Frappe secrets revealed...

It's summer time and we all know what that means, frappe season is upon us! Frappes are the ultimate solution to breakfast when you have that "gotta hurry up and get it done early before it gets super hot, don't have time for breakfast" mentality, or when it's afternoon and you need an icy cold pick me up. Some of you know that I have been working to perfect my frappe making skills since last summer when I got shamefully addicted to McDonald's caramel frappes. I later discovered that Sonic has a pretty good hazlenut java chiller, but it's totally different. The difference in these two is that McD's is more icy while Sonic's is more like a coffee milk shake. When I started out in my quest to replicate, I searched the web and found that there was surprisingly little information out there in the form of a make at home recipe. Most of the few recipes that I did find wanted you to use special powders and or make simple syrups which isn't hard but it's hot and sticky and lets face it that's just another step. I purchased some coffee syrups instead of going to the trouble. I also came up with the plan that if I froze my coffee in ice cube trays  I could both flavor the frappe as well as combat the disappointment that happens at the end when you have watered down, nearly tasteless slush. I have since altered even that recipe and resorted to using cold coffee in liquid form. Now that I've bored you with the why, I will get on with the how. I highly recommend that you get a "Ninja" blender. This is by far the best blender thing I have ever owned. If your blender does a great job with ice and doesn't leave you chunks that get stuck in your straw, go for it. Otherwise, go to the store and make the investment, you will not be sorry. I use the large pitcher, as it obviously gives more area for things so mix. I add 3 regular size scoops of vanilla ice cream, not like "Baskin Robbins" size scoops, just like once across the top of the bucket scoops. I add to that about 3/4 of a cup of the coffee brew of your choice, I have found that hazlenut makes it awesome. I use my caramel ice cream topping syrup and make about 5 laps around the pitcher. If you don't like caramel you're probably going to have to use a plain simple syrup, but I like caramel so I haven't had to worry about that. I have also found that the 5 lap rule applies to chocolate syrup as well. If you like it less caramely or chocolatey or less sweet, feel free to adjust that amount. I add 5 pieces of ice. If you like it more milkshakey, add 1-2 less, but if you like it more icy as Henry does, add 1-2 more. I do not add milk to my frappes as I find that it makes it too liquidy. I'm also not sure that all these words ending in y are real words, but I don't care. Pulse blend this concoction until you stop hearing ice hitting the pitcher, that will tell you that you have a perfectly well blended frappe that won't choke you because you sucked a chunk of ice down your throat. I will also add my personal thoughts about cups.

 Joann has a fantastic reusable cup for frappes (or milkshakes). It's sturdy clear plastic so you can see what's going on in it, it has a screw on lid so you don't spill, it has a silicone grip band so you don't drop it and it also prevents your hand from freezing while you hold the cup, and it has a hard plastic straw that won't collapse and has a bit of a propeller type thing on the bottom so that you can re-mix your drink should you need to. They also come in different colors so you can get one for every member of your family for milkshake night.

Starbucks also has a good reusable frappe cup. It is called the "Via" is is actually intended to be used with their new instant coffee. You will notice that it is also a sturdy clear plastic with a silicone grip. It has a screw on "sipper" top with a tab you can close to prevent spills rather than a straw but you can easily add a straw if you get a long one like the ones from Sonic or McDonald's big cups. You will notice that it also has a propeller type thing on the bottom, but unlike the Joann Cup it is mounted on a twisted stick (think drill bit). This stick has a tab on the top and when you move the tab up and down, the propeller spins thus mixing your drink. This mixing apparatus is far more thorough than the paddle on the straw, but the straw thing works fine for the minimal amount of stirring you might need to do. *Note* Do not use the mixer while your straw is in the cup as it might maim said straw. You know that comes from personal experience.

So there you have it friends, the culmination of my frappe studies. I hope that you enjoy making your own frappes in this simple on hand manner. Feel free to tweak the recipe to your liking, and don't hesitate to use flavored coffees or perhaps even flavored creamers to create your perfect summer frappe. -Kellie-