Coffee Is Twice As Good When You Add A Spoonful Of This Spread

A quick kick of caffeine from a homemade latte can give you a much-needed energy boost in the afternoon. However, if you want to mellow out that buzz and lend your beverage a cozier flavor and creamier texture, add a spoonful of cookie butter. This simple trick transforms the taste of a basic coffee by softening its bitterness and thickening its texture. The result is a cup of joe that's almost dessert-like with an inviting aroma and complexity.

The key to making a cookie-butter-flavored coffee is to blend it very well using a small frother. Simply add a tablespoon of cookie butter to your cup with your instant coffee powder of choice, pour in a couple of ounces of hot water, and blend well before topping up with milk and ice. 

As cookie butter is made with spiced speculoos biscuits that have been blended with vegetable oil or some sort of fat until smooth, it's already pretty sweet. However, if you want a sweeter flavor, add a small measure of brown sugar to underscore the caramelized flavor of the cookie butter, and an additional sprinkling of cinnamon to boost its warming aroma. You can also elevate the flavor of your coffee with vanilla bean paste or a pump of chocolate-flavored syrup if you have it on hand. For a hot drink instead of an iced latte, omit the ice and top with more steamed milk. Better yet, brew your coffee directly in a jar of almost-finished cookie butter to eke out the last bit of flavor clinging to the bottom.

To give your iced coffee a barista-made vibe, smear extra cookie butter on the inside of your glass before topping it up with milk and ice. This extra layer of goodness will cling to the side but slowly melt into your drink, infusing it with more concentrated flavor and lending it a velvety mouthfeel. Coating the interior of the cup, instead of simply dolloping more butter into the coffee itself, also means the extra sweetness can be gradually released into the java as you sip. 

For the ultimate cookie butter coffee, top the entire thing with a swirl of whipped cream, add some chopped pecans and a drizzle of melted chocolate or more cinnamon. However, if you have a little more time, consider making some cookie butter cold foam instead: Blend a spoonful of cookie butter with some heavy cream and milk using a frother until light and foamy before gently pouring over your cup of joe and topping with a crushed speculoos biscuit. Finally, if you really want to double down on that spiced biscuit flavor, serve your elevated coffee with a batch of brownies made with cookie butter.