Hi all! Coach Stefanie here!
Like most people, I love Starbucks and all their fancy drinks. But, unfortunately, neither my wallet nor my waistline appreciate the drinks I love getting. So, I have started making my own versions at home. That way I can control the ingredients (and therefore BITES) and it costs way less!
What you'll need:
There are a few things I suggest getting for this endeavor. My favorite thing I purchased to make my own coffees is an espresso maker. But before that I used a Keurig with espresso coffee grounds on the strong brew setting and that worked too. In addition to that, I keep a wide variety of sugar free syrups on hand. I love the Skinny Mixes, but any kind works great! And lastly, I grabbed a milk frother wand and I already own a blender. You will see that some recipes call for the frother or blender and some don't.
Today, I am sharing some of my favorite recipes with you. Each recipe uses a different technique that you can use with different flavor profiles based on your personal preference. So after each recipe, I will share some further suggestions on how you can customize the drink.
Protein Coffee Recipe (replaces Iced Caramel Macchiato)
Let's start off with something easy- a staple in the Healthi community!
Additional options
I love this recipe because it is quick and easy. The premier protein also keeps me full for quite a while so this coffee often doubles as my breakfast (and the fact that I sip it over a few hours definitely helps too). You can also make this with other types of protein shakes and other flavors depending on your taste. And if you're on the go you can grab 2 shots of espresso over ice in a taller cup at most places and then add your protein shake. Some people even bump up the flavor by adding extra syrup to their shake.
Caramel Latte (replaces Caramel Macchiato, Caramel Brle Latte)
Additional Options
This drink is perfect on a cold day and it is super versatile. By simply changing out the syrup flavor, you can make an infinite amount of drinks. You can make a pumpkin spice latte by using pumpkin spice syrup and you can make a mocha by using mocha/chocolate syrup etc. This recipe is definitely my go to. Depending on the syrup, you may need more or less of it.
Frozen Caramel Latte (replaces Caramel Frappuccino)
Additional Options
The sugar free pudding powder is the key ingredient here that helps the blend come together nicely. You can substitute butterscotch to combine with the caramel flavor or use other flavors with other syrup combinations! An added indulgence is created by using the caramel topping to create the caramel ribbons I love in the original drink.
Chocolate covered Strawberry Latte (replaces Iced mocha with strawberry cold foam)
Additional Options
This recipe uses the currently popular sweet cream cold foam which can be made by combining whipping cream, some milk and vanilla syrup. Since I like lightening mine up, I use fat free half and half and the syrup of my choice. In this case, I add the strawberry puree instead of syrup for an extra twist. Using the fat free half and half and syrup option, you can make any kind of cold foam you would like to top your iced coffee with. You can even add some extra milk to it if you find that gives you better foam. With the flavor option in the foam and flavor options for the iced coffee, you can create a ton of different drinks so you'll never get bored! I recommend drinking this drink without a straw so the cold foam and coffee can mix.
Do any of these strike your fancy? I want to know! Comment below which one you've tried before, or you're going to make asap!
Happy Tracking!