Whether you are toasting with many or cuddling in front of the fire with one I want to wish you all the merriest of Christmases. I hope you have love in your hearts, peace in your souls, and a warming drink in your hands. This orangey take on the classic Kahlúa and coffee is what I’ll be drinking. It has a touch of sweet orange syrup, some boozy Kahlúa coffee liqueur, a hefty dollop of orange-tinged whipped cream and the caffeine kick I need to stay up late and do the present wrapping I always put off to the absolute last minute.
Turns out our Christmas will be a quiet affair. Louisa came down with the flu yesterday and all plans for Christmas celebrations were canceled. I shouldn’t be surprised, sixty percent of her elementary school has been stricken—only eight children showed up on Monday in one first grade class. My baby has been permanently stationed in our bed since 1am on Tuesday morning but I’m hoping with a little chicken soup she’ll gain enough strength to do some present opening tomorrow.
Yesterday, we found ourselves in the doctor’s office, sitting in silence, Louisa in her pajamas and snow boots looking so fragile. All I could think about was the melancholy lyrics from my favorite Christmas carol Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ‘until then we’ll have to muddle through some how…..” There’s something about that song that is so bittersweet….much, as it turns out, like life itself.
This Christmas I hope you are filled with love, and good food, and a nice cocktail, and peace. Thank you so much for coming to this site and supporting me. I value you all to no end and can’t tell you how much it means to me that you make these recipes, and leave me comments, and pin the ones you like for later.
I’ve got so many good things in the works for you for 2015, but for now I’ve got a sick kid to snuggle and you probably have a Christmas party to go to so ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas now……”

Double Orange Kahlúa and Coffee
These are the amounts for 1 drink but you should have enough whipped cream and simple syrup for at least 2 or 3 more.
If you have made the Candied Orange Peel you can use the leftover orange syrup for this drink and garnish the drink with some small strips of the peel.
Ingredients
For the Orange Simple Syrup:
- Zest of 1 orange removed in large strips
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
For the Orange Whipped Cream:
- Finely grated zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
For the Drink:
- 6 ounces fresh-brewed coffee
- 1 ounce Kahlúa
- 1/2 ounce orange simple syrup
- Orange whipped cream, for garnish
Instructions
For the Orange Simple Syrup:
- Combine orange strips, sugar, and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
- Boil for 1-2 minutes, remove from heat and let steep, covered for 10-15 minutes. Strain and set aside.
For the Orange Whipped Cream:
- Combine orange zest, whipped cream, and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium until stiff peaks form, about 2-3 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
For the Drink:
- Combine coffee, Kahlúa, and simple syrup in a mug, top with whipped cream and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g
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