Anyone else have an awkwardly long list of modifications when ordering drinks from coffee shops? Welcome to the club. Sometimes we spare ourselves the embarrassment and make them at home.
Inspired by the dangerously delicious Mayan Mocha from Picnik, this creamy, dreamy drink is a little sweet, spicy, and chocolaty. It’s also dairy-free and can be made with dandelion root for a low-caffeine, coffee-free option. Let us show you how it’s done!
This Mayan mocha gets its name from a traditional drink enjoyed by Mayans thousands of years ago. The chocolaty drink was made with crushed cocoa beans, chili peppers, and water and got its frothy foam by being rapidly poured between two cups immediately before serving. Talk about hard work!
Our very different, inspired-by version is similarly chocolaty, spicy, and frothy and heads into mocha territory with the addition of coffee (or dandelion root)!
After brewing coffee or dandelion root tea, you can either make the drink in a saucepan or use a milk frother. If you love the frothiness of coffee shop drinks but want to make your drinks at home, a milk frother is a game-changer!
Next, we add dairy-free milk, using a little coconut milk to create a super creamy result without any coconut flavor. The remaining ingredients are cocoa powder for richness, maple syrup (or another sweetener), and cinnamon + cayenne. For a protein boost, you can also add collagen or vegan collagen.
We hope you LOVE this Mayan mocha. It’s:
Rich
Creamy
Frothy
Warming
Subtly spicy
Lightly sweetened
& SO delicious!
It’s a lovely, cozy drink for chilly weather and has become one of our go-to morning beverages (in the rotation with matcha and chai!).
More Cozy Drinks
- Vegan Mayan Drinking Chocolate
- Cinnamon Vanilla Dandelion Tea Latte
Creamy Mayan Mocha (Caffeine-Free Option!)
Creamy homemade Mayan mocha with cinnamon and cayenne. Naturally sweetened, dairy-free, and super frothy! Just 7 ingredients and 15 minutes required.
Author Minimalist Baker
Prep Time:
15 minutes minutes
Total Time:
15 minutes minutes
Servings:
1 (Mug)
Course:
Beverage
Cuisine:
Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan (optional)
Freezer Friendly:
No
Does it keep? Best when fresh
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients
Ingredients
FOR SERVING optional
Ingredients
Instructions
Cooking method
- COFFEE: Brew 1 ½ – 2 tsp instant coffee in 2/3 cup boiling water and stir to combine (or make strong coffee using your preferred method — you want 2/3 cup total liquid).
- TEECCINO (for a caffeine-free coffee alternative): Brew 1 tea bag of Teeccino Dandelion Dark Roast in 2/3 cup boiling water for at least 10 minutes (longer for a richer flavor), shaking the tea bag a few times to infuse more flavor.
- Add brewed coffee or tea to a milk frother (or saucepan) — we recommend this frother for a super frothy, coffee shop-style drink.
- Add the remaining ingredients (almond milk, coconut milk, cocoa powder, sweetener, cinnamon, cayenne, and optional collagen). Turn the milk frother on to its warmest setting and let it do its thing! Or, if using a saucepan, whisk to combine, then heat over low-medium heat until warm (it won’t be frothy).
- Enjoy warm topped with coconut whipped cream, shaved dark chocolate, and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon (all optional). Best when fresh.
Notes
*Coffee gives this mocha a stronger coffee flavor, but Teeccino Dandelion Dark Roast is a delicious, caffeine-free option with a subtle coffee flavor.
*Cocoa powder does contain a small amount of caffeine. For a fully caffeine-free option, you could try roasted carob powder, but we haven’t tested it in this recipe. Let us know if you try it!
*Cayenne can vary in heat level depending on brand, freshness, etc. Start with a tiny pinch and add more to taste (up to ~1/8 tsp).
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with the lesser amount of maple syrup and without optional ingredients.
Nutrition (1 of 1 servings)
Serving: 1(10 oz.) mugCalories: 108Carbohydrates: 9.4gProtein: 1.3gFat: 7.7gSaturated Fat: 5.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.8gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 96mgPotassium: 186mgFiber: 1.4gSugar: 6.5g<Vitamin A: 260IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 241mgIron: 0.9mg