Mocha Coffee Cooler

This is another idea I got from a cookbook that has been sitting on our counter for years. One thing I have grown to really love and appreciate in my adult life is coffee. But this is a fun and whimsical way to enjoy some coffee flavor, but with a nod to your childhood. It's sort of like a grown-up milkshake.

Get out your trusty blender and add 1 cup of strong coffee, chilled. Next add 1 cup of half-and-half -- or you can use light cream, or even milk.  Next comes the sweetness: add 3 Tbsp of chocolate syrup and 2 Tbsp sugar.  Blend everything together until combined.

Next add 1 cup of ice cubs and blend it all together until it's smooth.  If you want, you can drizzle/swirl chocolate syrup around the glass. The picture in the cookbook looked a lot fancier than mine. I guess I'll just have to practice. ;-)

And to make it even more adult-like, I made mine in a Smithwick's pint glass my mom brought back from Ireland for me.

It was really rich with the half-and-half, sugar, and chocolate. But I actually used half skim milk to thin it out a little. And the coffee does a nice job of cutting through the sweetness so it isn't overpowering.  I really liked it.

You can use a nice, strong decaf if you don't want the caffeine at night.