They say smells can bring you back to certain memories. In fact, smells can change your mood. Coffee is one of my favorite smells that does just that.
Coffee reminds me of so many good things. It especially brings me back to my early childhood and staying at my grandparents’ house during summer vacation. My grandparents were avid coffee drinkers and every morning I would wake up to them making a pot along with eggs and oatmeal. Way before you could get a cappuccino or latte at a coffee shop, they made coffee with foamed egg whites and sugar on top. They let me have a few spoons of coffee in my milk and at ten years old, it made me feel very grown up.
The smell of coffee also reminds me of all kinds of parties. From bridal showers to baby showers to christenings, every party in my family ended with cake and coffee. It seems like there is always something luxurious about having a good cup of coffee with cake in the afternoon.
Normally I wake up and the first thing I do is make myself a cup of coffee. It’s not like I just love the flavor of black coffee since I douse it with foamed milk and some kind of sweetener. But I love everything about coffee. While I think it is the smell, I also love the coziness of a warm drink and the ritual of making it every morning.
Lavazza has some new specialty drip coffees and I was sent some just in time for the holidays. I also received a French press which is perfect to make their rich coffees. Their Classico medium roast is my favorite and I prefer my cup eaten with a cookie or brownie. Come January, the party will be over. But until then I am having a cup of this delicious coffee every afternoon with a sweet to savor every moment of the holiday season.
While I should have posted this recipe before Christmas, I am insisting you make these between now and New Year’s. If you don’t have time, they are also a perfect winter treat. I used Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Joe Joe’s but any peppermint sandwich cookies will do. Holiday Oreo’s are a good choice and if you do not like peppermint, any other flavor of Oreo cookies works too.
I sprinkled the brownies with peppermint sprinkles but again you can use any flavor of sprinkles or crushed candy canes. They are very easy to make because I used boxed brownie mix and I am not afraid to say it. If you don’t like to use boxed mixes, you can always whip up your favorite brownie recipe too.
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season!
- 1 box of your favorite brownie mix (for a 13x9 inch pan)
- ½ cup canola oil
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup water
- 16 holiday oreo cookies (or another brand sandwich cookies)
- 3 TBS sprinkles or crushed candy canes
- Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
- Mix brownie mix, oil, eggs and water in a large bowl.
- Grease an 8 X 8 pan or line with parchment paper. Pour in half of the batter and then line bottom of pan with the cookies. Pour the rest of the batter over the cookies.
- Sprinkle with sprinkles or crushed candy canes.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a tooth pick comes clean.
- Cool then cut into 16 squares.
***For full disclosure, I was provided with a gift card to purchase ingredients for this recipe as well as Lavazza coffee and a French Drip Press. As usual, all opinions are my own.
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