The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi: Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi:
Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi: Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
There is nothing as nice as afternoon tea, unless it happens to be afternoon coffee. I am a bit of a tea and coffee snob, and only drink the best stuff, made in a tea-pot for tea and in a cafetière for coffee. So, when De’Longhi asked if I would like to receive a fabulous Icona Vintage Coffee Machine in order to participate in a “coffee challenge”, I was pleased to accept; not only would I be able to create a new recipe that used coffee, but I would be able to make a good cup of espresso (or even cappuccino) in my new coffee machine too. My beautiful new machine arrived in a lovely vintage olive-green and I practised making coffee in my machine whilst I pondered on what I would make for the coffee challenge. The Icona Vintage Coffee machine is fabulously sleek with a vintage Italian coffee shop look. The machine not only makes espresso, but also makes cappuccino with a classic steam, air and milk system, so you get a cup of wonderfully frothy topped coffee. There is a cup warmer, a removable water reservoir as well as a very handy “crema filter”, which takes ground coffee as well as coffee pods.
Icona Vintage Coffee machine
But on to my coffee challenge recipe; I was originally going to make a savoury recipe that uses coffee as one of the ingredients, a Mexican recipe, but I also wanted to bake something too, and so my afternoon tea time menu was planned. Would I make macarons, cakes, mousse, parfait or wafers, or would I make biscotti or amaretti? In the end it was my coffee machine that gave me the recipe idea, and I decided to make a classic and VERY retro biscuit (cookie) – one that is popular on many a vintage tea time-table, “coffee kisses”, based on my coffee machine’s vintage good looks! But these coffee kisses are not any old coffee kisses, mine have a sophisticated twist on the usual recipe, I decided to use cocoa powder and some freshly brewed espresso coffee in my little biscuits as well as the butter-cream too. And, as I had some butter-cream left over, I added a dollop of fresh double cream to it, and piped some of the espresso cream into some home-made brandy snaps my mum had made……..a lovely addition to the afternoon tea coffee table.
The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi: Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
In addition to my espresso butter-cream filling, I also added some home-made raspberry jam for a rich berry burst with the coffee flavours. All that was needed to complete my afternoon tea, was a cup of coffee of course – I had a cappuccino and Malcolm my husband had a double espresso. I am thrilled with my new coffee machine, and I’m hoping to add to it with an Icona Vintage kettle and toaster in olive-green if I win the coffee challenge……..as my kitchen is yellow and green, so they will the perfect match! I have not added the brandy snaps recipe as it is simply an assembly job; just add some fresh double cream to a little espresso butter-cream and pipe (or carefully) spoon it into the brandy snaps. The recipe for my Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses is shared below, and I always think they are similar in looks to macarons, albeit it in a more “country cousin” way……Tuscan country cousins maybe!
The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi: Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
Coffee Kisses are the cross between a small cake and a biscuit, and have a distinctive crackled top……they can be made smaller than the ones I made, (as you can see in the photos) and can be sandwiched with all sorts of different fillings such as vanilla butter-cream, chocolate butter-cream, berry butter cream or lemon butter-cream, and the flavourings can be varied in the actual cake/biscuit too. I hope you have enjoyed my “virtual” De’Longhi Tea with Coffee, Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps…….do let me know if you make this recipe. See you later with a new giveaway, a new 5:2 recipe as well as personal post about gardens, cats and the National Trust. Have a wonderful weekend, Karen
The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi: Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses
Print recipe
| Serves | 8 to 10 |
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Cook time | 15 minutes |
| Total time | 30 minutes |
| Allergy | Egg, Wheat |
| Dietary | Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Dessert, Snack |
| Misc | Gourmet, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold |
| Occasion | Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Formal Party, Thanksgiving, Valentines day |
| Region | British |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
Kisses
- 140g Self Raising Flour
- 15g cocoa powder
- 75g golden caster sugar
- 75g butter
- 1 free-range egg, beaten
- 2 teaspoons freshly made espresso coffee
- raspberry jam
Buttercream
- 100g icing sugar
- 50g softened butter
- 2 teaspoons freshly made espresso coffee
Note
A decadent twist on the usual retro style "coffee kisses" beloved of the vintage tea table - these kisses are made with cocoa and espresso coffee for an elegant Italian twist and are sandwiched together with raspberry jam and espresso butter-cream for a very sophisticated flavour. Use a high quality espresso coffee and also a home-made or quality jam too.
Directions
| Step 1 | Mix the flour, cocoa and sugar together and then rub in the butter. |
| Step 2 | Stir in the beaten egg and espresso coffee and mix well. |
| Step 3 | Divide the mixture into even size balls, about the size of a walnut and place them on to a well-greased baking tray. Bake in a pre-heated oven (180C/350F/Gas Mark 4) for 15 minutes, or until the kisses are well risen, cracked on the surface and firm to the touch. |
| Step 4 | Allow them to cool on a wire rack and when they are completely cold, spread a little raspberry jam over both sides of each kiss, and then sandwich together with espresso butter-cream. |
| Step 5 | Butter-cream: Cream the butter and then gradually add the icing sugar and cream together until light and fluffy. Add the espresso coffee and mix well, put to one side until you need to sandwich the kisses together. |
The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi: Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
Disclaimer: I received a De’Longhi Icona Vintage Coffee Machine worth £189 in order to make coffee and enter the Coffee Challenge; all opinions and views are my own, and my recipe is being entered into a competition to win the matching toaster and kettle. Karen S Burns-Booth
The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi: Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
The Coffee Challenge with De’Longhi: Italian Coffee Mocha Kisses and Brandy Snaps
I am also entering these biscuits into Tea Time Treats, the theme for May is Biscuits and Cookies.
