With the weather heating up as we transition into summer, I’ve been craving ice cold drinks in the morning. While I love cold brew coffee or iced tea, I find that I never seem to remember to get them going at night, leaving me with nothing ready to go in the mornings. I love this elixir recipe because it doesn’t require any heating over the stove, meaning I can throw it together in just a few minutes before work in the morning. Throw the ingredients in a blender and you’re done!
If you guys checked out my recent recipe for a Strawberries & Cream Latte, you know how much I love New Barn almondmilk! So I’ve used their Barista blend again as the base in this beverage, because it’s smooth and creamy and stays blended. I tend to sip beverages over the course of an hour or two, and it’s a total pet peeve of mine when a drink separates after just a few minutes. This almondmilk doesn’t separate when blended and is made with organic cane sugar, which helps create and maintain the structure of the micro-foam (ideal for lattes, coffee beverages, and blended elixirs like this one!).
This almondmilk also deepens the flavor profile of this drink, because it’s made with real almonds, no added flavors or loads of unnecessary gums and emulsifiers. New Barn actually uses THREE TIMES the amount of almonds than other leading brands, so this ain’t no watered down “almond-flavored beverage!” (Plus, I’m an organic kinda girl, so I love that New Barn always uses organic almonds.)
I love this drink in the morning because it gives me energy on days that I don’t want caffeine. (I know cacao has a little caffeine but it’s minuscule compared to a cup of coffee!) It’s packed with nutrients and vitamins, and okay fine, I love it mainly because it tastes like chocolate milk.
Spirulina gives this elixir the most beautiful blue-green color and has total bragging rights for its nutritional profile. It’s a complete protein, is rich in beta-carotene and the essential fatty acid GLA, has lots of iron, as well as B-complex vitamins, vitamins D, E and C. It’s also high in potassium, selenium, manganese, copper, chromium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. Phew! That’s a long list.
The maca, cacao, and coconut oil put the energy in this elixir, and keep me going long after I’m done sipping. Maca is known for increasing energy, focus, libido, and stamina, while cacao boasts over 300 phytochemicals and high levels of antioxidants. Coconut oil is naturally high in MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) which help with mental clarity, energy, blood sugar, AND digestion. (Maple syrup gives an added energy boost too, but feel free to leave it out if you are trying to reduce sugar.)
This recipe is quick, easy, and delicious, and gives me energy and clarity that lasts all day. Now that’s my kinda chocolate milk!
(Please note: this drink is not meant to be a meal replacement.)
EMERALD ENERGY ELIXIR
serves 1
prep time: 5 min | blend time: 1 min
INGREDIENTS:
1 C New Barn Barista Almondmilk
1 Tbs liquid coconut oil (raw, extra virgin)
1 tsp spirulina
1 tsp maca powder
1 tsp cacao powder
1 tsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
Put all ingredients in the blender and go! Blend for 30 seconds or so, until it looks smooth. You can attempt to whisk the ingredients instead of using a blender but I find it hard to get out the clumps that way.
P.S. A big thank you to New Barn for sponsoring this post! Recipe and opinions are 100% my own and I only work with companies whose products I genuinely use and love.
For the animals,
