Drinks and Smoothies
Discover drinks and smoothies recipes, including refreshing beverages and nutritious smoothies. Find easy guides and tips for making delicious drinks and smoothies at home.
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Gooseberry Fool
How to make this easy gooseberry fool recipe that’s spiked with fragrant elderflower. It’s a fantastic make-ahead recipe for an early summer get-together or barbecue. Serve with a very crisp biscuit.
Ingredients:
- 500g (1lb 4oz) gooseberries, topped and tailed
- 100g (3½oz) caster sugar
- 3 tbsp elderflower cordial
- 200g (7oz) double cream
- 100ml (3½fl oz) thick Greek-style yoghurt or crème fraîche
- Fresh mint sprigs, to decorate (optional)
How to Make Gooseberry Fool:
- Put the gooseberries, sugar, and cordial in a saucepan. Cook on high heat until the sugar has dissolved and the fruit is soft. Remove from the heat and reserve a quarter of the cooked gooseberries.
- Blend the remaining cooked gooseberries in a blender or food processor, then sieve to remove the skins. Set aside to cool.
- Whisk the cream in a bowl until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Fold in the yoghurt and the blended gooseberries. Divide between six glasses.
- Leave the glasses in the fridge for at least 2 hours to allow the fool to thicken.
- To serve, spoon the remaining gooseberries over the top of the fool and decorate with mint, if using. Serve with honey melts.
Helpful Hints:
- You can use frozen gooseberries to make this dessert for a blast of summer flavor in the winter months.
- For an extra touch, drizzle some honey over the top before serving.
Perfect Pairings
Gooseberry fool pairs beautifully with crisp biscuits and other delightful desserts. Here are a few you might enjoy:
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: The nutty, rich flavor of these cookies complements the tangy sweetness of gooseberry fool.
- Coconut Macaroons: These chewy, sweet macaroons provide a delightful contrast to the creamy and fruity fool.
- Oreo Cheesecake Bars: The rich, creamy texture of Oreo cheesecake is a perfect match for the light and refreshing gooseberry fool.
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Elderflower Cordial Recipe
There’s something enchanting about making elderflower cordial at home. The delicate scent of elderflowers, the vibrant citrus, and the satisfaction of crafting something far superior to anything store-bought. This cordial is a summer staple, perfect for mixing with sparkling water for a refreshing drink or adding to sparkling wine for a delightful cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 30 elderflower heads
- 1.7 liters (3 pints) boiling water
- 900g (2lb) caster sugar
- 50g (2oz) citric acid (available from chemists)
- 2 unwaxed oranges, sliced
- 3 unwaxed lemons, sliced
How to Make It Elderflower Cordial:
- Gently rinse the elderflowers to remove any dirt or little creatures.
- Pour the boiling water over the sugar in a very large mixing bowl. Stir well and leave to cool.
- Add the citric acid, the orange and lemon slices, and then the flowers.
- Leave in a cool place for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Strain through some muslin and transfer to sterilized bottles.
Helpful Hints:
- Ensure all utensils and bottles are properly sterilized to extend the shelf life of the cordial.
- Store the cordial in a cool, dark place to maintain its flavor and freshness.
- Experiment with adding a splash of the cordial to desserts for a unique twist.
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Viral Dalgona Coffee Recipe – Easy Whipped Coffee at Home
Sometimes, the simplest pleasures are the most rewarding. In the midst of staying home, I stumbled upon a gem: Dalgona coffee. This whipped coffee has taken the internet by storm, and it’s easy to see why. With just three ingredients, you can create a coffee experience that’s both delightful and satisfying.
There’s no need to step into a Cafe when you have instant coffee, sugar, and milk at your fingertips. Whipping these humble ingredients together transforms them into a velvety, frothy treat that sits elegantly atop a glass of iced milk. It’s a small act of creation that brings a touch of joy to any day spent at home. So, here’s to making something simple yet extraordinary, right in your own kitchen.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp instant coffee
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp very hot water
- 2 glasses milk with ice cubes
How to Make Dalgona Coffee:
- Bring a small pot of water to a boil. While the water is coming to a boil, make the dalgona coffee fluff: In a bowl, mix together the instant coffee and sugar.
- Once the water comes to a boil, carefully add 2 tablespoons of the hot water to the coffee-sugar mix and whisk or use a hand mixer to whip until light and frothy.
