Here is a “Special” coffee that is as good as those very expensive coffee places that you can have without leaving home. This is a great way to welcome guests or to please your coffee drinking family members. See bottom of post for a compound butter for this coffee or whatever you would love a special butter for. Remember, you can use vanilla beans many times over.

MAKES: 2 servings
INGREDIENTS:

20 ounces fresh brewed hot coffee, your favorite

1 smaller vanilla bean, fresh and soft

2 cinnamon sticks

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (if not using the butter mix)

1 teaspoon butter (if not using the butter mix)

Splenda sugar substitute or sugar to taste

cream (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut the vanilla bean in half, place the two halves into the brewing basket along with the 2 cinnamon sticks.
2. Brew the coffee as usual.
3. When it’s done remove the vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks and gently rinse the grounds off of them.
4. Place a vanilla bean half and a cinnamon stick in each cup.
5. Add a half teaspoon, or more if you wish, of butter to each cup.
6. Fill with the hot coffee and stir gently.
7. Add sweetening and cream as and if you wish.

OR:

• Add the cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean halves to the cups, add plain brewed coffee and top with a small dollop of the premade butter mix.
• Add sweetener and cream as you like.

COMPOUND FLAVORED BUTTER:

• 4 ounces unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 1/2 vanilla bean
• 1 teaspoon Splenda sugar substitute or sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Allow the butter to soften at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Slice the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds from inside the bean.
3. Combine the butter with the vanilla seeds, Splenda, and cinnamon.
4. Mix well.
5. Keep chilled in refrigerator.

Tags: Christmas Coffee, compound butter, flavored butter, homemade specialty coffee, specialty coffee