Warm, comforting beverages that won’t make you fat this winter
December 27, 2016 Ashley 0 Comments
What’s sweeter than a warm cup of hot chocolate on a winter’s day?
Drunken Kermit-meme style, while your family tries to drive you insane?
(Dad regifted that to mom – who bought it for him *last* Christmas. And she didn’t even notice…
But that’s nunna my business.”)
Umm… how about not ending up like his bae, Miss Piggy, ’cause you had too many of ’em?
I’ll admit. I love me some hot chocolate in winter. In fact, back in my imbibing era, I’d spike it with a bit of Bailey’s, a dash’ve whipped cream, and probably some more Bailey’s. (Depending on how much time I was spending with the family that day.) But, inevitably, Bailey’s or not, it’d always happen. Within a week or two, too much of a good thing added up ’til I could’ve passed for a Santa doppelganger, waddling around the halls of my childhood home, in search of more sugary concoctions. Plus, the sugary bliss awakened my monstrous sweet tooth, which thusly demanded more – either of the cocoa, or some other consolation prize confection. Sound familiar? Of course it does. But we can’t blame sugar. That’s what it does. It’s addictive. What we can do, though, is find a few shoo-ins to sip between moderating our hot chocolate. So we don’t, ya know, have to break out that Sears gift card too early for a literal wardrobe expansion, Regina George style.
Alright, so let’s see what’s first on the list….
Why, it’s the vegan version of hot chocolate, of course.
Even though it still has the creamy feel and rich taste, the unsweetened almond milk helps to lower the sugar content. By subbing in some stevia instead, you get all the sweet taste, with none’ve the need for an insulin needle. And, while the cayenne is optional, it really adds a brain wake me up, which helps you handle your family matters with the mental acuity you need, I feel. Here’s the recipe, per konakavafarm:
Ingredients
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ½ c soy, rice, or almond milk
3 tablespoons stevia
A pinch to ¼ teaspoon of sea salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of ground cinnamon
A pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)Instructions:
Combine all ingredients into a small saucepan and slowly bring to a simmer on medium heat. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until it reaches a smooth consistency. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk your hot cocoa until it becomes frothy, then serve hot. Makes 2 servings.
Next?
My personal fave – matcha latte.
If sugar’s your first favorite drinkable drug, then matcha might just be your second. An adaptogen, it does have caffeine – but it caters to whatever it is you need. Require a boost? It’ll impart some energy. Need to calm down? It’ll do that too. Unlike that mocha you’re reaching for (hot chocolate’s crackhead cousin), matcha matches your needs, while offering calm clarity. Bonus? It helps you lose weight, as well. Per Nuts, you can make it like this:
Ingredients
3 tsp matcha green tea powder
2-3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups almond milk, or milk of choice
1/2 cup light coconut milk, hot
1/2 cup coconut cream, whipped (optional)
Instructions
Over medium-low heat, warm the almond milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Turn the heat off and add the sugar, vanilla and matcha green tea powder. Whisk until the matcha powder dissolves completely.
Divide the mixture between two glasses. Divide the coconut milk between the two glasses and top with whipped coconut cream and some extra matcha powder if desired.
Enjoy immediately!
And, then, finally: spiced chai.
Again, the almond (or soy – or coconut milk) minus the sugar (and plus the stevia) subtracts the most inimical element from our favorite wintry elixirs. Meanwhile, the cinnamony taste gives it just enough kick to keep things interesting for our palate. The end result? A flavorful fiesta that feels like a fleece blanket’s swathing your soul. Which, we all know we need on those cold days when our family members’re giving eachother the cold shoulder for some trivial disagreement that probably had to do with politics, feminism, or the dude who’s birthday we’re all celebrating. Thus, it’s nice to know in such times, we needn’t put a third mug to our face of something that’s gonna end up on our bums in the forthcoming week. It’s nice to know we’ve got a delicious dupe on deck.
Because, sweet though that Bailey’s ‘n Swiss Miss is…
’tis far sweeter to survive the holidays sans acquiring an adipose inner tube.