Happiness comes from lots of things in life; a smile from a stranger, an email from a friend, or your favorite seasonal Green Mountain Coffee® flavors - like Fair Trade Gingerbread and Fair Trade Spicy Eggnog - coming back into rotation.

I'd never made whoopie pies before, but I had my heart set on creating them using Fair Trade Gingerbread coffee since the moment we decided that would be this month's flavor. Can I tell you a secret? Whoopie Pies are now a full on obsession!

They're way easier than I ever imagined. You'll be able to bake up a dozen saucer-sized whoopie pies with tangy, creamy filling in no time at all. They'll make a fabulous impression beside all the sugar cookies and shortbread that make an appearance this time of year.

Imagine the oohs and ahs you'll garner when you present a tray of these festive Gingerbread Coffee Whoopie pies with Gingerbread Cream Cheese filling decorated with red, white, and green sprinkles!

Fair Trade Gingerbread Coffee Whoopie Pies with Gingerbread Cream Cheese Filling

Makes 12 saucer-sized pies

 

 

Ingredients

For the Pies

• 1/4 cup Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade Gingerbread Coffee
• 1/4 cup butter flavored shortening
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 4 cups whole wheat pastry flour (also known as graham flour)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 cup full flavor molasses
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

For the Filling

• 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons Fair Trade Gingerbread Coffee
• Holiday Sprinkles (optional)

Directions

 

For the Pies

Brew one 4 oz cup of Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade Gingerbread Coffee and set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, add vegetable shortening and softened butter, and mix on medium speed until well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl a few times. Add brown sugar and beat again until well mixed, then do the same with the egg.

In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine whole wheat pastry flour, kosher salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Stir with a whisk for one minute (this aerates the flour so there is no need to sift), then set aside.

Add half the flour mixture to the butter mixture in the large mixing bowl and mix on low speed to combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl often. When fully incorporated, add molasses to the mixture and mix on low speed again until fully combined.

Add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix on low again. Scrape the sides of the bowl and make sure all the flour is mixed in. When this is done, add the buttermilk and cooled coffee and mix on low speed until these last two ingredients are well mixed-in.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then, using a large cookie scoop or an ice cream scoop, spoon 6 portions of batter onto the sheet, well spaced apart as they will spread.

Remove cream cheese for the filling from the refrigerator at this time and leave it on the counter. It will soften while you bake off the pies. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove immediately.

Allow to cool on the baking sheet for a moment, then carefully peel the parchment paper away from each pie half. Place the cookie on a cooling rack to continue cooling, and continue baking the rest of the pies.

 

For the Filling

Once all the pies are baked and are cooling, begin to make the filling. In a medium bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whip cream cheese on high for about a minute.

One cup at a time, sift the powdered sugar and add it to the cream cheese, mixing on low at first, then on high to fully incorporate and whip.

When all the powdered sugar is mixed in, add vanilla extract and Fair Trade Gingerbread Coffee to the mixture. Whip on medium speed until the filling reaches the consistency you'd like.

If you find the filling too thick for your liking, add half and half or whipping cream one tablespoon at a time, mixing after each tablespoon, until you reach your desired consistency.

Spoon filling onto one half of a whoopie pie and spread with the back of the spoon in a circular motion towards the outside of the cookie. Top with a second cookie and press slightly so that the filling is visible from the edges.

If you would like, hold the pie over a baking tray and lightly coat the filling with holiday sprinkles. The tray will catch any sprinkles that don't stick to the filling and make for easy clean up.

Refrigerate the pies until ready to serve, up to two days.

 

[Psst - if you go over to Bluebonnets & Brownies, there's a Gingerbread coffee giveaway going on, too!  Go on over and check-it out!]

Sometimes, a picture speaks a thousand words. 

Behold: Green Mountain Coffee® French Roast – as a cake!  This delicious beauty appeared in the office yesterday as a congratulatory gesture for work done between our IST and Digital teams.  Vanilla cake with mocha frosting – delish!

Which kind of "coffee cake" would you like to try?  I think Spicy Eggnog® coffee would be a treat - a new holiday tradition!

 

(Thanks to Jacques' Fine European Pastries!)

Snow's falling outside, the fireplace is roaring, and we have a large, comforting cup of Fair Trade Spicy Eggnog in our hands. What else could possible make this picture all the more picturesque? According to Amber of Bluebonnets & Brownies, we're in dire need of her Spicy Eggnog Tiramisu. And you know, after tasting her past delicious concoctions, we're inclined to agree.

---

While my family is not Italian, every year for Christmas Eve we have lasagna. I don't really know when this tradition started, but it's been going for as long as I can remember. Suddenly, it hit me: what could be more perfect than tiramisu for dessert after all that lasagna? Spicy Eggnog Tiramisu, of course.

Layers of creamy eggnog-spiced whipped cream cover ladyfingers dipped in rich Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade Spicy Eggnog. The scent alone from this dessert is enough to make your guests request dessert first. Serve it in a festive red dish, and you have got the capstone to your holiday meal!

