Our Chai Spice Latte Smoothie is a “smooth” way to kick off the day, you healthy thing, you. Smoothies can be a fantastic meal replacement when created thoughtfully: they should be satisfying, well-composed nutritionally, and (of course) super-scrumptious.
We call this satisfying smoothie “The Cravings Crusher.” It’s rich in healthy fats and protein, and luscious (but dairy-free! ) It has a kiss of sweetness from the dates and complexity from the warm spices.
We like to make our own fresh nut milk. Would you like to see a tutorial on that? Comment below! Also, we use whole spices, since we prefer to first toast and then grind them for optimal freshness and flavor. Using ground spices (as long as they are not too long in the tooth) is fine to make a quick smoothie without much fuss. For those who love an olfactory kitchen and have the time, freshly toast and grind your own. (We sure did.)
Take your Chai Spice Latte Smoothie over the top
Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top! It adds texture, which we love in a smoothie. It feels more satisfying that way. Use unsweetened coconut flakes, and give them a little toast in a dry pan: your kitchen will smell fantastic and your smoothie will get that little extra somethin’ somethin’.
Is it cold outside?
Are you needing something warm? If you have a Vitamix or another sort of high-speed blender, you can continue to blend your smoothie on high for a few extra minutes. The friction of the blades will warm the drink. Lovely, warm, frothy lusciousness — yes, please!
Ingredients
2 cups almond or cashew milk
4-6 dried Medjool dates (pits removed)
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled (if you do not have a high-speed blender, roughly chop the ginger before adding it to the blender)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ground clove
¼ teaspoon star anise, optional (you can use ground, or smash in a mortar and pestle)
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
a few twists freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
sprinkle of freshly toasted coconut for garnish, optionalInstructions
Add the nut milk, dates, and fresh ginger to the Vitamix.
Blend, using the tamper, to a nice consistency and add the spices.
Taste, and adjust the sweetness (dates) and richness (add some coconut oil for extra creaminess).
Serve sprinkled with toasted coconut flakes on top.
