Thanksgiving is almost upon us and everyone is excited about that special day filled with food, football and family. Some things never change- the Lions will play, there will be those certain dinner guests you wish had maybe made other plans. But this year, bring an unexpected twist to your table with an unexpected Thanksgiving coffee recipe.

Smoked Turkey with Sweet Coffee Glaze

What you need:

• Large stock pot & a grill 
• 2 gallons of water
• 1 turkey (around 11 lbs)
• 1/2 cup French roast ground coffee (We love Peace Coffee’s French Roast)
•  1 cup apple cider vinegar
•  1 large onion
•  12 fresh thyme sprigs tied together
•  ¼ cup kosher salt
•  1 tablespoon peppercorns
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• 3 cups hickory chips for the grill
• Vegetable oil to brush the turkey

Instructions:

1. Bring 1 gallon of water to a boil.
2. In a separate stock pot large enough for the turkey, combine the cider vinegar, coffee grounds, chopped onion, thyme, salt and peppercorns along with 1 ¾ cups brown sugar and then add in the water. Bring to a boil.
3. Holding the turkey by the legs, lower it into the simmering brine, neck down. Add the boiling water (from the first pot) until the whole of the turkey is covered in the brine. Allow it to simmer for 1 ½ hours.  
4. Light the grill and bring it up to heat.  Just before the turkey has finished simmering, add the hickory chips to the coals.    
5. Remove the turkey from the pot and strain 2 cups of the braising liquid into a heatproof bowl and stir in the remaining brown sugar.  Discard the remaining liquid.6
6. Once the chips start smoking, brush the turkey down with vegetable oil and place it, breast side down, on the grill.  Smoke and cover on a low flame for 15 minutes. Baste the turkey with the reserve liquid turning over and basting again.  Cover the grill and continue smoking for 40 minutes basting occasionally.  
7. The turkey is done when the thermometer inserted in the inner thigh registers 165 degrees.  
8. Place on a cutting board and let cool for 20 minutes before carving.

Espresso Monkey Bread

This Thanksgiving coffee recipe is great as a dessert or a holiday breakfast gathering.

You will need:

• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 cans cinnamon rolls (5-count cans)  
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 5 teaspoons espresso powered 

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. In a plastic food storage bag, mix the sugar and cinnamon. 
3. Separate the cinnamon rolls and cut each into sixths.
4. Add each to the bag and roll them around to cover them in the cinnamon and sugar. 
5. Arrange them together in a bundt pan.
6. Mix the brown sugar, espresso and cinnamon with the melted butter and pour over the cinnamon rolls.  
7. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes or until golden brown and no longer doughy (use a knife to check the center to ensure it is done all the way through).  Allow to cool for 10 minutes turn upside down and release from pan.  
8. Mix the icing that came with the rolls with 2 teaspoons espresso and drizzle over the bread.  
9. Pull apart and enjoy!  

Coffee Infused Vodka

After dinner is over and the dishes are done, put your feet up and relax with a well-deserved after-dinner drink.

What you need:

• A bottle of your favorite vodka
• 12 oz of your favorite ground coffee (we love Sam & Evan’s)
• Your favorite choices of coffee flavors to add to your mix

Instructions:

1. Place your favorite coffee grounds in a filter and pour the vodka through it. 
2. Once it has poured through, place it in a closed container and set it aside for at 24 hours (but not more than 48 hours). 
3. Add your favorite drink flavors (vanilla works great) and sip.  

Important to note: remember to rinse your coffee maker’s filter so that you don’t have any issues with vodka remaining in the mix come morning. 

We hope you enjoy switching things up this Thanksgiving and trying a unique Thanksgiving coffee recipe, or maybe all of them! If you are looking for the great taste of coffee for your family, business, church group, or community program, contact Coffee Mill and find out how we can help you to experience quality coffee goodness all year long.