Shaken Not Stirred

• Legend has it that the original frappe was invented in Greece by a sales representative for Nestle products. Dimitrios Vakondios created his frappe with a little Nescafe and cold water. By shaking it vigorously he created a foamy frappe that was popularized by both Europeans and tourists alike. Today, frappes made in most coffee houses forgo the shaken technique and are instead blended with ice until ample foam is achieved. Create a traditional European frappe by combining ½ cup of cream, whole milk or low-fat milk to every 1 ½ cups of freshly brewed coffee, add sugar to taste and shake with crushed or whole ice cubes in a cocktail shaker.

Changing Up Flavors

• Coffee house baristas have a variety of flavored syrups in their arsenal ready to create vanilla, caramel and chocolate frappes; not to mention, other exotic flavor combinations such as green tea, chai and salted caramel. Create your own flavor-pairings by squeezing chocolate sauce, caramel sauce or both on a whipped cream topped frappe. Puree in a blender: 1 ½ parts chilled double-strength coffee, 1 ½ parts ice and ½ part cold milk or cream. If desired, add ¼ part chocolate or caramel sauce before blending. Once you've mastered the art of creating a simple, flavor-paired frappe, change things up by replacing the coffee with cooled cocoa; or, create a new combination with cooled white cocoa and vanilla bean.

Coffee Not Required

• Not all frappes are made with coffee. Non-coffee drinkers and children alike can enjoy frappes made with ice cream, sherbet or juice. Create a light and frosty frappe by adding 1 fresh orange peeled and wedged, or 4 strawberries if you choose and 1 pint of orange or strawberry sherbet for each ½ cup of yogurt. Add vanilla or mint for extra flavor and blend together. Alternatively, tea lovers can create their own frappe by blending ice-cream and 1 tsp of green tea powder for each ¼ cup of heavy cream, and ¼ cup of water; or, if you choose use ¼ cup of milk and ¼ cup of ice cream. Add approximately 1 ½ cups of ice, and sugar or vanilla syrup to taste; blend together.

Low-fat and Lactose-free

• Even diet conscious or lactose intolerant individuals can enjoy a cool frappe. Simply replace the heavy cream in your recipe with either low-fat or fat-free milk, almond milk or soy milk. Replace sugar with a non-caloric sweetener or honey if you choose. Ramp up the flavor by sprinkling on powdered cocoa, cinnamon or powdered vanilla.