The Kitchn: Cafe con leche pops put a little pep in your step
You can't talk about breakfast in Cuba without talking about coffee. Be it cafecito or cafe con leche or any of the coffee drinks that fall in between, coffee is an important part of the morning meal, with cafe con leche, a drink of sweetened espresso and lots of steamed milk, being the most popular choice as the first drink of the day. With its milky sweetness, cafe con leche can even feel like dessert, so why not take it all the way there, turning the drink into an ice pop for a cooler take on your morning buzz?
These pops require a good, strong batch of coffee so track down a can of Pilon or reach for the Cafe Bustelo you have stashed in the cabinet. Both of these brands are espresso roast; they come with a pronounced flavor that can veer into bitterness, which is why they take so well to tempering with milk and sugar. For our ice pops, we're using both evaporated milk, which carries a cooked milk sweetness of its own distinction, and condensed milk, which is viscous and intensely sweet. Both help to mellow out the coffee while ensuring the pops freeze into a dense, almost fudgy treat.
These little powerhouses are made in small Dixie cups. It's not quite like the large cups you see cafe con leche served in, but think about it -- when the pops are this small, nothing's stopping you from seconds.
Cafe con Leche Pops
Recipe by Sara Martinez
Makes 8 (3-ounce) ice pops
1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
1/2 cup strong brewed Cuban coffee, such as Pilon brand
4 ounces sweetened condensed milk
Place the evaporated milk, coffee and sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup and whisk to combine.
Pour 3 ounces into each of 8 ice pop molds or 8 (5-ounce) disposable cups. Attach the sticks to the molds, or cover each disposable cup with aluminum foil, cut a slot through the center of the foil, and insert a wooden popsicle stick into each slot. Freeze until solid, about 6 hours. To remove the ice pops from the molds, run the outside of the molds or cups under warm running water until they loosen.
Recipe notes: The cafe con leche mixture can be made ahead of time, and any remaining mixture can be warmed up and served as cafe con leche. The popsicles can be kept for up to 1 week.
(Hali Bey Ramdene is the food editor of TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)
