You didn’t think I was going to let the big day arrive without us having ourselves some kind of festive coffee did you?

You know I love me a good cup of coffee!

I more than love it!

I need it. Kinda like I need air . . . I just do not function well without it.

Plus I really do just enjoy it.

Everything about it.

The taste.

The smell.

MMmmMM so good!

Sometimes I go to bed early just to coffee time can hurry up and get here already!

Anyways enough about my obsession infatuation love of coffee and on with today’s recipe.

Today we are making ourselves an all natural ice cold, thick, creamy, espresso infused, gingerbread spiced latte.

In the midst of a last minute Christmas shopping frenzy I found myself feeling a little hot and botherd and kinda scroogie. I was frustrated and hungry but still had so much to get done!

I really wanted to just stop, breathe and grab a nice cup of coffee and a gingerbread cookie to re-group. Which I totally should have done.

Instead, I decided to grab myself a gingerbread latte in the hope that it would satisfy my cookie/coffee craving . . . I also hoped caffeine hit and some heart and soul warming holiday flavours might help to lift my spirits and fuel the final leg of my shopping trip . . .

Boy was I wrong!

The coffee was weak and instead of holiday, gingerbread spices all I got was a overly syrupy, sickly sweet, sugar hit that didn’t taste like gingerbread at all. So not cool!

I was hot, bothered and in a serious sugar crash, so not what you want when you’re trying to finish all important Christmas errands. Or anytime for that matter!

But never fear, today’s iced gingerbread latte is everything I hoped for and more!

It will totally satisfy that coffee/cookie craving and won’t leave you feeling hot and bother nursing a post sugar crash.

Promise.

Espresso is brewed as strong as you like then served on ice. Yum!

To get our holiday/gingerbread flavours we simply add in some frozen banana, a splash of vanilla and a drizzle of maple syrup which provide those deep, caramel/molasses undertones. Lastly we throw in our of spices – ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cardamom which really bring home that classic gingerbread flavour combination.

Ice cold, subtly sweet, espresso infused latte blended with the perfect hum of holiday spices.

Yes, yes, just yes!

Not only is our iced gingerbread latte all kinds of festive and delicious, it also happens to be all natural and, because we use unsweetened vanilla almond milk and coconut yoghurt in our base it also makes this baby vegan, dairy free and paleo friendly!

Everybody wins!

It’s the perfect, holiday inspired way to get your coffee on, on Christmas day.

Or the perfect way to take a little quiet time out and get your milk and cookie on if you find yourself feeling a little hot, bothered and, dare I say, a little scroogie in amongst all the fast and furious festivities.

Oh and if you are planning to get a cheeky pre-christmas workout in you could throw in a scoop of vanilla (or even chocolate) protein powder in for a holiday inspired post workout shake.

And seeings as it’s Christmas and all . . .

I’m not saying that you should (except I kinda sorta am) add a little whipped cream (or coconut cream) . . .

some shaved dark chocolate and some festive sprinkles . . . just because you can!

I don’t know about you but this all natural, subtly sweet, gingerbread spiced, espresso infused iced latte has the holiday spirit (and my name) written all over it.

Make it. Drink it. Love, love, love it

Iced Gingerbread Latte {Vegan, Dairy Free & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 very large or 2 small ice cold, creamy, dreamy gingerbread spiced, espresso infused super smoothies

Ingredients –

3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/4 cup of coconut yoghurt (or regular/Greek style yoghurt)

1 shot of espresso, cooled (can sub for 1 tsp of instant espresso dissolved in 1-2 Tablespoons of hot water)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen)

1-2 Tablespoon of maple syrup depending on your desired level of sweetness (FYI – I used 1 Tbsp)

1 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger

A pinch teaspoon of nutmeg

A pinch teaspoon of cardamom

1/2-1 cup of ice depending on how icy you like your smoothies

Optional – 

Festive sprinkles, shaved dark chocolate and whipped cream/coconut cream for serving

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into a blender and process until smooth and creamy.

2 – To serve, pour directly into your mouth a chilled glass of mason jar, top with whipped cream/coconut cream, shaved dark chocolate and sprinkles if using watch the world fall into blissful silence.

Enjoy xoxo
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Question of the day –

Coffee or tea? Hot or iced?