Vegan Iced Café Mocha Latte with Cashews, Dates & Cocowhip

This is a delicious summer treat. I whipped it up in minutes after a workout on a whim. I always need an afternoon caffeinated pick me up, so decided to combine caffeine with a lil dose of cocoa & vanilla protein powder. Cashews add body and richness. Dates & cocowhip provide that touch of sweetness. Don't opt out of the cocowhip topping. Once it settles into the drink it adds so much deliciousness to the flavour profile. I bought the "so delicious" brand of cocowhip at the superstore in the organic/natural food freezer section and I'm so glad I did because it's the bomb. While I always prefer to avoid convenience products, life is busy. PIus, I cook a lot, like full time at my job, then every day experimenting in my own home, so I try to cut myself some slack here and there if the product is great, and this one really is. 

Recipe

Ingredients:
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• 1/2 cup espresso or strong brewed coffee
• 1 cup almond milk
• 4 dates
• 2 tbsp raw cashews
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
•  1/2 scoop (or a full scoop) vanilla protein powder (I use Vega)
•  2 tbsp cocowhip

Method:

1. Put dates & cashews in microwave safe bowl. Pour water to cover. Microwave 1 minute. Let sit for a few then strain and discard water.
2.  Combine all ingredients except for cocowhip. Blend with immersion blender until smooth. 
   
3. Poor over a glass filled with ice.
4. Top with cocowhip and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
   
5.  Stir the cocowhip into the drink a bit and enjoy.