Warm Spiced Vanilla Cocktail Food

WARM SPICED VANILLA COCKTAIL

Steps:

• To a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add the milk, maple syrup, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and star anise. If using a vanilla bean, split it open and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds and remainder of vanilla bean to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is hot and steaming. Reduce to low and heat for 5 minutes, being careful not to ever let it come to a full boil. Remove from heat. Place a fine-mesh sieve over a large heat-proof bowl and carefully pour the liquid over the sieve. Discard the solids. Add the liquid back to the saucepan. Stir in the Irish cream, bourbon, and vanilla extract.
• To garnish the mug rims, pour the 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup into a small saucer. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon, then pour it onto another small saucer. Dip the rims of the glasses into the maple syrup, then dip into the cinnamon and sugar mix, pressing to coat evenly. Flip over and fill glasses with the hot cocktail. Serve.

WARM SPICED VANILLA POPCORN

Steps:

• Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside. Place a rimmed baking sheet or a large paper bag on the work surface.
• Heat the coconut oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat for 1 minute. Add 2 popcorn kernels. Once they pop, add the scraped vanilla seeds and stir. Immediately stir in the remaining popcorn kernels, wait 10 seconds, then quickly stir in the sugar-cinnamon mixture. Cover the pot, leaving the lid slightly askew (and facing away from you) to allow steam to escape. Use oven mitts to protect your hands as you shake the pot constantly over the burner. Keep shaking until most of the popcorn has popped and you hear 1 to 2 seconds between pops.
• Immediately turn off the heat, uncover the pot, and carefully dump the popcorn out onto the baking sheet or into the paper bag. Let cool at least 5 minutes before eating (be careful-the sugar makes the popcorn extremely and hot!).

WARM SPICED VANILLA COCKTAIL

Steps:

• To a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add the milk, maple syrup, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and star anise. If using a vanilla bean, split it open and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds and remainder of vanilla bean to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is hot and steaming. Reduce to low and heat for 5 minutes, being careful not to ever let it come to a full boil. Remove from heat. Place a fine-mesh sieve over a large heat-proof bowl and carefully pour the liquid over the sieve. Discard the solids. Add the liquid back to the saucepan. Stir in the Irish cream, bourbon, and vanilla extract. To garnish the mug rims, pour the 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup into a small saucer. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon, then pour it onto another small saucer. Dip the rims of the glasses into the maple syrup, then dip into the cinnamon and sugar mix, pressing to coat evenly. Flip over and fill glasses with the hot cocktail. Serve.