetened condensed milk. I used one cup of horchata to one cup condensed milk - which makes a batch large enough for a dozen coffees. Stir well until fully incorporated, add additional sugar if you like your creamer super sweet and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Want to win a Hamilton Beach Flex Brew of your own!? Head over to this post on Instagram before 12/19 and enter to win - or if you need one before Christmas (which is the perfect time of year for it) hop on over to Amazon and use the PROMO CODE: 10FLEXBREW for 10% off your purchase...plus it's got prime quick shipping baby!
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