Cold season is here in Melbourne and as much as I love my frozen smoothies, it’s time to cozy up in this weather and get all warmed up!

So I’ve been looking for ways to convert my favorite mocha protein smoothies into a hot cuppa. And this dairy-free mocha protein latté hits the sweet spot! This drink is…

Dairy-free yet super creamy, frothy, gluten-free, chocolatey with a hint of espresso, wholesome + absolutely delicious!

So what are the key ingredients that make this the healthiest, most delicious mocha latté ever?

RAW CACAO. I used a mix of raw cacao + mint essence powder which I found in my local whole foods market. However you can just use any raw cacao or unsweetened cocoa powder. If you want it minty, then add a drop of pure mint essence.

Raw cacao is a pure, unprocessed form of chocolate from cacao beans. It is a well-known superfood which has loads of anti-oxidants. It can boost mental energy, immunity, and even your mood! Adding cacao into your daily diet will even help reduce risks of certain heart diseases. Pick the ones which have no added sugars in it and always read the label when purchasing from your grocery.

PLANT PROTEIN. For the protein, I use my go-to gluten-free vanilla protein powder (Nutrimeal) which comes from plant proteins. You can also use chocolate protein and just half the amount of raw cacao, unless you want it too chocolatey.

RAW CASHEWS. Gool ol’ cashew nuts are what I absolutely love as a substitute for dairy milk. I prefer cashews over almonds as they don’t leave that much pulp when blended, thus making your latté creamier and smoother. It also creates this beautiful pillowy froth when blended with water, making your latté look totally legit!

Using nut milk is a good option if you are lactose-intolerant or have dairy allergies. Cashews are high in iron, zinc, copper and also magnesium which helps protect from high blood pressure and keeps muscles and bones healthy. It also is a great source for mono-unsaturated fatty acids which promote healthy levels of HDL or good cholesterol.

ESPRESSO POWDER. To add some caffeine kick, I added organic espresso powder. Again, go for quality and pick the one with no added sugar. If you wish to make this kid-friendly, you can skip the espresso. If you want it mommy-friendly, then you can double the shot! 🙂

This latté is the perfect pair to one of my delicious healthy BANANA BREAD recipes and it’s my favorite drink to-date especially during cold mornings.

Now, are you excited to make this?

INGREDIENTS:

200 ml hot water (not boiling)

1 tablespoon raw cashews (soaked in hot water for 5 mins)

2 scoops vanilla protein powder (I use this brand)

2 heaping teaspoons raw cacao (or more if you like it more chocolatey)

1 teaspoon espresso powder

BLEND everything in a high-speed blender. POUR into a cup and top with dark chocolate swirls, cinnamon or more raw cacao powder.

WATCH HOW TO MAKE THIS CREAMY MOCHA PROTEIN LATTÉ

 

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Leave a comment and feedback below if you make this recipe. And tag me @tara_fitfoodiemommy in Instagram and use hashtag #TheFitFoodieMommy. Hope you enjoy this as much I did!

Keep warm guys if you’re from my side of the world! 🙂

x,