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?
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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.
May I know how many gram is two packs of gelatin?
I love adding expresso to my chocolate fudge just a perfect pairing!
I love coffee in my icing for chocolate cake and also in brownies. Would love an espresso maker!!
I also like you on Facebook :)
This is going to sound crazy, but about once a year, I pour cold coffee on my hair as a natural way to keep it dark. I also enjoy coffee in brownies :)
My favorite way to enjoy coffee other than drinking it would have to be my Mocha Madness Cookies!
Mexican Mocha! PERFECT blend of coffee with creamy spicy mexican chocolate!!! YUUUMMMMM!!!!!!!
Coffee & Chocolate! Hands down, the best way I’ve ever had coffee is a Chocolate Espresso Cake! Creamy chocolate with bitter bite of espresso is a heavenly combination :)
Like you on Facebook (Wanda McHenry)
Follow you on twitter (@myfolly) & tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/myfolly/status/152125166682517505
I enjoy coffee in Tiramisu or made into an espresso syrup to drizzled over vanilla ice cream.
I love drinking vanilla gelato with a shot of espresso aka affogato!
I also liked you on fb & tweeted ;)
Love it over ice cream!!!
Follow you on facebook too :)
I love frozen coffee! A little coffee, chocolate ice cream, and whip cream, yummy!!
I love coffee macarons!
Pedro N.
I am a fan of you on facebook!
Denise P.
I follow you on twitter and I tweeted this giveaway!
@bittersweetmess
Denise P
I love coffee just as it is! I’ll use it any way I can though! :)
Denise P
I’m already a fan on facebook as well!
My favorite way to enjoy the coffee flavor is in coffee ice cream! My favorite!
With a quiet space and a book.
hmmm, other than drinking. I have used it in frosting, I love coffee ice cream, oh and chocolate covered beans, mmmmm. the marshmallows look awesome!
I love coffee any way i can get it!! most of all with coffee ice cream in mudpie. I like you on facebook!! A LOT!!!!!
And I am a fan on Facebook and follow both on Twitter @queenshari Danielle Calkins sent me to this contest!
What is your favorite way to enjoy coffee (other than drinking it)? I love to use it in Pulled Pork! http://www.folgers.com/coffee-entree-recipes/coffee-infused-souther-style-pulled-pork.aspx Yumm-O!
I’m a fan on Facebook and follow you on Twitter! Adorable website.
I love to put my coffee with a nice coffeee crumb cake. I had this for Christmas and it made the holidays very special :)
Besides drinking coffee, I love using the beans in votive candle holders. The aroma is fantastic!
And I follow you on facebook :)
My favorite way to enjoy coffee is adding it to chocolate cake instead of boiling water. Adds a little extra flavor :)
I’m a Facebook fan.
My favorite way to enjoy coffee is on the couch watching the morning news.
Awesome! I put coffee in practically all my chocolate baked goods, it adds such a great depth of flavor! Yum yum!
I am already a fan . I love coffee. I sometimes add it to cholate cake when I make it from scratch.
Have Liked Love & Olive Oil on Facebook.