If I see a Crema di caffe on the menu, I will always order it! When the slushie machine arrived in the Skinnymixers kitchen, I knew I had to have a go at developing a recipe for Crema di Caffe Slushie (Sweet Italian Coffee Cream).
This has to be one of my favourite things to make when the weather warms up. I first fell for this Italian-style cold coffee slushie on my travels through Italy. It’s inspired by the classic crema di caffè — that coffee-cream treat that Italians queue up for because it just works during summer.
When we were recipe developing for our SkinnyMediterranean cookbook, this was on my recipe list to create but ultimately the Spanish Hot Chocolate and Easy Tiramisu made it into the book instead (can you really have too much coffee??).
This Crema di Caffe Slushie can be adapted to suit your own personal coffee or sugar strength. You get the rich espresso flavour, the sweet smoothness from milk and cream, and that cooling texture that feels like a little escape from the heat. I love that it’s something a bit special without being pretentious. It’s a drink you can enjoy with friends, or just sip while you lounge in the backyard and savour a quiet moment.
You don’t need a fancy machine to love this. I used my Ninja Slushi Drink Maker, however you can simply freeze the ingredients and the recipe still comes together beautifully with ice and your Thermomix or blender. Just think of it as bringing a tiny slice of Italian summer to your kitchen.
So if coffee is your thing and cold drinks are calling your name, this slushie is worth a go.
If you don’t love coffee, I haven’t tested it with chocolate but I imagine you can replace the sugar and coffee with chocolate drink mix dissolved in hot water.
Leave a comment if you try it!
Love Nik xx
P.S. Feel free to add some of your favourite liqueur for a special adult treat.
What Slushie Machine will this work in?
- I used the Ninja Profesional Slushi Drink Maker
- It should also work in the Wolstead Slushie Machine and Kmart Slushie Machine
- If you try it in a different brand of slushie machine, please leave a comment and let us know how it went!
Equipment
- 1 slushie machine I used a Ninja Slushi drink maker
Ingredients
- 300-350 g strong espresso or water + instant coffee
- 100-120 g sugar
- 10 g vanilla
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tsp instant coffee - for a stronger coffee flavour
- 150 g pure cream
- 450 g milk of choice
To serve
- crushed pistachios - (optional)
Instructions
Thermo cooker + Slushie machine
- Add coffee, sugar, vanilla, instant coffee if using and salt to mixer bowl. Mix for 30 sec/speed 9/MC on.
- Add milk and cream. Mix for 30 sec/speed 3/MC on.
- Pour into machine and set to slush for dairy
Thermo cooker only (no slushie machine)
- Add coffee, sugar, vanilla, instant coffee if using and salt to mixer bowl. Mix for 30 sec/speed 9/MC on.
- Add milk. Mix for 30 sec/speed 3/MC on.
- Pour into standard ice-cube trays and freeze until solid.
- Add frozen milk cubes to mixer bowl with cream and mix for 10 sec/speed 8/MC on. Scrape down and repeat until desired consistency.