When I wake up in the morning, one of the first thoughts I have, after figuring out what clothes the boys will wear that day, is what kind of coffee will make it’s way into my cup. I recently had the opportunity to try out the Starbucks Blonde Blend of ground coffee. What better way to experience the delicious pairings of coffee and The Bakery at Walmart than to host a small tasting party!
First up, shopping! I do the majority of the household shopping and my go-to store is Walmart! With their line of bakery products, I’m never at a loss for something to serve my family for breakfast or to serve guests after a dinner party. The store’s display for Delicious Pairings offers ideas of what baked good to pair with the delicious Starbucks Veranda Blend. (I typically brew my own coffee at home using my Keurig, but when out, I like to mix it up at Starbucks. I’ve also found that Starbucks bagged coffee works perfectly in the Keurig if you have a reusable cup for it.)
My eyes immediately came to rest on the Turtle Brownies. Nutty chocolate-y goodness is right up my alley and something I’m sure my friends would enjoy! {Did you know that milk chocolate and nuts are great complements to the Blonde blend? I think these Turtle brownies will hit the spot.}
I also picked up the Chocolate Creme Pie and the Chocolate Chip Cookies. Add those to my Starbucks Blonde Veranda blend and I think you have the beginnings of a beautiful friendship!
Whether you’re planning an evening at home or a girlfriends’ retreat, I’m sure there’s always an excuse to get sweets and gab over a cup of coffee. Why not do it in the comfort of your own home? Rather than serve the brownies in the traditional way (four large brownies in one package), I opted to liven up my presentation a bit and at the suggestion of my hubby, cut the brownies up into bite-sized pieces served in mini-muffin cups. Serving them this way would share the chocolate love and do so in a unique and festive way! (I’m thinking Valentine’s Day is just around the corner…)
The brownies were soft and had the right hints of nuts and caramel. The milk chocolate paired perfectly with the coffee which was light and smooth. I imagine serving something like this at a playdate, after a dinner party, or even as a Valentine’s Day special treat. The overwhelming response about the brownies were that they were “delicious,” “tasty,” “yummy,” and “just plain heavenly.” For the coffee, I added less cream than usual to this cup and found that the coffee was not overpowering the way some other brands can be. As a more casual coffee drinker, I found that this blend was the perfect way to wake me up without jolting me into my day. Even friends that were not typically coffee drinkers found this blend to be warm and inviting.
The chocolate chip cookies were the classic staples that you could find growing up. Although not quite like homemade, they were enough to satisfy a sweet tooth and take the place should you need a quick substitute for mom’s bakery.
We love The Bakery at Walmart and have had delicious experiences with everything we have tried – the Chocolate Creme Pie was no exception. The pie was such a hit that I didn’t even get a picture of a slice being cut before it was wolfed down. My friends found the chocolate and whipped cream flavors smooth and delicious, especially paired with a steaming cup of ‘joe. This would be perfect as an after dinner treat or even to welcome guests. I have a feeling I’ll be hosting more girls’ re”treats” in the future!
We loved all of the desserts, but the hands down favorite had to be the Turtle Brownies – the perfect mix of chocolate and slight taste of caramel and nuts, this was a winner with everyone! Paired with Starbucks light Blonde Veranda Blend coffee, this delicious pairing is a hit!
Are you a bold or bashful coffee drinker? What’s your favorite baked coffee partner?
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. All opinions expressed are my own. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #cbias #SocialFabric
OMGosh, so yum!!!
My goodness, that Turtle Brownie looks amazing! I can see how it would go well with coffee. Yum!
Everything looks delicious Samantha, love it!!
I was pleasantly surprised by the Starbucks Blonde Roast. I drink a lot of coffee and the milder roast was a nice change of pace. If you’re using a refillable K-Cup for your machine, you should consider using a darker roast, as the K-Cups brew slightly lighter than if you used a drip coffee maker. Another good way to enjoy a lighter roast is by using a French Press because it will draw out all the flavors in the beans. Just be sure to ask the barista to grind the beans for a French Press vs. drip so that you get the optimal brew.