Whether being sipped in a cafe in Paris or enjoyed in the heart of New Orleans - café au lait has an extensive and cherished international history. Café au lait established its roots in various parts around the world; in Spain and it’s called cafe con leché, it’s referred to as milchkaffee in Germany, those in Poland call it kawa biala, and in Hungary it’s called koffie verkeerd. Café au lait is the term most popularly used in northern European cafe’s and here in the U.S.
Whatever the term being used is, they all refer to the same delicious drink comprised of dark rich coffee and warm creamy milk. In fact, in French, café au lait literally translates to coffee with milk.
In New Orleans, café au lait is often served with chicory root added, which adds a uniquely bitter and robust flavor to the coffee. Sweet beignets with powdered sugar are many times served alongside the coffee drink to compliment the bitterness of the chicory flavor. While popular, chicory-flavored coffee can definitely be considered an acquired taste for most.
Now, if you’re looking for a way to celebrate this delicious coffee staple, look no further than today-National Café au Lait day! We found a fantastic recipe that puts a delightful spin on this traditional coffee drink we thought you’d enjoy. Not to mention, this drink promises to pair perfectly with a cold winter’s day. Take a look below!
Creamy Vanilla Café au Lait
Ingredients:
- 6 oz brewed Angelino’s French Roast coffee
- ¼ cup half and half
- ¼ cup whole or 2% milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tbsp. sugar or sweetener of your choice
**Not a fan of vanilla? Pro Tip: Skip the vanilla extract and use your favorite Angelino’s Flavored Coffee!
Directions:
- In a small saucepan, heat half and half, milk, and sugar to a low simmer.
- Add vanilla extract to the milk mixture and simmer on low for 15 minutes.
- Brew Angelino’s French Roast coffee into your favorite mug.
- Once milk is heated, whisk milk mixture for 1 minute and then pour over coffee.
- Enjoy!
No time to simmer? No problem! Pop the milk mixture in the microwave, brew coffee, if you have a frother, froth the milk a touch, then pour milk over your coffee! Voilà!
How are you celebrating National Café au Lait Day? Send us your pictures @angelinoscoffee
