How to Make Champagne Vinaigrette using real Champagne

Are you having champagne this New Year's Eve? Why not reserve a small amount for your salad? Most champagne vinaigrette recipes use champagne vinegar. My recipe uses actual champagne!

To download this free
recipe PDF, click here.

The recipe will work with either fresh or leftover bubbly. Whether it's fizzy or flat makes no difference, it's delicious.

To download my recipe now in a PDF form, click here. OR read the entire blog post with extra tips and photos by scroll downing or clicking here or on the Read More link below...

How to Turn Candy Canes into Pink Peppermint Syrup by Cleo Coyle

Got candy canes? Then you can make this excellent pink peppermint syrup. It's delicious stirred into hot cocoa, coffee, and tea; drizzled over ice cream, cookies, and cupcakes; and splashed into holiday cocktails.

Cleo Coyle has a partner in

crime-writing—her husband.

Learn about their books

by clicking here and here.

Whether you're new to the Coffeehouse Mystery series or have been reading them since the first book was published (circa 2003), my husband and I extend our sincerest thanks for supporting our work. 

Enjoy the recipe, everyone, and have
a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!

~ Cleo 

You can download this recipe
as a Free PDF by clicking here.

Or see the recipe as a full blog
post by scrolling down 

or clicking here...

Best Ever Pecan Pie Bars by Cleo Coyle

Pecan pie bars are an impressive treat to display on cookie trays for parties, holidays, or any time of year, and this is the very best recipe for them. I know what you're thinking. Given the many recipes that exist out there, how could I possibly have the best one?

Cleo Coyle writes two
bestselling mystery

 series with her husband.
To learn more, click here.

To learn exactly why I believe my recipe makes the best ever version of this classic treat, scroll down or click here or on the "read more" link below.  

Click here to download this
recipe as a free PDF document.

Or you can download the printable recipe 

as a free PDF by clicking here.

And may you... 

Eat with joy! 

~ Cleo

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting from author Cleo Coyle

The Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is one of the most popular candies in America by sales, and it's easy to see why. The marriage of chocolate and peanut butter is a match made in culinary heaven, and you are cordially invited to their delicious reunion in this amazing cake.

Click here for free
Recipe PDF.

All you need is a few ingredients, including a handful of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Take it to a party for a crowd-pleasing dessert or make it for your family or friends to lift their spirits--because it truly is a party in a pan.

To get the recipe right now in a PDF document click here. To read my entire recipe post, scroll down, or hit the "read more" button.

~ Cleo 

How to Make Candy Apples with Honey (No Corn Syrup!) and How to Spike Candy Apples for Adults

Candy apples have been a favorite of mine since childhood, and they make a nice novelty dessert for adults, too. 

Cleo Coyle has a partner in 

crime-writing—her husband.

Learn about their books

by clicking here or here.

For this recipe, I experimented with a combination of ingredients until I was happy with the end product, which is why there is no corn syrup in this recipe. Instead, I used honey and cinnamon sticks, which brings a more sophisticated flavor to the candy coating. 

I’m also sharing a fun, spiked version of my recipe that’s even more grown-up. It swaps out cinnamon sticks for cinnamon schnapps! 

Click here to download
this recipe as a free PDF.

To download a free PDF of my recipe right now, click here. To see the recipe as a blog post, click here or on the READ MORE link below.

Whether you eat your apples with spirits or without, I wish you a very...Happy Halloween Season! 


~ Cleo Coyle, author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries

If you'd like to subscribe to
Cleo's Newsletters and join her
"Coffee Club," click here.

To continue reading this post,
scroll down or click here.

How to make TWINKIE RUM BABA from ONCE UPON A GRIND by Cleo Coyle

The Beverly Hills Italian restaurant Domo made this dessert famous, listing it on their menu as Twinkie alla Domo. Now you can try it at home with this recipe. It's level of sophistication will surprise you. The rum and vanilla in the syrup lifts the Twinkie to happy heights, while lifting your spirits. 