Tiramisu is not a hard dessert to make, but it does require care and methodical steps. I personally think it's a perfect holiday dessert because you can make it up to a day in advance, and it doesn't take up valuable real estate in the oven on the big day. You can simply pull it from the refrigerator, sprinkle it with cocoa powder, and impress your family with a fancy and fantastical dessert.

Happiest of holidays to each of you - may the new year bring you a Revelation in Every Cup™!

Spicy Eggnog Tiramisu

Serves 6-8
Ladyfingers are a traditional Italian cookie also known as Savoiardi. They are meant to be dunked or dipped, much like biscotti. They are also the traditional building blocks of Tiramisu. You can usually find ladyfingers at your local grocery store - I found mine at Trader Joe's. You can also buy them at Amazon.com, which I have linked to below.

Ingredients
2 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/8 cup of granulated sugar, divided
4 oz mascarpone cheese (roughly half the container)
pinch of salt
6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons eggnog
8 oz Fair Trade Green Mountain Coffee Spicy Eggnog, room temperature
2 tablespoons marsala wine (Kahlua may be substituted)
20 ladyfinger cookies
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
cacao nibs for garnish (optional)

Directions
This is a recipe where a hand mixer, rather than a stand mixer, is an asset. I highly recommend starting out with 3 medium bowls on your countertop, and your hand mixer at the ready. You will need to wash the hand mixer beaters after each step. You should also have your 9" x 7" serving dish ready to go.

Separate the egg whites from the egg yolks.

In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and egg yolks, beating on medium speed until thick and pale, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in mascarpone until combined - do not overmix. Set aside.

Wash, rinse, and dry mixer beaters. Add egg whites to a second medium bowl, along with a pinch of salt. Beat until the eggs just hold soft peaks. Add the remaining 1/8 cup of sugar a little at a time until it is fully incorporated, then continue to beat the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks.

In a third medium bowl, beat cream and eggnog with cleaned beaters. Beat until the mixture holds soft peaks.

Fold cream into the mascarpone mixture gently and thoroughly, then fold in the whites and make sure they are gently, but fully incorporated as well.

In a shallow bowl (I used a pie plate), mix cooled coffee and marsala wine (or Kahlua). Dip one ladyfinger at a time into the coffee mixture, for about 3 seconds - then flip over onto its other side and do the same. Transfer the ladyfinger directly to the serving dish. Layer 10 ladyfingers on the bottom of the serving dish. You should have approximately 6 from top to bottom of the dish, and 4 along the side to fill in the empty space.

Spread half the creamy mascarpone mixture on top of the ladyfingers, making sure to level the cream out evenly. Repeat a second layer of coffee-dipped ladyfingers, then cover the second layer with the rest of the mascarpone mixture, making sure the topping is smooth and even.

Chill covered lightly with plastic wrap for at least 6 hours, but no more than 24.

Just before serving, sprinkle with cocoa powder and cacao nibs (if you choose to). You may substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips for the cacoa nibs if you like.

Serve to friends and family on fancy china, surrounded by sparkling Christmas lights, Christmas carols, and love.

For some, the Holidays Season just isn't complete without eggnog... whether theirs is the traditional, spirited milk and egg punch, or something with a little less nog.

We're all for holiday traditions, so we just couldn't help ourselves when this thought came up: How about twice the eggnog – our Limited Edition Spicy Eggnog^® coffee plus real, sweet and creamy eggnog?  As quick as you could say, “Saint Nick,” the Double Spicy Eggnog recipe was born!

Double Spicy Eggnog Recipe:

• Brew a pot of Fair Trade Certified™ Spicy Eggnog coffee.


• Lightly steam or warm ½ cup of eggnog.


• Fill a mug ¾ full with hot Spicy Eggnog coffee.


• Add warmed eggnog.


• Top with whipped cream and nutmeg finish it off!

K-Cup^® Double Spicy Eggnog Recipe:

• Brew a K-Cup pack of Fair Trade Certified™ Spicy Eggnog coffee for your Keurig^® brewer into a large (16oz. recommended) mug.


• Add lightly steamed or warmed eggnog.


• Top with whipped cream and nutmeg for a festive touch.

Doesn’t that just sing of the holidays?  Can’t wait to hear what you think of it!

Who's up for a sing-a-long?  That's the spirit!  Ahem:

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening!
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Sipping on our mug of Fair Trade Spicy Eggnog!

...I think that's how that song goes.  Doesn't that verse just remind you of  brewing up a batch of coffee that's got the cinnamon and nutmeg spice of the nog you know, with a creamy body all its own?  Add fresh (or whipped) cream, and brew up your very own holiday tradition!

Now, time for the second verse!

Gone away is the bluebird.
Here to stay is a new bird.
He sings a love song, as we go along,
Brewing up some Fair Trade Gingerbread!

