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coffee

Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Recipe

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If you’ve been around here for a while, you might know that I have a self-confessed addiction to Starbucks. It started in college with an iced green tea. But, over the years, it evolved. From there I went to lattes. And, thereafter, iced coffee. I spent a long time truly loving my iced coffees (honestly, I still do — unsweetened). Over the last couple of years my obsession has been cold brew with sweet cream. If you’re a Starbucks connoisseur you’ll know that these can get pricey. But this copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream recipe is the perfect way to recreate this favorite from home!

Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream

What you’ll need

There are only a few ingredients for this recipe, but they are key to making this sweet cream perfect! So please be sure not to skip any of them. The ingredients are as follows:

  • 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk
  • 4 cups heavy cream or milk for a thinner option
  • 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
  • Your favorite brewed coffee, cold

That is all you’ll need! That being said, I suggest either buying Starbucks Cold Brew concentrate, or brew your own cold brew from home.

Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream

How to make Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream

Here are the recipe details! I promise, it’s super simple!

Yield: 48 ounces

Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk
  • 4 cups heavy cream or milk for a thinner option
  • 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
  • Your favorite brewed coffee, cold

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

In a blender, combine the sweetened condensed milk, cream and vanilla. Blend for 30 to combine. For a more frothy combination, blend for 60 seconds.

STEP 2 -

Pour over iced coffee to taste and enjoy.

© Rachel

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Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

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Fall is OFFICIALLY here! So are you Team Pumpkin Spice or Team Apple Cider?! I will tell you I’m 100% Team Pumpkin Spice over here. But I can throw down some mega cash to keep my Pumpkin Spice Latte addiction in check. Instead, I developed a deliciously perfect copycat Starbucks pumpkin spice latte recipe of my own!

The Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe

This recipe is equal parts easy and delicious. You can make this recipe hot or over ice and it is incredible!

Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe

What you’ll need

Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own perfect pumpkin spice latte:

  • ¾ cup milk of choice (almond milk, coconut milk, coconut milk, cows milk)
  • ½ cup of hot coffee
  • 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree
  • 2 teaspoons of brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • Optional: caramel and whipped cream (I highly recommend adding on, if you so desire)

How to make this scrumptious drink!

  1. Mix your milk with pumpkin puree, spice, and brown sugar.  Heat it in a microwave for 1 minute, or over medium high heat on the stove.  When hot, stir ingredients together.
  2. Add a ½ of a cup of hot coffee.
  3. Top the delicious drink with whipped cream and caramel, if using.  Dust with another pinch of pumpkin pie spice.
Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe stirring

Guys. This recipe is amazing. It’s the absolute perfect recipe for Fall. I cannot get enough.

Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe

The perfect drink for Fall!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup milk of choice
  • ½ cup of hot coffee
  • 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree
  • 2 teaspoons of brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • Optional: caramel and whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Mix milk with pumpkin puree, spice, and brown sugar.  Heat in a microwave for 1 minute, or over medium high heat.  When hot, stir ingredients together.
    Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe milk
    Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe
    Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe
    Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe stirring
  2. Add ½ cup of hot coffee.
    Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe
  3. Top with whipped cream and caramel, if using.  Dust with another pinch of pumpkin pie spice.
    Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe
    The Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe
    Perfect Pumpkin Latte Recipe
© Rachel

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Easy Whipped Coffee

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Social distancing and stay-at-home orders mean changes to all our everyday routines. But one of the things that I did, nearly everyday, was get a delicious, cold brew coffee from Starbucks. Sure, I’d make my own brewed coffee at home in the mornings. But there’s something extra yummy about coffee that you didn’t brew yourself, am I right?!

It turns out I’ve had a LOT of time on my hands to play around with different ways to make my daily coffee. I’ve done cold brew, drip brew, and making coffee over ice. And then the whipped coffee trend hit Instagram. And my life has changed forever.

PIN ME - The most perfect Whipped Coffee Recipe - Instagram-worthy Coffee!

Whipped Coffee, which is also known as Dalgona Coffee, combines instant coffee, granulated sugar, and hot water to make a delicious — and STRONG! — caffeinated treat! When I first heard about whipped coffee, I heard warnings of “Be careful, it’s very strong!” and I would scoff and think, “I can handle strong coffee.“

I’m here to say this — I was wrong. As someone who can handle strong coffee, this is whole other level of strong coffee. A friend described her post-whipped coffee, caffeine-high, as ‘being able to hear colors.’ It made me laugh, but I’m not sure I’d go that far. However, it is very, very, strong.

