Get Energized With This Delicious, Dairy-Free Cashew Latte Recipe

Have you ever wanted a healthy, but fancy energy boost? It’s not blunt and to the point like coffee, not cold and refreshing like a glass of fresh fruit juice or a chilly fresh fruit smoothie, but more like a sophisticated, smooth beverage that can wake you up while you read your favorite book, or get your brain going while chatting with friends.

If you answered “yes”, then you’ve probably glanced at the latte section at your local cafe, perusing the many options with increasing interest and confusion. At the most, you know that lattes are made with milk, and this is a health pitfall that far too many people fall into.

Most cafes will have a variety of milk options for you to choose from, none of which are healthy. Don’t be fooled by the low fat milk option, the soy option, or even the lactose free option. Honestly, if the milk is not whole milk, (which it most likely is not!) or cashew, you’re hurting your body more than helping it each time you consume a latte. Here’s why:

Typical Two Percent Milk

Milk is often promoted as a dietary staple, the ultimate source of calcium, the #1 bone strengthener. But milk products vary greatly depending on how the cows were raised and how the dairy was processed.

Many commercial milk products do not provide quality dairy. The cows may be fed anything from dehydrated food garbage to unhealthy grains instead of grass, which lowers the nutritional value of their milk. Grains include corn and soy, and these grains receive 80 percent of all the herbicides used in the US. In fact, animal products can contain up to 14 times more pesticides than plants!

In addition to all of that, 75% of the world is lactose intolerant. So, when it comes to beverage options, for many, regular milk simply won’t do.

Sneaky Skim Milk

If you thought you were making a healthier choice by choosing a skinny latte, this piece of information will break your heart. Skim milk is fortified with synthetic vitamins to replace the protein and calcium lost during the fat removal process.

You may be drinking less fat, but only because the fat is replaced with sugar. Just one cup of skim milk has about 12 grams of sugar! That’s nearly 50% of your daily recommended sugar intake!

Lactose Free Milk

People can be allergic to lactose, or allergic to the proteins in milk. If you are allergic to the proteins in milk, not even lactose free milk can help you; it still has all the proteins found in regular milk. Aside from that, lactose free should be avoided for the same reasons that two percent milk should be avoided. Commercial milk has way too many unhealthy additives that you don’t want moving around in your body!

Almost Never There Almond Milk

Almonds are healthy for you. There’s no question about that, (unless you have a nut allergy.) But, once you get your hands on a carton of almond milk, there’s probably very few almonds in the carton to begin with and a whole bunch of additives that you do not want!

So Not Good Soy Milk

Finally, don’t even think about choosing soy milk. Soy comes from soybeans, and 91% of soybeans are genetically modified.

The Solution?? Luckily, you don’t have to ban lattes from your diet. Here is a delicious, dairy-free cashew milk latte that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. This recipe makes two servings, so share a cup with a friend/family member, or give yourself a second serving if you prefer!

Dairy-Free Cashew Milk Latte

Ingredients For Cashew Milk

1 cup of raw cashews soaked in water for at least one hour (not necessary to soak but recommended)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of pure maple syrup
3 cups of water

Ingredients For Latte

1 ½ cups of cashew milk
1 cup of strong, brewed coffee
2-3 large Medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped (an optional sweetener)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

A pinch of ground cinnamon

Instructions

Drain the cashews from the soaking water and rinse them under cold water.
Blend the cashews in a high speed blender with the rest of the cashew milk ingredients and blend everything on the highest setting for one to two minutes or until the milk is smooth and frothy.

In a small sauce pan, heat the 1 ½ cups of cashew milk, (with the dates if you wish,) and pour it into the blender with the vanilla extract. Blend on high until the dates are pureed into the milk or until everything is well blended.
Divide the coffee between two mugs and top each mug with the frothy milk. Sprinkle your ground cinnamon on top.
Store your remaining cashew milk in an airtight container in the fridge for no more than four days.