toasted almond coffee with vanilla whipped cream & toasted sugared almonds

This coffee is like dessert in a cup.

This drink is actually inspired by a famous dessert made by a Pittsburgh bakery-Prantl’s burnt almond torte. Actually named the greatest cake in America by The Huffington Post. I would have to agree. Now, I’m not a big cake eater. I’m a pie girl. But years ago I had the pleasure of trying this cake when I worked at a job where we would celebrate everyone’s birthday with presents and cake. The burnt almond torte was the most requested cake for everyone’s birthday. My favorite part was the sugared toasted almonds on the outside of the cake on top of the buttercream icing.

So the toasted almond drink is kinda like a white Russian which is vodka+Kahlua+cream. The toasted almond is amaretto+kahlua+cream. The name “toasted almond” made me think of the almonds on the burnt almond torte and instead of trying to recreate the cake I tried to make it into a drink. Because you know how I like to turn everything into a cocktail.

The vanilla whipped cream melts pretty fast on the top of the hot coffee but then it gives the coffee the cream that makes it a toasted almond drink. If you like a lot of cream in your coffee, you can always add a little bit and let the melted whipped cream finish it off. If you don’t eat the sugared almonds fast enough, they sink to the bottom of the coffee. I just use my spoon and eat them like cereal before I drink my coffee. I know that sounds weird but it works. And tastes so gosh darn good.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, I made this coffee with my homemade amaretto.

Toasted almond coffee with vanilla whipped cream and toasted sugared almonds
2/3 cup hot coffee
1 oz amaretto
1 oz Kahlua
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 TBL vanilla sugar (regular sugar works just as well, if you don’t have vanilla sugar)
1/4 cup water
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup+1 Tbl coarse sugar (I use sugar in the raw)
Add amaretto and Kahlua to hot coffee. Top with vanilla whipped cream and sprinkle with toasted sugared almonds.
vanilla sugar
with an electric mixer, beat 1 cup whipping cream with 1 TBlsp vanilla sugar. I get my vanilla sugar from Penzy’s. Beat until stiff peaks are formed. Refrigerate until ready to use.
toasted sugared almonds
In a bowl combine 1/4 cup water, 1 cup sliced almonds, and 1/2 cup coarse sugar. Mix well and spread on a grease baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes. As soon as almonds come out of the oven, sprinkle with 1 Tbl coarse sugar. Let cool and break into pieces.

This coffee is seriously addicting. I’ve made it several times already and crave it everyday. And the toasted sugared almonds are like candy and I can’t stop eating them.