Easy Whipped Coffee

Missing your fancy coffee? Try this Easy Whipped Coffee at HOME!

Tips for the perfect ‘whip’

It’s rich. It’s so very rich! And I have some tips for whisking that would have been helpful for me, had I known!

Use a large bowl.

Seems like you wouldn’t need a big bowl, right? Wrong. On my first attempt, I used a small bowl. I figured it would be large enough to whip together 6 Tablespoons. But that whisk moves really fast. So use a large bowl to avoid splatter!

At first the consistency is … odd — but don’t worry!

It may seem like you are doing it wrong, but I assure you — you are doing it right! The instant coffee mixture is so dark at first. The more you whisk it, the lighter — and fluffier! — it gets. I promise it will get peak ‘peak’ness! 😉

Add ice and Ajoyo Almond Milk!

Again, I am a pro at strong coffee. I mean that! My parents raised me to drink strong, dark, black coffee. But this? This is a whole different beast! There is no “black” whipped coffee. Instead, it pairs perfectly with Ajoyo Vanilla Sweetened Almond Milk. Check out more about Ajoyo’s mission and about where you can purchase it here.

Yield: 2

Easy Whipped Coffee

whipped coffee with Ajoyo Almond Milk
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons of instant coffee
  • 2 Tablespoons of near-boiling hot water
  • 2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ Cups of Ajoyo Sweetened Vanilla Almond Milk 
  • ice

Instructions

      1. Heat a mug of water in either the microwave or a kettle until a near-boil.

      ​2. Add 2 tablespoons of instant coffee, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons of hot water into a medium sized bowl. 

      3. Use a hand mixer with whisk attachment or immersion blender to whisk ingredients together at a medium-high speed until instant coffee mixture develops peaks. 

      4. Pour 1 ½ cups of Ajoyo Sweetened Vanilla Almond Milk over ice. Spoon whipped coffee on top. Mix together before drinking. Enjoy!

So tell me — if you’ve tried it, what did you think?!

Grape Falls + Craft Brews

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When I started my job at the Akron YMCA nearly 4 years ago, I was unaware of how much it would change me. I’ve always had a heart for my community, but I was never quite sure how to channel that energy into real change. To my surprise and excitement, I found a way to make a difference with the Riverfront YMCA.

In fact, my absolute favorite part of being involved with the YMCA is the outpouring of love, support, and funding for (and from) the local community through programs like our annual campaign.

Did you know that the YMCA offers income-based scholarships for any family, adult, or senior that wishes to participate in their programs? That’s right — you will not be turned away, regardless of your ability to pay the fee in question.

The biggest fundraiser that our Riverfront Family YMCA branch hosts each year to support this cause is Grape Falls + Craft Brews.

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Five Friday Favorites

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Things have been so busy around here, but I wanted to share a glimpse of 5 things I’m absolutely loving as of late.

1. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite fiction writers. When she first released Big Little Lies (which, it should be noted, is much better than the HBO adaptation) I was hooked on her suspenseful style of writing. This more recent novel is filled with the usual suspense and drama with a parental twist. I highly recommend reading it, especially if you’re already a fan of her work.

 

2. If I’m Being Honest with Katie Crenshaw

This podcast has been a refreshing take on taboo subjects. Each episode is an interview-style talk with someone with a story to tell, whether it be about a dad in prison for crimes against a minor, or being a psychic medium. Basically, super interesting subjects that are rarely discussed. Basically, I’m addicted.

 

3. Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve System

Y’all, despite my best efforts, I’ve never been one to brew coffee at home. I’ve had a Keurig, I’ve had a Starbucks Verismo and a traditional coffee maker with a pot. But none of those really did it for me. I was drinking too much coffee to justify the pods of the Keurig and Verismo, but not enough back-to-back coffee to justify the pot (and I despise reheated coffee!).

Last Fall I snagged one of these Ninja Coffee Bar Single-Serve Makers and I fell in love with brewing my coffee at home! It uses just regular ground coffee with a reusable filter. It has an option for different sizes, bold brewing, and iced coffee brewing! Complete with a milk frother. Best invention ever!

 

4. Russian Doll on Netflix

I binge-watched the first season in 24-hours. And I want more! Natasha Lyonne is incredible in everything, but she really knocks this role out of the park.

Stuck in a ‘groundhog-day’ type scenario, she continues to relive (and die) repeatedly on her 35th birthday. She goes on a mission to figure out why and how to stop it while encountering another person going through the same thing.

It’s not as twisted as it sounds, but it’s certainly super interesting. I am already very excited about season 2.

