Starbucks VIA Sugar Cookies---An Anniversary Gift

Two years ago I was sitting in an NYC Starbucks in Soho, sipping a cappuccino and staring at the door. I was waiting for my blind date to arrive and was BEYOND nervous. Minutes later a tall, dark, and handsome man walked in looking nervously around. I waved him over and he sat down across from me with a huge smile. He was SO nervous to meet me that his hands were shaking uncontrollably...it was adorable.  I reached across the table and held his hand to calm him down and from that moment on Francisco and I have been absolutely inseparable...the very best of friends.  Today is the two year anniversary of our meeting and to honor that moment I created anniversary Starbucks Cookies as a treat for my amazing boyfriend.

To make these cookies I simply added Starbucks VIA into my regular regular sugar cookie recipe.  I doubled the amount of milk in the recipe, warmed it, and dissolved one package of Starbucks VIA instant coffee.  The next time I make these I might add a little bit more coffee because I LOVE a strong coffee flavor!

I printed out pictures of the Starbucks drinks and sized them to between 3 and 4 inches.  Using my x-acto knife I cut out a hot vanilla latte, java chip and peppermint mocha frappuccinos, and an iced caramel macchiato.

Before baking the cookies didn't look like much....

But after they were decorated they looked as yummy as the real things!

I mixed cocoa powder and peppermint extract into the royal icing to decorated the Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino.  Cocoa and chopped chocolate created the Java Chip flavor.  The Vanilla Latte was flavored with vanilla extract.  I did not have any caramel extract and caramel sauce cannot be mixed with royal icing so the Caramel Macchiato was the only one that didn't taste like its name.  I colored the 'caramel' with light cocoa to avoid using coloring, so the only unnatural coloring used in the cookies was for the green plastic straw!

Today is a day to celebrate LOVE

And a day to celebrate STARBUCKS!

I will never forget the day when I first met Francisco and will always have a special place in my heart for Starbucks for being part of it. It was the best date and cappuccino I ever had! 

Two amazing years and many more to come...

I LOVE you Francisco!