- Fill two glasses with ice and pour in the milk. Top the glasses with equal amounts of the fluffy coffee. Stir thoroughly before enjoying!
Helpful Hints:
- For a non-caffeinated version, use decaf instant coffee.
- Adjust the sweetness to your liking by varying the amount of sugar.
- Try different milk options like almond, soy, or oat milk for a unique twist.
- Use a hand mixer or whisk for best results in achieving a fluffy texture
Perfect Pairings
Dalgona coffee goes perfectly with some delightful desserts. Here are a few you might enjoy:
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: The nutty flavor of brown butter and melty chocolate chips create a rich, indulgent cookie that pairs wonderfully with the smooth, frothy dalgona coffee.
- Coconut Macaroons: These chewy, sweet coconut macaroons offer a delightful contrast to the creamy and slightly bitter notes of dalgona coffee.
These desserts not only enhance the coffee experience but also make for a delightful treat any time of the day. Enjoy!
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Cherry Vanilla Soda Recipe
I’ve always been enchanted by the idea of an old-fashioned soda shop. While I haven’t found one yet, I can create my own magic at home with these cherry vanilla sodas. Cherry-flavored treats are my weakness—lollipops, candies, popsicles, and especially soda.
Cherry season brings a burst of joy. There’s nothing like the sweet, juicy taste of fresh cherries. Growing up, my family would go cherry-picking every summer, and those are some of my fondest memories. Now, I get my cherries from the farmers’ market, but the excitement remains. On a hot day, nothing beats a homemade cherry vanilla soda, simple and bursting with flavor. Cheers to summer and sweet memories!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pitted fresh cherries
- 2-3 tablespoons superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Soda water
- Ice
How to Make It:
- In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, pour the sugar over the cherries. Let macerate for a couple of minutes, then use a fork or small potato masher to crush the cherries as smooth as possible, making sure the sugar is dissolved.
- If you don’t like bits in your drink, strain the cherries, pressing down on the fruit to extract as much juice as possible.
- Divide the juice evenly between two glasses and add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla to each.
- Top off the glasses with soda water and ice, stir, and enjoy!
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Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrup Recipe
Pumpkin season is my favorite time of the year. There’s something about the rich, warm flavors of pumpkin spice that feels like a comforting embrace. Some people scoff at pumpkin spice, but millions of people can’t be wrong. Pumpkin spice lattes might be a clever marketing ploy, but I’m down with pumpkin, and I’m down with spice.
Pumpkin is a curious thing. Some folks love it; others, not so much. As for me, I’m a pumpkin lover through and through. I think it all started because my mom never let me eat pumpkin pie when I was a kid. We’d pass by the bakery, and the tantalizing aroma of pumpkin pie would fill the air. I’d ask if we could buy one, but she’d always get me a doughnut or a cookie instead. While those treats were tasty, they weren’t the deliciousness I was craving. My childhood was pumpkin pie-less. So, when I finally tasted pumpkin pie, I went a little crazy. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin doughnuts, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin French toast, pumpkin noodles, pumpkin mac and cheese – I love pumpkin in anything and everything. And nothing beats wrapping my hands around a warm pumpkin spice latte.
Recently, I whipped up a batch of pumpkin spice syrup and used it in my morning pour-over coffee. I’m obsessed with pour-over coffee – I love the ritual – and even though it’s blasphemous to drink pour-over anything other than black, I went ahead anyway, and it was heavenly. I even whipped up some heavy cream by hand and topped it off with a (not-so) healthy dollop. It’s spicy, fall heaven in a cup. So here’s to pumpkin, and here’s to spice.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
How to Make It:
- In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugars. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and stir to dissolve.
- Turn the heat down to low and stir in the spices and pumpkin. Simmer (without bringing to a boil) for 5 minutes.
- Let cool and store in the fridge or use immediately.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
Makes 1 Drink
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cups warm milk
- 1 shot espresso
- 1-2 tablespoons pumpkin spice latte syrup, or to taste
- Whipped cream and cinnamon, if desired
How to Make It:
- Stir together the milk, espresso, and syrup. Taste and adjust if needed.
- Top with whipped cream and cinnamon, if using, and enjoy hot.
Alternatively, if you’re drinking drip or pour-over coffee, just add the syrup and milk/cream to your mug to taste.
