White Chocolate Cappuccino

White Chocolate Cappuccino

Who doesn't love a nice warm cup of hot cocoa? Everyone has some kind of memory tied to this drink. Whether it was camping trips, rainy days or just a surprise from mom, everyone loves this classic drink. My version has an added "kick" to it, which is AMAZING on a cold morning when you want a break from coffee. I hope you enjoy!



Ingredients:


2 cups 2% milk


2 cups half and half


1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped


10 ounces of white chocolate (Ghirardelli is recommended)


½ tablespoon vanilla


1 teaspoon almond extract


4 cups freshly brewed dark coffee


cocoa powder or grated cocoa nibs, for garnish



2 teaspoons of brandy (perfect little kick on a cold night) (optional)




Directions:

Place milk and half and half into a sauce pot. Add scraped vanilla seeds and pod to the pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk in brandy, vanilla, and almond extract. Strain through a fine sieve to remove vanilla bean. Return to a low heat and whisk until frothy using a hand blender. Divide the coffee into mugs and ladle the white chocolate mixture over. Garnish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder or grated cocoa nibs.