For a little pastry background, the typical rum baba is a yeast or sponge cake fortified with an easy-to-make rum syrup. I grew up with an Italian version that included pastry cream in the center. That's why the Twinkie makes a great shortcut to a festive dessert, and a fun conversation piece for holiday trays.

Click here to download
this recipe as a free PDF.

Of course, you don't have to use Twinkies. You can always substitute thick slices of pound cake, brioche, or even challah. But don't skip the whipped cream, it's a must for full enjoyment of this dessert. 

Click here for a fast printable copy of this recipe or read the entire post by scrolling down or clicking here or on the "Read More" link below, and...

Eat with joy!

~ Cleo Coyle, author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries 

Dairy-Free Honey Apple Cake (no milk, no butter) from author Cleo Coyle

A wonderful cake for coffee and tea breaks, the honey and apple also make it the perfect recipe to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

Click here to download this
recipe in a free PDF document.

To download my recipe in a free PDF that you can print, save, or share, click here.

To see the full recipe post with step-by-step photos, scroll down or hit the "read more" link and...

L'shanah tovah!

~ Cleo

Tale of the Virgin Mojito and My Cat Mr. Fellows' Bad Nip Trip by Cleo Coyle

Mr. Fellows. One of my many
rescued New York strays.
Nip free and lovin' it!

Why I drink Virgin Mojitos!

🍸 I'm a cheap drunk, meaning very little coin at the bar will get me loopy.

I'm sure this isn't much of a revelation to anyone aware of my passion for the most classically sobering of beverages (i.e. coffee, which I normally take via an IV drip beside my writing desk).

Cocktails are a special occasion thing for me, not part of my daily routine, which is why I came late to the mojito. The drink, which is basically a Cuban mint julep, has been trendy for some time now, but I only got around to trying one a few years ago. 

Well, let me tell you, it was love at first sip! But as I continued to drink them, a pattern emerged. 

Click here for my
Virgin Mojito recipe
and free PDF.

A short time after drinking my little Cuban friend, I started feeling annoyed, antsy, even argumentative. Was I imagining it? 

I couldn't help thinking of one of our rescued stray cats. My husband and I took in Mr. Fellows when he was a very tiny kitten. He loves us. We love him. And he's about the most pleasant, even-tempered, genuinely happy feline in our house. BUT...get a little catnip into this puss and he starts to growl and proceeds to pick fights with every furball who passes his paws.

So I'm thinking maybe Mr. Fellows and I have something in common! Sad but true... 

Easy Italian Honey-Glazed Peach Crostata with Fresh Ginger Whipped Cream from Cleo Coyle

A crostata is an Italian dessert tart, usually made with jam or fruit. This is my easy version of a rustic, free-form crostata with a healthful, shimmering filling of honey-glazed peaches. I make this crostata every year in late summer when ripe peaches are plentiful. 

Click here to download this
recipe in a free PDF document.

How easy is this recipe? Very! I'm using a pre-made, boxed pie crust.

To get my recipe, click here for a free PDF document that you can print, save, or share, or scroll down or hit the read more link to continue reading the recipe as a blog post...

If you'd like to subscribe to

Cleo's Newsletters and join her

"Coffee Club," click here.

To continue reading this post,
scroll down or click here.

My Coffeehouse Banana Split for Grown-Ups with an Easy Microwave Recipe for Magic Shell Chocolate from Cleo Coyle

Behold my "coffeehouse" version of the classic American banana split: a fun, fast way to fancy up the famous kiddie sundae for the adult table. 

My post not only shows you how I make this beautiful "dinner service" presentation, but also gives you a recipe and tips for making your own magic shell chocolate--a great way to create chilly chocolate treats for summertime eats.

Click here to download this
recipe in a free PDF document.

Click here for a fast printable copy of this recipe or read the entire post by scrolling down or clicking here or on the "Read More" link below, and...

Eat with joy!

