Skin-Loving Peppermint Mocha

Last but far from least in my 3 Morning Drinks to Fuel You Through Fall is one of my favorite cold weather coffees: a peppermint mocha. When this begins appearing on coffee shop menus come November, I can’t help but treat myself. But like so many other specialty lattes, you might unfortunately find that the ingredients in most mochas will bum your festive high.

My solution? This easy, homemade version that allows you to enjoy a seasonal goodie and fuel your body with tons of nutrients. Of course, a mocha isn’t complete without chocolate, but I encourage you to reach for cacao powder rather than cocoa for extra antioxidants without the added sugars. Plus, the powerful polyphenols in cacao can improve brain function, reduce risk of heart disease and stroke and even fight depression.

Peppermint extract also brings all of the minty goodness that’ll immediately transport you to the holidays. Peppermint is likewise seen to reduce digestive upset, open up clogged sinuses and improve sleep, just to name a few benefits. All the more reason to enjoy this minty latte on repeat this season!

Like all of my festive fall drinks, GoodMylk Co.’s Hemp Mylk is essential to bringing the creamy, frothiness to this recipe. If you’ve never given hemp milk a try, I can’t encourage you enough to embrace the benefits of this nut and dairy free alternative. Not only is hemp incredibly high in plant-based protein, but it also provides a punch of brain-loving Omega-3s as well as magnesium, iron, zinc and more.

In addition to all of these nutrition-packed ingredients, I added a scoop of collagen peptides for an extra skin-loving boost. While this ingredient is optional, I can’t rave more about the benefits of regularly incorporating collagen into your daily diet. The advantages include glowing skin/reverse of skin aging, healthier cartilage, decreased joint pain and improved digestion and gut health. Collagen is likewise a great form of protein to make this drink even more satiating.

Along with this dreamy Skin-Loving Peppermint Mocha, be sure to check out my Salted Maple Chai Latte and Golden Pumpkin Spice Latte for more simple, healthy ways to embrace all of the seasonal flavors this fall!