Hi Everyone!
Happy Sunday! Did you notice the debut of Starbucks holiday drink collection on Friday? Well that gave me the idea that I should create a new holiday drink and showcase last years drinks! Today’s drink is not Christmas but more like Thanksgiving, but honestly darn good anytime of the year! Lets get smaken and let me show you today’s drink, this is Pumpkin Mocha Chai Tea.
So what does one do at 5am on a Saturday morning? Make drinks! Yup that’s what I did yesterday. My Husband looked at me like I was strange. He is like, what are you making now? I said Pumpkin Mocha Chai Tea! Want some? He said no, as he got his big cup of coffee and walked away. I am not a big tea drinker, though I love tea, but I tend to gravitate towards coffee, but this weekend I wanted a cozy glass of tea so I can dip my Almondina Pumpkin Spice biscuits in it. Plus this tea is not one to shy away from. It’s so good! You get nice hint of spice, with a wonderful balance of pumpkin flavor with a chocolate after taste. It’s simply amazing and would please any pumpkin or tea lover!
This drink is not only easy to make too! It makes two cups and the whole recipe it is only 69 calories and contains 5 grams of fiber! This will not only warm your belly, but it will keep you full! To make; I used Trader Joe’s Chai Tea, Silk Soy Milk, but any milk will work, pumpkin, stevia, cocoa powder and pumpkin extract. I mixed it all in a sauce pan and in a few minutes I had this wonderful little drink! Really, it’s just perfect for an evening drink or like me on a Saturday morning.
- 1½ cups water
- 2 chai tea bags
- 3 Tbsp. pumpkin, not pie filling
- 11/2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp. pumpkin spice
- ½ tsp. stevia (to taste)
- ½ cup unsweetened soy, coconut or non-fat milk
- 1 dash cinnamon
- In a medium size sauce pant, add water and tea bags (if tea bags have strings cut them off). Heat over low - medium heat for 5 minutes, or until a soft simmer. Squeeze tea bags and remove from pot. Stir in pumpkin, cocoa powder, vanilla, pumpkin spice and stevia. Stir and cook until everything is combined and smooth. Stir in milk and cook until warmed. Pour into a cup and top with a dash of cinnamon.
Since I am all into the holiday season, well with food and drink that is, I thought it would be fun to share you my holiday drinks from the past. But don’t worry I have lots more holiday drinks up my sleeve and I can’t wait to make and share them with you!! Let me start you off with my favorite, favorite holiday drink and that is my Skinny Peppermint Mocha Frappe. I love peppermint and to me Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without peppermint. I LOVE it!! That is my go to drink this time of year! Plus you can’t beat 45 calories!! Oh and Trader Joe’s has peppermint extract in stock! Pick some up next time you go! I over stocked on it last year, so i have a ton leftover.
For all of you latte lovers I also made a Skinny Peppermint Mocha Latte which is perfect for a chilly evening! Another one of my favorites.
Another one of my favorites when I need cookies is the Skinny Gingerbread Frappe. This drink tastes just like gingerbread and with the hint of molasses, it really takes this frappe up another level.
Of course what would the holidays be like without eggnog? Honestly I’m not an eggnog person, but Little Jenny and my Husband are. I did see at the store this year that they make non-dairy eggnog for the vegans and dairy free lovers. Yah! Here is my Eggnog Frappe.
Now your thinking, Jen, it’s cold out, show us some warm drinks! ok, ok, ok, hold your horses. Here is my Eggnog Latte! Perfect for serving on Christmas morning!
Of course since I am really still in Fall mode, I do have to share with you my pumpkin drinks. I just love pumpkin! It’s so healthy, delicious and such a versatile little fruit. Here is my Skinny Pumpkin Spice Frappe.
Of course not everyone likes coffee, so I thought I would make a creamy version of my Pumpkin Spice Frappe. This drink is one of Jenny’s favorites! It’s so darn good, I can see why! Here is the Pumpkin and Cream Frappe.
Loving pumpkin! As you can tell I think pumpkin and chocolate go together nicely, so why not create a Pumpkin Mocha Spice Latte? I wonder how many pumpkin drinks I can come up with? Hmmmm, I guess we shall see.
Now for the kids! I didn’t forget you and what kid doesn’t like hot chocolate? Adults, you could add a pinch of rum into these drinks and zip it up for yourself!! Here is the ultimate, original Super Chocolaty Hot Chocolate. This stuff is darn good! I served this on Christmas last year and I was told it was the best hot chocolate ever! I kid you not about that!! So creamy, smooth and made with coconut milk.
This next hot chocolate drink is made with, well more pumpkin! Told you I can’t get enough pumpkin! I served this drink to Jenny before she went to work and oh my gosh she loved it!! This is Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate.
I really have fun making my frappes, lattes and hot chocolates. I feel like a scientist when I am making them. I just add a pinch of this and a pinch of that and come up with fun creations! That’s one thing I love about making drinks! You can make almost anything into a drink!
Well my Friends, since this is Saturday morning still I have lots of recipes to start making for the week. I have a few wonderful ones already lined up!!
Have a great rest of the weekend!
Toodles,
Jennifer
P.S. I just have to show you my Skinny Peppermint Mocha Frappe again! I think this will be my afternoon drink today!
Pumpkin Bread
Preserving Pumpkins
Classic Pumpkin Pie
Weekly Recap – July 1, 2012
This Holiday drink looks so delightful Jennifer!!
Ahhhh, thank you so much Laura!
Jennifer, you’ve got me in the mood for the holidays now with these delicious drinks! I’d love to try each one of them!
Roz
Ahhh, thank you so much Roz!
These all look soooooo good and I totally LOVE Trader Joes!
I know that darn Trader Joe’s! They have everything!