It only makes sense to offer a sugar and dairy-free beverage recipe after criticizing Starbucks for its lack of options. Ironically, I’m writing this while sitting in Starbucks drinking a black blond roast that unfortunately kept me up all last night. The solution to my exhaustion due to the four hours of broken sleep I got? Drink another black blond roast from Starbucks, of course.

Anyway…this recipe is very simple and you can modify it as much as you want!

Ingredients for one serving:

• A mug of 3/4 water and 1/4 nondairy milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
• A generous tablespoon of unsweetened baking cocoa powder
• Dashes of cinnamon
• Coconut whipped cream (I didn’t know this was a thing until recently, but it changed my life!!)

Directions:

Pour the mug of water/nondairy milk into a small pot. Set to medium heat and allow it to heat up.

Once it’s hot, but before it starts to boil, take it off of the stove. Add the baking cocoa powder and as much cinnamon as you’d like. Stir.

Then pour the hot cocoa into your mug and top with coconut whipped cream and more cinnamon.

That’s it!

You can use sweetened nondairy milk and/or natural sweeteners such as maple syrup or coconut sugar.

If you try this recipe, let me know how you like it!

xx Vic