Coffee gives a kick to spring party refreshments

(ARA) - Spring brings with it new reasons to celebrate. Warmer weather and longer days create the perfect atmosphere for a lively afternoon cocktail party or a weekend get-together with friends.

Add fresh flavor to your spring menus by incorporating an unusual ingredient like coffee into your snacks and drinks. This added detail will make your party elegant and memorable for all attendees.

"I like my party menus to be simple and enjoyable, which is why I keep Starbucks VIA Ready Brew on hand for a new twist on my favorite drinks and snacks," says Mindy Weiss, celebrity wedding planner and party enthusiast. "Coffee adds a unique flavor to tried-and-true party foods, and the convenience of Starbucks VIA allows me to enjoy my parties with my guests."

So get creative as you plan your next in-home soiree, or try one of these delicious recipes to add a little zing to your next get-together. And don't forget to visit Starbucks.com/VIA for recipe ideas for cupcakes to milk shakes to party mix.

Double Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped

2 packets Starbucks VIA (R)

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Melt chocolate in a double-boiler over barely simmering water. Stir in the coffee. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add the melted chocolate to the butter mixture and stir well. Add vanilla and egg to the chocolate mixture. Stir in the dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips. Divide dough into 36 balls and place on a cookie sheet, but don't flatten. Bake at 325 F for about eight minutes. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.

And the perfect drink to serve with these cookies is a glass of milk. But spice up your milk drink with this popular recipe from Spain and Mexico.

Horchata

Ingredients:

1 cup long-grain white rice

2 cups water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

2 packets Starbucks VIA

2 1/2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon zest of an orange

Directions:

Soak the rice in the water for a minimum of one hour. (Overnight works as well.) Mix rice, soaking water, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar and coffee in a blender for two minutes. Strain into a pitcher and add milk. Chill completely (overnight is fine). When ready to serve, pour the mixture into a serving pitcher leaving the sediment behind. Stir in orange zest.

Try this recipe for a new twist on a coffee drink. It is popular in both Spain and Thailand.

Bombon

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

1 cup hot water

1 packet Starbucks VIA

Directions:

Carefully spoon two tablespoons of the condensed milk into the bottom of two glasses. Stir the coffee together with the hot water to dissolve. Carefully pour the coffee mixture into both glasses.

And if you're looking for something very unique, try a non-alcoholic version of sangria.

Breakfast Sangria

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar

3 cups cranberry juice

1 cup orange juice

1 cup blueberries

1 1/2 cups strawberries quartered

1 orange with zest removed and sliced into 1/4 inch wheels

2 packets Starbucks VIA

1 cup soda water

Directions:

Combine sugar, juices and fruit in a pitcher. Stir to dissolve sugar. Let chill for several hours. Before serving, dissolve coffee with a tablespoon of hot water in a large glass. Add a cup of the juice mixture and stir to fully combine. Add this coffee mixture back into the sangria pitcher and stir to combine. Right before serving, mix in the soda water. Combine the zest with an equal amount of sugar. Dip moistened rims of tall glasses into the orange-sugar mixture for a sparkling visual and flavor. Fill the glasses with sangria mixture.

Courtesy of ARAcontent