Coffee Punch: The Perfect Party Treat

There are lots of great things about coffee punch: it’s delicious, it’s easy to make, it keeps your guests alert and it keeps the conversation flowing (especially if you add a bit of liqueur).

But perhaps the best thing of all is how versatile it can be, with recipes only limited by your imagination.

Coffee punch is, at its simplest, a cold version of the classic Italian beverage affogato — a small scoop of vanilla gelato topped with a hot shot of espresso. Scaled up to party size and served in a punch bowl, it becomes a mega-sized coffee drink for your guests to enjoy by the ladle-full.

The basic recipe for a small party is:

Coffee Punch master recipe

• 8 cups of brewed coffee
• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 carton of vanilla ice cream
• Chocolate or caramel syrup, to drizzle

While the coffee is warm, mix in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract, and chill in refrigerator. For service, pour coffee mixture into a punch bowl, add small scoops of ice cream, and drizzle with syrup as a garnish. Let guests serve themselves by ladling into punch cups or coffee cups. Serves 8 -12.

It’s a simple recipe, with endless variations, and you’ll have no trouble showcasing your favorite Barnie’s coffee.

Nutty Coffee Punch

• Barnie's Hazelnut coffee
• Dulce de Leche caramel, or other caramel sauce
• Vanilla ice cream
• Caramel syrup

… and maybe a few ounces of Bourbon, to keep it interesting

Mochaccino Punch

• Barnie’s Café Mocha Truffle coffee
• Half-and-half
• Dark chocolate gelato
• Vanilla whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings for garnish

Be a Barnie’s Coffee adventurer, and tell us about the coffee punch concoction you’ve created!