 

5. Weight Watchers

For those of you who have been here a while, you might remember I did WW after Remy was born and had a decent amount of success. Truthfully, the only thing that thwarted my success was getting pregnant again, this time with Mila. So now that I’m 8 months postpartum, I’m finally ready to really step up my game. My body is regulating itself hormonally, Meebs is sleeping a decent amount, and our lives are adjusting as well as is possible.

Last week was my first week of sticking to Weight Watchers and I lost 5.8 pounds! That’s the biggest loss I’ve ever had on the program! Many credits are due to the program, but I also worked my butt off at the gym earning ‘fitness points’ and tracked my ‘food points’ religiously.

I love this program so much because — 1. It doesn’t require weighing in every day, just once a week! and 2. I’m able to still enjoy life and be social! During the last week, I had a glass of wine at night a couple of times, which made it feel like ‘normal’ versus a ‘diet.’

 

Okay, technically this is number 6 and she’s all mine, but I’m definitely loving this kid a lot lately.

Mila has been so fun lately and I just can’t stop staring at her in amazement. She’s nearly crawling, always smiling, and loves to laugh at her brother. She’s such a wonderful addition to our family and I couldn’t be happier to be her Mama. ♥ ♥

What

are you

loving lately!?

Friday Favorites

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I’ve been struggling to keep my head above water this week. Truly, nothing extraordinary has happened; I’m just feeling the weight of the end of pregnancy. Between pregnancy insomnia, chasing the kids, and pregnancy exhaustion (thanks to that insomnia and lots of jabs to the ribs), I’ve been a terrible homemaker this week.

As we sit here,  there are three large loads of laundry piled up on the living room furniture — in plain sight so that I will fold them and put them away — that have been sitting there for a couple of days; dishes are piled up in the sink; and our floors are in desperate need of the vacuum.

Despite all of the craziness, here’s my current favorites from this week!

Favorite on Netflix: We may or may not have binge-watched the new crime docu-series Evil Genius this week. Although it was no Making a Murderer, it was still really good. And super freaky, considering it happened not far from where I grew up — but I had no idea that this even happened until this show! Was I living under a rock!? No, I was just in college.

Favorite read: This article titled What if All I Want is A Mediocre life? It really struck a chord with me. Especially the part about being a mom. In the age of the ‘pinterest mom’ I strive to be just mediocre. Not kidding.

You know why? Because a while ago I realized I wasn’t happy when I was being a ‘pinterest mom’ — and my family noticed — and they weren’t either!

Favorite listen: As per my norm (I’m a creature of habit, y’all), my favorite listen this week was a This American Life episode! Check it out here.

Favorite ride: For the last week I’ve been driving around this incredible Mazda CX-9! We recently turned in our lease of a small SUV and I was really curious about trying this Mazda. I have to say — this car was a game changer, y’all! First of all, it has optional third row seating. Also? All the bells and whistles — between the huge navigation system, to in-dash speedometer with traffic sign recognition, Bose sound system, and the lane-keep assist — were awesome on a little mini-road trip we took!

The kids loved it as much as I did!

Favorite sip: This week was brought to you by… coffee. Copious amounts of coffee! But seriously. I know I generally drink a LOT of coffee; but this week I literally could not have functioned without it. I was a zombie. Not sleeping at night; not able to nap during the day; and did I mention that we transitioned the kids to bunk beds last weekend?? Yeah, that’s been buckets of fun.

So it should come as no surprise that my favorite drink of this week was the Triple Threat Latte from Nervous Dog.

Favorite eat: As I mentioned before, I’ve kinda been a trainwreck on the homefront this week. If it weren’t for my husband being off from work Monday and Tuesday, I swear my children would have eaten spaghetti o’s everyday for lunch and dinner.

But, alas, he was home to save us! And instead, we ate a delicious dinner Bibimbap — which is basically a Korean dish of rice, veggies, and beef.

Favorite link: Just another shameless plug — but my latest blog post for Cleveland Plus went live a couple of weeks ago! Check it out here.

Favorite place: I feel like I don’t say this enough, but I truly love working at the Riverfront YMCA. My fellow coworkers and the members are like an extended family for us. And this week, Ari celebrated his last day of preschool at the YMCA. He’ll be heading off to kindergarten this Fall!

So we celebrated with friends this week and said goodbyeeeee to preschool! It was such a bittersweet moment for all of us!

One of my favorite places will always be the YMCA. It’s a good thing we’re still going to be there everyday 😉

 

What are some of your favorites

from this week !?