If you’re craving a warm, cozy drink that gives a nod to traditional holiday flavors while still maintaining the integrity of its healthy ingredients, you’re in luck.
This Mint Mocha Warmer is a healthy holiday coffee drink that will be a crowd pleaser this holiday, and well into the new year.
When I think about the holidays, and the cozy drinks that have the power to get you out of bed on a cold morning, and the ones that are made to sip by the fire, not many healthy options come to mind. Traditional cold-weather drinks like creamy eggnog, decadent hot chocolate, and hot buttered rum are laden with sugars, heavy cream and butter, not to mention the ever-popular Pumpkin Spice Lattes pack more harmful ingredients than good ones. While all of these seasonal favorites may warm you up at first, they’ll most likely leave you feeling weighed down, sluggish and just not your best.
That’s why I was inspired to come up with a nourishing, seasonal coffee-based drink that brings warming flavors with healthy fats to create a comforting drink you’ll crave all winter long. Freshly brewed coffee pairs with cocoa powder, coconut butter, and coconut milk for a luxurious, smooth taste. MCT oil supercharges the blend to give you energy that will keep you satiated for hours, without the expected crash of other coffee drinks. Maple syrup then adds a nice sweetness, along with a few drops of peppermint extract to achieve the seasonal minty flavor we all know and love.
This recipe is…
Full of healthy fats
Keeps you fuller longer
Gives you sustainable energy
Is comforting and warming
Gives you that sentimental holiday feeling
I tend to make this Mint Mocha Steamer as part of my weekend morning routine rather than during the week, especially since the recipe has a few more components in it than my standard
Coffee Elevated. I enjoy making this when I have a little more time in the morning to enjoy it! It would also make a great warm drink to serve house guests on a Saturday or Sunday morning before a large meal a few hours later if you’re thinking about your holiday entertaining menu.
A pro tip while making this recipe:
Blending this healthy holiday coffee is essential to getting the health benefits and the amazing frothy texture. You just won’t get that by mixing the ingredients with a spoon. It’s important to note, too, that blending in a high-speed blender for up to 1 minute will cause it to lose some heat when serving. To combat this, blend per directions below, and keep warm over the stovetop if needed. Otherwise, enjoy immediately!
If you try this recipe, I wanna hear about it, so let’s chat! Leave a comment it, rate it (this helps me improve future recipes), and don’t forget to tag a picture #nutritionstripped on Instagram to show how you live and try these recipes on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with.
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Healthy Fats
This drink is packed with beneficial fats, especially thanks to the combination of MCT oil, the coconut butter, and coconut milk. MCT, which is short for medium chain triglycerides, is much easier for our bodies to break down before getting rapidly absorbed and used for energy in ketosis. When you consume healthy fats like in this drink, you’ll feel fuller longer, and you may experience sharper cognitive functioning. You’ll also enjoy the benefits of healthy cholesterol in your body, which decreases your risk for heart problems.
Theobromine
Chocolate has many health-related benefits, most of them coming from an active compound in cacao, called theobromine. Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid which acts as a natural vasodilator (a.k.a. dilates your blood vessels to allow more blood flow and oxygen), a diuretic (a.k.a. increasing urination to rid the body of excess fluids), and a heart stimulant. You can see how these benefits just mentioned can have a positive effect on reducing high blood pressure, heart health, cholesterol-lowering benefits, PMS, and possible mental focus/acuity.
Antioxidants
Though this recipe includes a small amount of maple syrup, it still packs health benefits. Maple syrup was discovered to have powerful antioxidant polyphenols which research has shown to fight premature signs of aging.
Optimizer Option
You can kick this festive beverage up a notch by adding a 1/2 or 1 tablespoon of the powerful adaptogen Ashwagandha to help your body combat physical signs of stress during this busy season or a 1/2 or 1 tablespoon of Maca powder, another adaptogen that has shown signs of balancing hormones, and acting as an aphrodisiac, boosting stamina, reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, adding physical strength, endurance, and boosting mental focus/clarity. You can learn more about Maca here, and find out additional information on serving sizes here.
