Handmade Vanilla “Cappuccino” (Dairy-free & Sugar-free)

Classic Coffee

To me, coffee is classy.  I really love the feeling of going to a coffee shop and getting a warm, full, steaming cup of this amazing-smelling dark beverage.  I slowly sip on it while waiting for the friend I’m meeting up with.  I feel so… important, sophisticated.

Why is that anyway?  It’s just a drink in a cardboard cup!  And it’s not a healthy one at that.  With the milk, cream, sweeteners, caffeine and artificial flavorings, indulging in a latte or cappuccino is a luxury my body usually can’t afford.  Not to mention my pocketbook. 

Hmm, maybe it’s the sense of connection I feel with the millions of other coffee junkies across the world.  Perhaps it’s simply the flavor and the aroma that combines to create a delicious experience of coffee “sippage”.  Or maybe it’s simply the rarity of it that makes it such a treat!

Well, whatever it is, one day recently I just wanted a cute coffee drink like everyone else!  The cosmopolitan coffee craving was upon me and this recipe is the fruit of it.

Despite being the crafter of this beverage, I seldom drink coffee as I’ve found I simply cannot handle caffeine gracefully!  However, for the occasional treat, this handmade “cappuccino” does quite well at satisfying that cosmopolitan coffee craving!

And with this (hopefully not but probably so) last “slightly cool snap” (nothing can quite be called “cold” in Houston) it seems fitting to welcome the first glimpses of summer with a warm beverage??? …. er that sounds like a big excuse.  But that’s ok.

Alrighty you will need a mason jar or a container with a tight fitting lid.  We’ll be shakin’ up the drink in that so be sure it doesn’t leak.  Also, this is more of a tame cappuccino as it doesn’t contain any shots.  (Phew)

Handmade Vanilla “Cappucino”

•  1 cup freshly brewed organic coffee

•  3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk, vanilla flavored (use more or less depending on how strong you like your coffee to be)

•  half a dropper full (about 7 drops) of “vanilla creme ” stevia extract by SweetLeaf

OR 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 packet stevia

•  dark chocolate bar (I like Ghiradelli’s 100% cacao baking bar. Very strong but very good!)

Combine first three ingredients in the jar, screw on lid tightly, and SHAKE it like you mean it for about 30 seconds.  The more vigorously shaken the more foam on the top.  Pour it into your favorite mug and if you like, shave a bit of a chocolate bar over the top to add a nice touch!  Sip away!

Creative Coffee

To further shake things up, here are some substitutions you can have a little fun with: use another type of nut milk or try rice or hemp seed milk, use almond extract in addition to, or in place of the vanilla, use honey to sweeten it, use a different flavor of SweetLeaf stevia extract (they have a hazelnut one!), try decaf coffee or a flavored coffee instead of regular.  Just make sure the flavored coffee doesn’t contain any artificial flavorings or sweeteners.

Handmade Vanilla “Cappuccino” got featured on Full Plate Thursday!

Also seen on Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Thriving on Thursdays, Full Plate Thursday, Tasty Tuesdays, Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show, Real Food 101, Homestead Barn Hop, Fat Tuesday, Make Your Own Monday, Handmade Tuesdays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Foodie Friday.

Tagged as: amaretto, cappuccino, coffee, vanilla, warm beverage