I’ve started a new wintertime ritual of beginning my day with rich and creamy coffee-less lattes. Most mornings I’ll whip up a brilliant creation at home… and of course there are other days when my toddler wakes me up 3 times during the night calling for his soother and I haul my butt out of bed for a 6am workout that I hit the nearest drive-through for something highly caffeinated!

My go-to homemade latte usually involves my Vitamixer, hemp seeds and some Dandy Blend but lately I’ve been experimenting with a variety of different nuts to come up with the perfect rich and creamy latte consistency. Cashew Cream is my new favourite ingredient in because it mimics real cream but is actually made from raw cashews that have been soaked overnight and then blended into a smooth texture. Soaked nuts are much more digestible than plain raw nuts and they are a fantastic source of protein. And did you know that cashews are also rich in magnesium and can help alleviate depression, anxiety and insomnia?

Homemade coffee-free lattes are also a great place to hide your favourite supplements. You simply pop them into the blender with your other ingredients and they are undetectable in your delicious morning drink.  I often toss in my Vitamin C and at least 2 caps of one of my two favourite Jing Herbs mushroom blends – either  “Peaceful Spirit” or “Great Adaptor.”

These lattes are ideal for cold winter mornings. They are hearty, creamy and delicious AND they are packed with goodness and nutrition. These recipes make enough for 2 big mugs of latte goodness so throw some into a container to heat up later in the day or share it with someone you love. And be sure to save any left over cashew cream for tomorrow’s latte…or for the amazing Cream of Mushroom soup recipe that I’ll be posting soon!

Cashew Cream

1 cup raw cashews
2 cups water

Place cashews in a small bowl and cover with water. Let soak in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, drain and rinse cashews. Place in a high-powered blender and add 2 cups of water (or more or less depending on how think you like your cream). Blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth.

Chocolate-Mint Cashew Cream Latte
1 cup cashew cream
1 tbsp coconut milk
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
4 pitted medjool dates
2 drops of edible peppermint oil (I use Living Libations)
Supplements of choice (optional)
3 cups boiling hot water

Place all ingredients in a high-powered blending and blend for 1 minute until smooth.

Maple Cinnamon Cashew-Cream Latte
1 cup cashew cream
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp maple sugar or syrup (more or less depending on desired sweetness)
1 tbsp Dandy Blend
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Supplements of choice (optional)
3 cups boiling hot water

Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender and blend for 1 minute. Enjoy!