Creating Comfort At Home With Starbucks #HotCocoa #KCups + Hot Chocolate French Toast Recipe #IC

This post was sponsored by Starbucks^® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received compensation and complimentary products to facilitate my review.#IC

Momma Told Me: Welcome home, get cozy.

The past two weeks have been hectic around here. We've 'endured' the indecisive Southern California Winter weather- 90F and 20MPH winds one moment, torrential rain and wind chill the next. I know, from a life growing up here, not to complain. My friends and family back East have much more to contend with. But what I wasn't expecting was to open up my kitchen sink cabinet 10 days ago to discover a leak had burst (who knows how long prior) and the entire cabinet was full of sitting moisture. I'll spare you the details but that portion of the house was off limits for an entire week. And me, without my kitchen to bake and cook in, was the worst of all. I felt like a fish out of water and my idle hands, once busy with baking sheets, mixers, and boiling pots, sought comfort elsewhere. The Starbucks^® Cozy Collection couldn't have arrived at a more opportune time.

Featuring Starbucks^®' new delicious Hot Cocoa K-Cup^® pods in Classic and Salted Caramel, the Cozy Collection is quite literally a box full of instant comfort. It was just the veritable 'hug' I needed when I was feeling so much like a stranger in my own home. All I need do was pop one of the K-Cup^® pods, full of classic Starbucks^® Hot Cocoa comfort flavor, into my Keurig^®, put my brand new Starbucks mug beneath, and hit brew. Thanks goodness my Keurig^® was not off limits! Included with the Cozy Collection was also a decadent plush blanket, Madyson's gourmet marshmallows, Walker's Shortbread, a $5 Starbucks^® Gift Card, and some Starbucks Hot Cocoa inspired recipes.

There is something about Hot Cocoa- it never mattered much the time of day or the weather outside, the cozy feelings of comfort and contentment always rush back with my first sip. When I was a young girl I used to order it as my 'drink' whenever we'd dine out. It could be pushing 100F outside, my family escaping indoors to air conditioning from theme park weather, and I'd still demand that warm drink of cozy chocolate. Of course, as an adult, my tastes have grown up a little. Now I sneak a Venti cup up my favorite Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate at the drive through on my way to the alley from Starbucks^®. And, if there happens to be a car behind me, I treat them too. That's what warm fuzzy, delicious, feelings tend to do.

So with the convenience of Starbucks^®' newest K-Cup^® pods in delicious Classic and Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa flavors I've been enjoying even more Cozy moments from the comfort of my own home. Because, let's face it, it doesn't get any more cozy then you're own personal space, with your own perfect cup of hot cocoa. Extra marshmallows, a dash of cinnamon, a hot fudge drizzle? I don't judge. That's the beauty of being your own barista with Starbucks^®' Hot Cocoa K-Cup^® pods and your Keurig^® brewer. Of course I DO have my own opinions about how to best get Cozy- and they involve homemade Honey-Vanilla Whipped Cream (you can make this in minutes folks, with just 3 ingredients) and the very best french toast you've ever had.

Of course my Hot Chocolate French Toast takes a *little* longer than the Honey-Vanilla Whipped Cream, but have no fear, you can enjoy a tall glass of Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa while you whip it up- nobody's watching, indulge a little. And, speaking of indulging- this french toast- it's a 'dessert' kind of recipe. And it's not for the faint of heart- chocolate lover's rejoice- finally the perfect companion to a cozy blanket, a mug of hot cocoa and a good book!

 The secret to this delicious recipe? Well, there are two, actually. The first is the homemade Ganache whipped up with coconut milk, semi sweet morsels, and a Starbucks^® Via Caramel Instant Latte packet. Just pour your favorite Starbucks Instant directly in for an immediate flavor boost that elevates this dish beyond traditional chocolate. The second secret is in how you brew your Starbucks Hot Cocoa K-Cup^® pods. If you happen to have a 2.0 Keurig^® Brewer, or newer, you can actually tell your unit to brew your Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa even stronger. So go ahead and select '4oz' and let all the flavor out as you make your egg bath for this french toast recipe.