~ Cleo Coyle, author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Easy July 4th Fireworks Flag Cake plus 3 Tips on Frosting Any Cake by Cleo Coyle

The red, white, and blue American flag cake is a fun July Fourth tradition in the USA, enjoyed at backyard cookouts throughout the land. This Fireworks Cake is my version of it. 

Click here to download this
recipe in a free PDF document.

There is a wonderful "wow" factor to it, especially after you cut it, yet it's easy to create, practically a klutz-proof design, making it a great project for families with children. 

To see my entire recipe post, scroll down or hit this link. 

To download the free PDF right now, click here and have a delicious July 4th, everyone! 

~ Cleo Coyle, author of The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Tips on Making Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs on your Grill or Stovetop from Cleo Coyle

Behold two "Danger Dogs,"

deep-fried, bacon-wrapped hot dogs. 
Frighteningly delicious!

My husband and I first heard about the "Danger Dog" via a friend in Los Angeles, where the recipe has made its way north from the street food of Tijuana, Mexico. 

Esquire magazine actually put the "bacon-wrapped hot dog" on its list of "Sixty Things Worth Shortening Your Life For." What number was the bacon dog? Hard to believe it but #1. (To see the entire list, click here.)

How to Make Queso Fundido by Cleo Coyle

In Spanish, fundido means molten; consequently, queso fundido means molten cheese, and if you've sampled it, then you may agree it's about the best cheese dip on the planet. Originally served in Northern Mexico and the Southwestern US, queso fundido has culinary roots that take it back to campfire eating, which is why it's traditionally served bubbling hot.  

Cleo Coyle writes two
bestselling mystery

 series with her husband.
To learn more, click here.

The recipe in this blog post is the version my husband and I enjoy. That's why we included it in the pages of our Coffeehouse Mystery series, and we're delighted to share it now to help you celebrate a...

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

~ Cleo

To download this recipe 

as a free PDF, click here

To download our recipe now
as a free PDF, click here.

To see our recipe in blog post
form, scroll down or click here. 

Star Wars Day Cookies (and Skywalker Memories) from author Cleo Coyle

A special post for Star Wars Day (aka) 

May the Fourth Be with You Day!

via Giphy

A long time ago (in a galaxy not so far away), I served as editorial director for a line of Lucasfilm children's books. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, this was a dream come true. Although I was based in New York, I visited Skywalker Ranch enough times to point out the particulars of Mr. Lucas's stunning, sprawling Victorian Main House, pictured above. (Over the fireplace you'll find the Norman Rockwell, and in that glass case Indiana Jones's leather whip.)

To say I enjoyed my work would be a galactic understatement. I was reading top secret scripts; seeing raw footage in George Lucas's own screening room; and brainstorming tie-in book ideas right there at Skywalker. Even eating in the gorgeous Ranch dining room was a trip (OMG, there's George!). I learned so much in that realm of storytelling magic. I'll never forget it.

Crispy on the outside, CHEWY on the inside.
Out of this world cookies for Star Wars Day

Now that I'm a culinary mystery writer, murder is my business and so is food, which is why I'm sharing an out of this world cookie recipe for Star Wars Day, one that's crispy on the outside and delightfully Chewy on the inside. (Yes, puns are my business, too.) 

via Giphy

Click here for the
free recipe PDF.

To download my recipe now
as a free PDF, click here. 

To see the recipe in blog post form, scroll down or click here, and...

May the Force Be with You (Always!)

~ Cleo Coyle
New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Matt Allegro’s Italian Fried Shrimp with 2 Dipping Shots from Cleo Coyle

If Matt Allegro were going to cook a feast for you, my husband and I are pretty sure these Italian fried shrimp would be on the menu, along with his two favorite dipping shots. We're happy to share Matt's very personal recipe with you—you'll see what we mean by "personal" as you read his directions!

May you eat with joy...and if Matt Allegro is cooking for you, we know you will!

~ Cleo Coyle

* * *

Matt Allegro - Coffee Hunter
To meet more Coffeehouse Mystery 

characters, click here.

