Lazy Peppermint Mocha

How are we feeling about another coffee shop hack? Keep your four bucks and make this healthier version of a peppermint mocha at home. My friend Beth and I both like to add mocha to our coffee year round, but once you add that drip-drip of peppermint, it makes staring at those Christmas tree lights in the darkness of the pre-dawn chilly morning, hoping and praying that no one gets out of bed early today, oh-SO-special. It’s the little things. I can be sitting there and wishing I’d gotten a better night’s sleep, thinking through how to sound intelligent on the upcoming Zoom call with my kid’s principal, half-heartedly scribbling out some gratitude in my journal, remembering I forgot to quiz the other kid on his spelling words, and the peppermint mocha - that I DID NOT have to leave the comfort of my HOME to hold - reminds me that I’m gonna be ok. And that my coffee breath might be slightly less offensive today.

Pro tips: Collagen. I currently do not have unflavored collagen, but vanilla works fine. The mocha overpowers it so it’s not some weird chocolate/vanilla mix. Peppermint flavoring: I love the Frontier co-op organic brand, and it only takes 2-3 drops to infuse the beverage, but use what you have. And you may know I’m on an oat milk kick, but use the milk that makes you feel happiest! I mean, it’s CHRISTMASTIME!! And don’t forget to sip slowly and enjoy as you stare into the colored lights and remember Christmases past, where you had no idea what you might get because the unimaginative Amazon wish list was not yet a thing.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk of choice

• 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee

• 1 TBSP Cacao (I use this one)

• 1 tsp coconut sugar (more to taste) or other sweetner

• 2-3 drops of peppermint flavor

• 1 scoop collagen

  Directions

  1. Brew coffee.

  2. Warm milk.

  3. Add cacao, sweetner, peppermint, collagen and coffee to milk and blend for 30 seconds.

  4. Use a knife to hold back the froth as you pour into a coffee mug that delights you to hold each morning, let the froth spill quietly on top, sip and enjoy!