Even though I make these pops in a Zoku maker, you can make any of these recipes in traditional pop makers – each pop here is 2 oz. so adjust accordingly. And if you love pops like me, then do yourself a favor and get a Zoku Their recipes turn out fantastic pops – I often skinny them up a bit, but I mostly use their measurements and basic recipe and am always pleased with the results.

Caramel Latte Pops

6 servings
46 calories per serving

2 c skim milk
3 shots of espresso, cooled
2 T caramel sauce

Whisk together espresso and milk. (if you like a sweet flavor, add some Equal or Splenda). Then pour into the base and freeze completely (7-9 minutes in the Zoku, 6 hours in the freezer). Just before eating, drizzle the pops with caramel syrup.

The best part of this recipe was the espresso dip – so incredibly rich and it very much reminds me very much of a similar dip served in one of my favorite restaurants. I would recommend it for any plain baked good (scone, cookie, etc.) The beignets themselves were a little dry and I would definitely add more water (1/4 c more) and some Splenda (1/4 c) to the dough. But even with them being a bit dry – it was sweet dough with sweet powdered sugar on top and an awesome dipping sauce, so I will definitely try again

Baked Beignets

12 servings
260 calories per serving

Beignets:
¼ c warm water
1 package quick rising active dry yeast
¼ c sugar
3 c flour
1 ½ t baking powder
½ t baking soda
½ t salt
4 T cold butter, cut up
¾ c low fat buttermilk
1 large egg
¼ c confectioner’s sugar
Pam

Café Dip:
1/3 c sugar
2 T plus 1 t instant espresso powder
1 T plus 1 t cornstarch
2 c whole milk
1 ½ oz. unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped

Place warm water in a small bowl and sprinkle with yeast and 1 t sugar. Stir and then let stand about 5 minutes or until foamy. In a large bowl stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and rest of the sugar until well combined. With a pastry knife, cut in butter until the mix resembles fine crumbs. With a fork, mix buttermilk and egg into yeast mixture and blend well. Make a hole in the center of the flour mix and pour in the yeast mix. Stir until a dough forms. Lightly flour a work surface and knead dough several times until smooth. Spray the bowl with Pam and place dough in the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let stand in a non-drafty spot for 10 minutes. Spray 2 baking sheets with Pam and punch down dough. Roll the dough with a floured rolling pin to a 9 inch square and cut into 6 strips. Then cut each strip into 6 pieces for a total of 36 pieces. Place on baking sheets about 2 inches from each other. Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with Pam and place over the pans while they sit and rise for 20 minutes.

To prepare dip, combine sugar, espresso powder and cornstarch in a pan. Whisk in milk and cook on medium for 8 minutes or until it comes to a boil and thickens slightly then reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes then remove from heat and add chocolate and whisk until melted. Cover and set aside.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake beignets 12 minutes or until golden brown. While they are still hot toss with confectioner’s sugar. Serve with dip.

Coffee used in meat marinades adds a great depth of flavor. This one combines some sugar, so the flavors really STICK to the meat well and that makes it all the more tasty !

Coffee and Steak

4 servings
185 calories per serving

1 t finely ground espresso
1 t Splenda brown sugar
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
4 4 oz. filet mignons
Pam

Heat a grill pan on medium high heat (or heat up the grill in the backyard !). Coat pan with Pam. Combine all the spices and rub into steaks. Cook 4 minutes per side or until desired doneness.

A large latte in the evening is one of my favorite things. And at a fraction of the calories (and cost!) of a Starbucks drink, it’s worth it to get set up with all the equipment and make these at home. Just buy the sugar free syrups since they have ZERO calories. They are available right at your local Starbucks store (so you can get your favorite) or you can try Torani syrups and find a new favorite. I have been using these for months and have a stock of 10 different flavors.

Low Fat Latte

1 serving
100 calories per serving

Heat 6 oz. of skim milk in a large mug in the microwave for 90 seconds. Add 1 serving of espresso or ½ a cup of strong coffee. Add 3 squirts of a sugar free flavored syrup. Top with a good amount of low fat whipped cream (from the can). Sprinkle with cinnamon or cocoa powder or chocolate shavings. I find the best shavings come from chocolate and cinnamon mills – I purchased this chocolate mill from Amazon and have been very happy with the performance:

This is the espresso maker we use – my husband is quite the espresso snob and let me tell you, he RAVES about this machine. We have had much more expensive machines and have had espresso out at some of the finest coffee shops and Italian restaurants, and nothing compares to the espresso that this little machine makes:

And these are the sugar free syrups that I use (local coffee shops also sell versions of these):