Now, some may find that hot chocolate has no business without marshmallows- if you're a purest then go ahead and sandwich some mini marshmallows in between your bread slices just before you begin soaking them. They'll melt nice and ooey-gooey during the baking process. Comfort food should be a little messy, no? Of course, if you prefer to let the chocolate stand out on it's own, you can just go a little overboard with your 'spreading' of the Ganache and make these french toast wedges extra thick. It's your cozy, do what you want.

But, at the end of the day, or morning if you're a real rebel, when those french toast wedges come out of the frying pan and onto those plates I do hope your world goes silent if just for one moment so you can bask in the perfect pairing of chocolate, Starbucks, and comfort food. Go ahead and flop into your favorite chair in your plushest robe, kick your feet up, sip your hot cocoa with your pink up and let your fork take you another place and time. After all, we all deserve to get cozy now and then.

Starbucks® Hot Cocoa K-Cup® pods are available nationwide at major retailers and grocery stores. Visit their website to learn more about store locations, flavor selections, and even more delicious ways to enjoy Starbucks in your own Cozy moment at home. For a chance to win your own Cozy Collection from Starbucks please head on over to the Warm Up With Cocoa website to enter now through February 26th, 2016. Follow the brand in Instagram or Twitter to keep up with the latest innovations in flavor and  cozy. Now, tell me, what's your favorite way to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa?

What Daughter Says: However you take your cocoa, get cozy at home with new Starbucks® Hot Cocoa K-Cup® pods.

Hot Chocolate French Toast

Click here for printable Hot Chocolate French Toast recipe

Ingredients:

French Toast:

1 C Coconut Milk (Or Other Milk Substitute)

1 Starbucks® Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa K-Cup® Pod (brewed on 4oz setting)

3 Large Eggs

2 TBS Vanilla Extract

1/4 TSP Salt

1/4 TSP Ground Cinnamon

4 TBS Butter OR Coconut Oil

8 Thick Slices of Challah (or Similar) Bread

Ganache:

3/4 C Heavy Cream OR Coconut Milk (Canned)

9oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Chopped OR Morsels

1 TBS Coconut Oil

2 TSP Instant Espresso/Coffee Powder (I Use Starbucks® Instant VIA Caramel Latte)

1 C Mini Marshmallows (Optional)

1 C Fresh Whipped Cream (Vanilla-Honey Recipe Below)

Directions:

1. In a microwave safe bowl combine heavy cream/canned coconut milk and chocolate to make Ganache. Microwave for 30 second intervals on high, stirring between until smooth. Stir in instant coffee until dissolved and smooth. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (no longer) while preparing the rest of the dish.

2. In a glass measuring cup add 1 C of coconut milk (or milk substitute) and microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until the milk is HOT. Stir in 4oz brewed Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa. Let cool 5-10 minutes.

3. In a 9"x13" baking pan whisk together the eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk in the hot chocolate mixture.

4. Remove your Ganach from the refrigerator and spread the mixture generously over one side of each of your bread slices. Sprinkle mini marshmallows on top if desired. Sandwich slices together, placing them in hot cocoa egg mixture. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes flip the sandwiches and return the pan to the fridge for 15 minutes, or overnight.

5. When ready to cook your french toast heat a large skillet or pan over medium heat, coated generously with coconut oil or butter. When the pan/skillet is hot cook the french toast in batches (1-2 sandwhiches at a time) until golden and crisp. (About 3 minutes per side.) Remove and serve immediately with a generous dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Honey Vanilla Whipped Cream

Click here for printable Honey-Vanilla Whipped Cream recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/3 C Heavy Whipping Cream

3 TBS Honey

1 TSP Vanilla Extract

Directions:

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the cream on medium-high speed until soft peaks form (2-3 minutes.)

2. Add the honey and continue to whip on medium speed until medium stiff peaks form (1-2 more minutes.) Add the vanilla extract. Stir until combined.

3. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 4 hours, covered.