Healthy Peppermint Mocha Frappé

I’ll admit, this has become an almost daily indulgence for me this Summer. It’s an afternoon pick-me-up that - although looks like a lot of ingredients - comes together really quickly. And once you have your ingredients stock-piled, they last quite awhile.

healthy peppermint mocha frappe

This decedent drink is actually packed with antioxidants and adaptogens, so I feel much better about treating myself to this over the syrupy, commercial equivalents (true story: I did look up the ingredients for the big-chain variety and was horrified…soy? artificial flavors? corn syrup solids? oh boy.)

With this version, you will leave all the yucky stuff behind and enjoy clean, organic ingredients you can pronounce! It also has a satisfying crunch thanks to the cacao nib garnish.

And I have a refreshing take on the peppermint: I have been on a health quest for almost eight years (long story for another time), so I check ingredients carefully. I recently became aware of the health consequences of consuming seed oils, as they are very high in Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAS), which are energy zappers (hello, Mom of two here, don’t need that LOL), and contribute to a whopping list of many other side effects I would personally like to avoid. Since then, I have noticed, they are pretty much in everything, including extracts! So rather than using peppermint extract in this recipe, which is made with essential oil, heavily diluted with sunflower seed oil, I am cutting out the middle man and just using the 100% pure essential oil in a very small amount (not all essential oils are pure, please see my recommendation below). Seriously, why have an oily drink if you don’t need to? Gross, right? So now I’m enjoying experimenting with essential oils in my kitchen, like this delicious, Lavender latte.

paleo peppermint mocha frappe recipe

So how is this frappe healthy? My recipe includes a boost from our friend, Ashwagandha. Not only is it a fun word to pronounce, it’s got sooooo many health benefits. What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb, native to India that’s been used for thousands of years to promote natural healing. It’s most well-known benefit is to reduce stress and anxiety, which is why it is classified as an adaptogen. It has even had some success in reducing cortisol levels.

Other possible benefits of consuming ashwagandha are:

  • increased energy

  • improved sleep

  • increased fertility

  • improved memory

  • reduction in inflammation

healthy, peppermint mocha frappe recipe with adaptogens

What does Ashwagandha taste like?

Some say Ashwagandha is a strong flavor that tastes bad and needs to be masked by something else, but I couldn’t disagree more. The flavor can be so subjective, but I experience a nutty, almost malt-like flavor when I taste ashwagandha. I love the earthy, slightly sweet taste of it, especially when paired with the bitterness of cacoa. And the peppermint oil will certainly make this a good “mask” for those who are not used to consuming this ancient herb in powder form.

As if there aren’t already enough health benefits, you will also get a good amount of antioxidants in the cocoa powder, thanks to its abundance of polyphenols. Because it also contains some caffeine, it’s believed by many (and…ahem…tested by myself) to be an excellent mood-lifter. :)

homemade peppermint mocha frappe

But enough of the health benefits. It just tastes good!

So let’s get into it…

Making this delicious treat cannot be easier. All you need is a blender and you are on your way to frappé-heaven.

healthy peppermint mocha recipe

ingredients


Process:

Place everything except the cacao nibs into a blender and blend on high for 15 seconds. Garnish with cocoa nibs on top and serve immediately.


Notes:

  1. Be careful with the dropper as they can be hard to get going and then all of a sudden dispense many drops in rapid succession! If this happens, you will need to start over. To prevent more than one drop getting in, try dropping the oil onto your finger first and then letting it roll off your finger into the milk. If one drop produces a flavor that is too strong for you, double the rest of the recipe to make two cups, but keep just the 1 drop of oil. Alternatively, If you feel like you want more peppermint flavor in your drink, put it back to the blender and add one more drop.

Omissions and Substitutions:

Milk: You can definitely use alternative milks. I am currently low fodmap and used lactose-free whole milk with great results. I have also used light coconut milk.

Maple Syrup: Stevia or granulated sugar can be used in place of maple syrup.

Vanilla: Can be left out if you prefer.

Espresso: Can be left out and you will still get a lot of body to this drink.

Peppermint: You can leave this out or sub with another edible oil like lavender or orange.

Ashwaganda: Omit this if you are on certain prescription medications. Consult with your Doctor prior to taking this herb.

Ice: I sometimes leave this out but it’s nice on a hot day.

Cacao powder: There isn’t really a substitute for this one, sorry! It adds most of the flavor and compliments the Ashwaganda so beautifully. You can definitely use less than the tablespoon I recommended for a lighter version.

(related)

Until next time…

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Hi. I’m Katherine.

When I’m not whipping up tasty treats like this in the kitchen, I’m designing beautiful interiors over at Hausmatter, an online design service.

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