Valentine’s Day Cocktails and Cake Balls

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and here are some delicious recipes to help you celebrate with that special someone!  From light cocktails to indulgent cake balls, check out the brand new recipes below…

“Love Machine”

CASCAL Fermented Soda in Ripe Rouge has notes of cherry, chocolate, and rose – perfect for Valentine’s Day!

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INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 oz vodka

3 fresh strawberries or 1 oz of strawberry liqueur

2 oz CASCAL Ripe Rouge

Garnish with strawberry

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 INSTRUCTIONS

Start by muddling strawberries with a dash of strawberry liqueur in the bottom of mixing glass

Add vodka and ice and shake hard

Pour in the CASCAL, stir gently and then fine strain into a Cocktail glass

This is a light a fruity cocktail with nice depth in finish

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“illy issimo with Love”

illy issimo Caffe is a perfect no sugar, lactose-free, low calorie coffee drink for the conscious lover!

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INGREDIENTS

Red dyed sugar

1 can illy issimo Caffe

1 1/2 oz vodka

1 oz Kahlua Coffee Flavored Liqueur

Whipped Cream/Cherries for garnish

1 Tbs Cocoa Powder

Sifter

Shaker

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INSTRUCTIONS

Dip edges of martini glass in water, coating evenly on each side

Place red sugar onto plate and dip the rim of the glass into the sugar mixture to coat

Let glass dry

Mix all liquid ingredients in shaker with ice

Strain contents into sugared martini glass

Add cocoa powder to sifter and hold over glass, sift lightly on top

Apply whipped cream as desired, top with cherry

Served chilled with the one you love

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Valentine’s Day Cake Balls from illy issimo

illy issimo Mochaccino is the Italian espresso-style coffee drink made with lowfat milk and Domori™ Cocoa, the same cocoa in eight-time Golden Chocolate Award winning DOMORI™ Chocolate, for an indulgent escape.

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INGREDIENTS

1 box Devil’s Food Cake Mix + necessary ingredients (eggs/oil)

1 can illy issimo Mochaccino

1 can cream cheese icing

1 bag white chocolate chips

1 bag dark chocolate chips

Sprinkles for decorating

Red food coloring for white chocolate

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INSTRUCTIONS

Bake cake as directed, substituting can of Mochaccino plus 1/4 c milk for water.

Crumble cake into bowl while still warm, add cream cheese icing and stir until fully mixed.

Roll dough into balls and place on parchment paper, freeze for 1–2 hours.

Remove dough, begin melting chocolate.

Melt chocolate for 45 seconds to 1 minute, being very careful to not over heat chocolate as it will lose consistency.

Using candy sticks or fork, dip each ball into chocolate and place back onto parchment.

Repeat process, adding sprinkles/decorations as you go.

Place cake balls on candy sticks (if you desire) or arrange on a plate.

Serve!