Coffee with a Kiss

Need a cute cocktail to serve?  

Whip up Cupid’s Kahlua Kiss:

2 parts Kahlúa
4 parts soda water
Ice
Maraschino Cherry

Pour Kahlúa into a highball glass filled with ice. Add soda water. Top it with a cherry and serve.

Here's what you need to get started...

1 12-cup pot very strong coffee
2 lbs. light brown sugar
6 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 bottle 190 proof Clear Springs or Everclear 

Bring coffee to a boil in a large pot. Gradually add 2 lbs. light brown sugar and return to boil stirring constantly. Give the pot an ice bath to cool it to room temperature.
When completely cool, add the vanilla and the alcohol. This recipe yields five 750ml bottles of Kahlua. Technically, the Kahlua is ready to serve but I like to age it for a couple months. I think it smooths out over time. 

Want a family friendly version?

Black Forest Coffee

If you can’t resist the combo of chocolate, cherries and whipped cream in Black Forest Cake, then wait till you taste Black Forest Coffee. Talk about some jazzy sipping!

 2 cups hot brewed coffee

¼ cup chocolate flavor syrup

 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice

 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

 Whipped cream for garnish

Maraschino cherries for garnish

 Chocolate flavor syrup for garnish

1. Divide the coffee, 1/4 cup chocolate syrup, the cherry juice, and sugar into 2 mugs; mix well.

2. Top each with whipped cream and a cherry then drizzle with chocolate syrup. Serve immediately.