Cold “No-Coffee” Coffee / Hot Chocolate

There is a Christmassy feel in the air… Mumbai is actually nice and chilly. The jackets and scarfs are out and mornings are bury cold.
Yesterday morning my daughter woke up and demanded a hot drink. She still at times remembers snippets from our US days and said “Mumma it’s Christmas where is my hot chocolate”. So the routine green smoothie was replaced by this hot drink.
During our cooking workshops with SHARAN, we teach this Date Nut and Seed Shake to help in replacing tea, coffee or flavoured milk for kids. This is my take of that drink and it’s super yum . Just a word of caution this drink tastes best when made fresh and is not best after refrigerating for long periods of time. Also the best part you can have it either hot or cold. So it was cold coffee for my hubby and hot chocolate for the kids. Just warm it on the stove and it’s perfect for a chilly Christmassy morning.

  • Soaked cashews- 1/2 cup
  • Dates deseeded- 9-10
  • Soaked sesame seeds- 1 tbsp
  • Dark cocoa powder/cacao nibs-2 tsps (as per your taste)
  • A pinch of cinnamon powder
  • 2-3 drops vanilla extract (not essence) (optional)
  • 2 cups water
  1. Soak the cashews and sesame seeds overnight in drinking water,drain the water, wash and use.
  2. Add all the ingredients to a blender and add little water to make a fine paste.
  3. Add rest of the water and make it into chocolate milk consistency.
  4. Remove the chocolate milk in a saucepan and warm it on the stove. (Not a microwave)
  5. If using a high power blender like Vitamix, run the blender on the highest speed for 2 minutes and it will get warm.
  6. For cold coffee either keep it in the freezer for 30 minute or serve with ice cubes .
  7. Sprinkle a little dark cocoa on top and serve.
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