Ah.  Don't you smell that fresh-baked gingerbread already?  Just like grandma made.

If we keep singing for much longer we'll start drifting away into memories of trees covered in a blankets of white, turkeys roasting in the oven, and drying your mitten by the fireplace after a long day of snowball fights.  And coffee.  Lots of coffee (until December 26 for these two flavors, that is). So, without further ado: Last verse, everyone!

When it snows, ain't it thrilling?
Though your nose gets a chilling.
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Enjoying your Limited Edition Holiday Seasonals by Green Mountain Coffee!

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With coffee a-brewing
And all are woo-hoo-ing
'Cause Holiday Seasonal Coffees are here!
It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest season of all
Eggnog and Gingerbread K-Cups® and bags
Share when friends come to call
It's the hap-happiest season of all

There's Holiday Blend if you're not into flavored
Light and dark roasts made to be savored
Comes only in bags just so you know
But whichever you choose, you've got nothing to lose
They'll fill you with Holiday glow

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With these coffees you're sharing
In Fair Trade's fine caring
Coffee farmers will cheer

It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time of the year!

(Parody based on Andy Williams' smash hit "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," written by Pola and Wyle, 1963.)

‘Tis the season to treat others - and yourself - with the spirit of the holidays!  Green Mountain Coffee offers three delightful seasonal coffee choices for the this time of year: Holiday Blend, Spicy Eggnog, and Gingerbread.  Each coffee is roasted and blended to reflect the warmth and of this time of year - making a bag the perfect way to celebrate and pass along a little winter cheer!

My personal favorite is Gingerbread.  The rich spices pull me in for the holidays and it is most excellent when treated with a touch of cream, a touch of sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon to top it off.  Sadly, it's only available until December 25, so I'm all over my Gingerbread coffee this week!

Plus don't forget, all of these coffees are Fair Trade, so people far and wide will feel the generosity of your gift!

-Alissa

Happy Black Friday!  Hope the shopping spree is going swimmingly!

Unless, of course, you haven’t been up since 5 a.m., sorting your flyers and coupons and mapping out your shopping route with precision, a travel mug full of caffeinated joy clenched in your hand?

Well.

If you’re one to avoid the lines, crowds, and frenetic pace that is Black Friday, let’s see if we can help you out with your laid back, clickable, PJ-wearing Cyber Monday with some GreenMountainCoffee.com Top Picks:

1. Our Better World Gift Basket: The reusable, eco-friendly tote overflows with Fair Trade, organic, and sustainable treats.  Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate sauce come from farmers who were paid a fair wage. Throw in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and you have it all: java, justice, and joy.

2. Our Fair Trade Organic Sampler: This sampler includes three 10-oz. bags of coffee to fit every mood – bold and dark with French Roast, sweet and swanky with Sumatran Reserve, and bright and vibrant with Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. With certified Fair Trade and Organic coffees, this sampler is perfect for the socially-minded with a coffee habit that’s never routine.

3. Our Limited Edition Seasonal Coffees: Only available during this time of year, Holiday Blend, Spicy Eggnog, and Gingerbread are all created to complement the special foods and festivities of the season. All three coffees are Fair Trade Certified™, which means small-scale farmers were paid a fair price for their beans. Available bagged and in K-Cups.

4. Our Taste of Vermont Breakfast Gift: Brings the beauty of the Green Mountain State right to your doorstep. This special collection represents the best of Vermont's food artisans, including maple butter and maple syrup fromHighland Sugarworks; Raspberry Preserves from Side Hill Farm; a tin of Lake Champlain Fair Trade Organic Cocoa. Mitzi’s Maple Granola made out of Stowe, Vt. Our own Vermont Country Blend and Breakfast Blend coffees round out your tasty tour of Vermont.

Happy hunting…or clicking!

-Kristen

While flipping through the TV channels with your early morning cup of Nantucket Blend or a late night mug of Fair Trade Eggnog, you may have stumbled upon our brand new Keurig commercial. The new spot is popping up all over the airwaves – Ellen, House Hunters, Iron Chef and many more – and now on our blog, too!

Take a peek:

A big thanks to the Keurig team for producing such a fantastic spot!

With the new holiday ad out, all we can say is, "Let the season begin!"

-Kristen

Springtime is nearly here and what better way to kick-off this refreshing season than with your favorite springtime coffees? Our two limited edition spring coffees, Island Coconut® and Spring Revival™ Blend, are delicious when served hot or as an iced beverage.

If you are making these coffees hot try mixing them up with hot cocoa for a twist. If you are making them iced, then try adding some chocolate milk. The perfect splash for the spring season!

The best way to ensure you get every one of your favorite seasonal flavored coffees is to join the
Seasonal Flavors Coffee Tour. We will send you two bags or boxes of each of the following flavors:

• Winter — Golden French Toast


• Spring — Island Coconut


• Summer — The Perfect Peach -NEW for 2009!


• Fall — Pumpkin Spice


• Holiday — Spicy Eggnog