For readers who are new to our bestselling series of Coffeehouse Mysteries, Matt is a globetrotting, half-Italian coffee hunter (and occasional playboy) who dearly loves his octogenarian mother—the woman who owns the century-old Greenwich Village coffeehouse where our series is set. 

Click here for free PDF.

* * *

To download Matt's recipe
right now as a free PDF,
click here.

To see Matt's recipe in 

blog post form,
scroll down or click here.

Seven Minute Apple Doughnuts for Passover by author Cleo Coyle

From Cleo Coyle: The start of Passover is here, and like so many cultural celebrations around the world, the foods eaten (and not eaten) during this holiday help define, explain, and celebrate it. 

The Seder, for example, a dinner eaten on the first night of the eight-day event, includes specific foods in the telling of the Exodus story. Nice post about "The Seder Plate" here.

Click here for the free PDF.

One of the most important and ubiquitous foods of Passover is matzo (aka matza or matzah), basically an unleavened cracker. While it's part of the ritual of this holiday, it's also a wonderful ingredient for cooking, and I've used it in this delightful recipe. 

To continue reading this recipe post, scroll down, click here or on the read more link below...

Or download the recipe here in a free PDF that you can print save or share.

How to Make ANGINETTI - Italian Lemon Cookies by author Cleo Coyle

In my big Italian family, these light lemony cookies with a sweet glaze often made their appearance during the holidays. With colorful sprinkles added, anginetti make wonderful cookies for parties, wedding celebrations, Christmas, and Easter.

Click here for the 
free recipe PDF.

Because the dough can be formed into many traditional shapes, the cookies are fun to make with children. Even the littlest ones will be able to add the colored sprinkles. 

To download the recipe now as a free PDF, click here. To see the full blog post with large photos, scroll down or click here...

If you'd like to subscribe to
Cleo's Newsletters and join her
"Coffee Club," click here.

To continue reading this post,
scroll down or click here.

Baileys Irish Cream and Caramel Nut Fudge by Cleo Coyle

Yes, this is the very buttery caramel fudge (with an Irish Cream kick) that our amateur sleuth, coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi, served to NYPD Detective Mike Quinn after a trying day in our 21st Coffeehouse Mystery No Roast for the Weary. Now you can try it for yourself...

To download this recipe now in a free PDF, click here. Or scroll down or click on the "Read more" link below to read the entire post.

May you eat (and read) with joy!

~ Cleo Coyle, author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Spelt Cornbread: How to Add Fiber to your Cornbread with Delicious and Nutty Spelt Flour by Cleo Coyle

Click here for free
recipe PDF.

Spelt flour comes from an ancient grain with more dietary fiber than all-purpose flour and a lovelier, more mellow flavor than whole wheat flour, which is why I like to incorporate it into my baking. 

As you can see in the photo above, spelt also brings a rustic, darker look to baked goods, along with a slightly nutty flavor note that’s quite tasty.

To learn more about the ancient grain of spelt and get my delicious recipe for Spelt Cornbread, click here to read the rest of this blog post. Or download my recipe right now as a free PDF by clicking here, and may you...

Eat with joy!

~ Cleo Coyle, author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Fully-Loaded Irish Colcannon by author Cleo Coyle

When you're writing mysteries, murder is your business. When you're writing cozy mysteries, so is wordplay. And that is how this dish came about. My husband and I were writing one of our Coffeehouse Mysteries, Roast Mortem, a book that pays tribute to the FDNY, which has a long history of Irish pride. During our collaboration, we joked about what might happen if we "loaded" the colcannon...

Wait, we thought, why not 
fully load it, like a baked potato?

Marc and I then put the recipe together much like New York City puts its cultural communities together. We started with a basic Irish colcannon of cabbage and potatoes; added an Italian kiss of olive oil and hug of warm, sweet garlic; and finished the dish with an American-style flourish of gooey melted cheddar and smoky crumbled bacon...

Sound good so far? 

Enjoy the recipe!

Click for the free recipe PDF.