Me and coffee. It’s a love hate relationship. On one hand, I love coffee flavor, preferably when mixed with copious amounts of cream and sugar. A punch of espresso brings life to dark chocolate. Coffee ice cream, well, if it weren’t so cold I would bathe in it.
On the other hand, more than a few sips of highly caffeinated anything and I turn into a shaky, jittery mess. Call it low blood pressure or what have you, caffeine and I are not friends.
But that doesn’t stop me from indulging in a (small) cup every now and then when I’m feeling extra droopy. So while, no, I wouldn’t call myself an avid coffee drinker, the repressed coffee-fiend in me just couldn’t turn down the opportunity to develop four exclusive recipes for Nescafé.
The Dolce Gusto line is fairly new to the market, competing with household names like Keurig and Krups. Granted I’ve never used those other machines, but the ease of use and flavor possibilities of the Dulce Gusto products are pretty impressive. Not to mention that their Piccolo machine (and be sure to click through/scroll down for an opportunity to win one!) is nice and compact. When your counter space is scarce, having a small footprint is crucial. So yay for that. Taylor would also like to add that he loves the virtually instant cleanup. Just toss the used capsule and you’re done. From someone who spends a good 20 minutes each day rinsing and refilling his brew machine and coffee grinder, that’s a big deal. No, he won’t be switching to pods entirely, drinking 2-3 cups a day it’s just not economical, but he could definitely appreciate its benefits.
I created and photographed four recipes, to be promoted and displayed on the Dolce Gusto Facebook page throughout the month of December. If you go there, you’ll see the recipes for Blueberry Almond Coffee Cake, Vietnamese Coffee Popsicles, and the Espresso Marshmallows currently featured. And stay tuned, because next week might be my favorite of the lot: Tiramisu Shooters (pictured above). All the deliciousness of tiramisu in a precious little package. Zing!
Espresso Marshmallows
These marshmallows have a surprisingly strong espresso flavor. They’re great served in hot chocolate, coffee, dipped in melted chocolate, or simply eaten plain.
Ingredients:
- 2 packets unflavored gelatin
- 1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup cold water, divided
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions:
- Butter and line an 8×8 or 9×9 square baking pan with parchment paper. Generously butter parchment, then dust with powdered sugar, making sure the sides are corners are coated.
- Dissolve espresso powder in 1/3 cup water and place in the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle gelatin over water. Let sit for at least 5 minutes to soften.
- In a heavy saucepan, combine remaining 1/4 cup water, sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Stir over medium heat until dissolved. Bring to a boil, then cover for 2 minutes. Remove cover and boil, without stirring, until mixture reaches 238ºF, about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Fit mixer with the whisk attachment, and turn mixer to low. Very carefully pour hot sugar mixture down the inside of the bowl into the gelatin, taking care not to splatter.
- Increase mixer speed to medium high, and beat for 12 to 15 minutes or until mixture is thick and glossy and lukewarm to the touch. Beat in vanilla and pour into prepared pan (the mixture is extremely sticky at this point, so don’t worry if you can’t get it all out of the bowl). Let sit, uncovered, for at least 3 hours or until set. Remove from baking pan and cut into squares. Dust liberally with powdered sugar so the squares don’t stick together. Marshmallows will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Developed for Nescafé Dulce Gusto.
All images and text ©Lindsay Landis / Love & Olive OilDid you make this recipe?
Let us know what you think!
Leave a Comment below or share a photo and tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #loveandoliveoil.
The fine print: Giveaway brought to you by Nescafé Dolce Gusto. No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only. Void where prohibited. I was paid to develop 4 unique recipes for Nescafé, and was provided with an identical coffee maker and samples; however I was not required to post anything and all opinions written are entirely my own.
FOLLOWing love and olive oil on twitter! Tweeted the giveaway as well~
In cooking, I enjoy coffee by adding it to boiling water with chunks of pork belly. The coffee eliminates any pork smell it may have and truly makes the pork more tender. We slice the cooked pork belly and enjoy it with some spicy dip or teriyaki sauce. & of course, just in case you feel a little bloated with the pork belly… enjoy a cup of joe!
You are such a badass.
OH, but: I love it in ice cream and in MY MOUTH.
I tweeted and omg I’m such a hardcore coffee drinker. I hope I win this giveaway!
I love adding coffee to different desserts whether is ice cream, cake, brownies or cookies!
I tweeted! @mputzer
Already a fan on facebook.
Instant coffee in brownies!
As a flavor enhancer for chocolate. Coffee makes chocolate taste chocolatier (it’s like powdered mustard and cheddar cheese)!
I like you on FB too!
Coffee Brownies.
I love to use coffee in icing for brownies!
Already a fan on Facebook! :)
I tweeted- @AlmostVeganChef
I love adding instant coffee to melted chocolate OR a chocolate cake batter for added umph!
Gosh, how DON’T I enjoy coffee?
I always throw a little coffee (whether brewed regular coffee or instant granules) into my brownies. A little bit in chili is also great!
Mocha cupcakes,yum!!!
I tweeted also :)
I love coffee combined with dark chocolate = mocha and then made into ice cream, cake, cookies, fudge, truffles, just about anything! And yes, I would love to win one of these small coffee makers as I am hooked on my morning single cup of coffee.
In tiramisu!
and tweeted about giveaway! (@thinktran)
I FB like you
fave way to enjoy coffee OTHER than drinking it is to make coffee ice cubes with my leftover coffee and that way my iced coffee the next day isnt watered down.
GORGEOUS PHOTOGRAPHY in this post!
I love it in any dessert.
I love coffee ice cream, mocha candies from See’s, and I also like to freeze coffee in an ice-cube tray to put in Cream Soda–it’s delicious!
Thanks for the giveaway.
i like you on FB
i like to enjoy my coffee with my fiance!
and a tweet tweet
facebook LOVE
I adore those espresso marshmallows! I’ll have to make those asap. Love myself some affogato.
I now follow you on Twitter as @Fowler6 and I tweeted. Thank you
Followed and tweeted!
Here lately I have been enjoying a Pumpkin Latte from Starbucks as I shop at Super Target at 8am when they open. It is quite relaxing. Thank you.
I have a great recipe for kahlua cookies that calls for coffee.
I tweeted! I’d love to win this for my parents – then they could stop trying to steal mine! : )
I’m already a fan of your on Facebook
I LOVE coffee in desserts like creme brulee or tiramisu or cookies!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE coffee ice cream!!
I also am a facebook follower.
Um. I’m not convinced there is anything better than drinking coffee. Best drink ever is a latte with Vanilla, Caramel, and Cinnamon. So good.
When not drinking it, I tend to do normal things, like put it in chocolate cake…or brownies. Nom.
I “like” you on facebook <3
I love coffee in one of my cookie recipes. They’re absolutely delicious!!
mmmmm I make these bomb white chocolate espresso cookies every year for Fathers Day that my dad LOVES. Yum yum yum!
Coffee ice cream has been my favorite since I was a kid, but Coffee Nips are a close second.
Coffee ice cream is the best. I think I started having it when I was a kid just so I could try coffee – even though I wasn’t technically supposed to have a coffee. Kids love loop holes.
i love frozen coffee desserts. the Jeni’s black coffee ice cream is about the best i’ve ever had. also love a good coffee granita.
I like you on facebook. :)
I follow you on twitter and tweeted the giveaway
In chocolate cake, of course!
I make a Kahlua coffee cake at times and I also make tiramisu and the brownies that are from Ina Garten and the Barefoot Contessa books all have coffee in them.
yum yum yum! I love homemade marshmallows and all the fun flavors that can be done with them, these will be amazing in hot cocoa!