Vohn says
I whole-heartedly agree Karen – life is too short for bad coffee. A few weeks ago I was clearing out a kitchen cupboard and found a half-used jar of instant that must have been my step daughter’s (she moved out about a year and a half ago) – I kid you not, it was bright purple! Vohn x
Karen S says
Thanks Vohn……I am NOT a lover of instant coffee at all…..it’s like gravy browning!
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/333456072566259713
Karen S says
Thanks Maya!
Dominic says
oh Karen, i’ve never been more jealous of anything in your kitchen before. How beautiful is that retro styled coffee machine (and how fab would that look in my kitchen)… The Viking and I too are coffee snobs and this would have pride of place… love your beautiful mocha kisses, they are adorable. x
Karen S says
Thanks Dom! I JUST knew you and The Viking would be coffee snobs……XXX Karen
Gill Bland says
Dom, I’ll fight you for that machine. It’s absolutely gorgeous! And it matches my kitchen cupboards 😉 Therefore I should have first dibs 🙂
Actually I’d fight you for those coffee kisses to – they look great Karen. They are all that is good about the more “retro” recipes. Simple and unfussy but allowing their flavours to shine through rather than hiding behind sprinkles and flowers
Karen S says
Thanks Gill, I SO agree, the era of sprinkles and flowers as well as overly fancy “muffin” and “cupcake” cases mask and hide most cakes and bakes nowadays…..these are honest, tasty and out there! Karen 🙂
Galina V says
Ah, but you need proper Italian espresso cups. 😉 Lush mocha kisses!
Are they still looking for anyone else up to the challenge? I’ll be more than happy to take part, and I don’t even need a coffee machine to be sent, as we have a De Longhi, though a different one from yours.
Karen S says
Thanks Galina! I think they have finished this time, but, I can out you in touch with the PR for the future? Karen 🙂
Galina V says
Will you? That would be super! 🙂 I love my De Longhi.
Jackie @ Us Two Friends Reviews says
Ooooh I love the mocha kisses! You always provide me with such inspirational ideas Karen. I’m wondering if black cherry jam would work? Either that or a white chocolate cream? I’ll have to fire up the Boden and give it a go.
Karen S says
Thanks so much Jackie! Yes, I think that black cherry jam would be scrumptious with white chocolate cream, very nice pairing!
Denise says
Love the look of this retro green coffee machine- a good coffee is just soooo important. And those mocha kisses are on my list for my next bake day too.
Louise Smith says
Mmm… coffee and cake, sounds delicious
Tash @ The Velvet Moon Baker says
Thos mocha kisses look gorgeous and loving the retro coffee machine
Julie Davies says
These look absolutely delicious
Myr says
The coffee machine is absolutely gorgeous! And the Mocha Kisses look delicious!
Foodie Laura says
Serious coffee machine envy, it’s more ornament than machine, no? Those coffee kisses are spectacular, amazing photography too
Karen S says
Thanks Laura! I have to admit I LOVE this coffee machine for its good looks and performance!
leemc says
Lovely adding this to my fave bookmarks, im a coffee-holic (as im teetotal)
Nicole says
These look so Gorgeous!!
Charlotte Clark says
look so nice
shared on fb
https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.clark.520125/posts/143475519182498
Tracy Nixon says
OMG How lovely! Sharing via G+
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter again: https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/353740204445675520
Why has my Windows Live Family Safety hidden the sixth picture down? Haha.
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter
Tracy Nixon says
I adore coffee so baking these at the weekend! Shared on FB too!
Tracy Nixon says
Ahhh the Mocha Kisses sound kissable and delicious! Thank you! G+’d! Yummy yummy yummy I’ve got love in my tummy!……
Tracy Nixon says
I made these for our local Macmillan coffee morning yesterday! They went down well. We had to cancel our morning on Friday so were pleased to still hold one yesterday!
Paul Wilson says
Great looking coffee machine.
Maya Russell says
I think either of these would be great to have at Christmas time, for guests as an alternative to a mince pie. Lovely.
Meryl Rees says
So difficult to find a really good coffee machine that’s quick and easy but also tastes perfect. I’m so fussy with coffee!
Jayne Sullivan says
These look delicious. So elegant. Yummy.
michele omalley says
They llok amazing I’ll have to try and make them
michele omalley says
Wow I love these recipes
lorraine stone says
You can’t beat a good brandy snap – I asked for these in a supermarket once. The staff didn’t know what I was talking about, haha! Found them myself in the end!