Turtle Mocha Smoothie
Carrie Masek
Summer's warming up here in Chicagoland, and sometimes the best way to keep cool is with an icy drink. Iced Cold Brew is the favorite choice around here. The purists among us drink it black. The rest of us add milk and/or sweetner for a creamy, sweet treat.
For those who enjoy coffee shop style smoothies, Catie sent us this easy and adaptable recipe that can be made with traditional ingredients or as a dairy-free, sugar-free* treat.
Turtle Mocha Smoothie
Time: A few minutes, blending time only.
Ingredients: 1 C milk of choice (nut milks work really well here).
1 1/2 C ice cubes (smaller is easier to blend, or crushed ice)
1/4 C chopped pecans
4 tsp (1 T + 1 tsp) cocoa powder
1-2 shots espresso or 1/4 C strong coffee or Cold Brew concentrate (chilled if possible, room temp works fine)
1 tsp caramel sauce or liquid sweetener of choice (maple or agave are both great, or substitute a couple of drops of stevia)*
Healthy, optional add-ins: 1 T protein powder of choice
1 tsp flax seeds
Steps: 1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Serve and enjoy!
*(sweetener is optional for those cutting out sugars. I found the other flavors, mixed and chilled, had a sweet note unto themselves.)
Do you have a favorite way to keep cool on hot summer days? If so, we'd love to hear about it. Please join the conversation and share your thoughts on the Facebook thread or in a comment on this blog. Or, if you'd like to share your opinions with the wider world, leave us a coffee review on Google or on your favorite review site. Not only do we value your opinions, but reviews help more people find us. Help us connect coffee lovers to fresh, quality coffee!
~ Carrie, Paul and all of us at Coffee by the Roast