+GFO +SF
This drink is thick, rich and pretty much unforgettable. It does have simple flavors, so the vanilla is important to zing it up. You can add coffee to make a vegan white mocha. This is the opposite of fat free, but if you are on a fat-free eating plan, try adding extra vanilla and maybe some cacao or cocoa powder to make an oil-free hot chocolate. —KH
SERVES 2
MILK
2 cups (470 ml) water
2 tbsp (14 g) raw cashews
2 tbsp (21 g) raw almonds
1 tbsp (5 g) oats (steel-cut, Scottish or rolled will work)
4 pitted dates (optional)
THE REST
4 tbsp (57 g) cacao butter, chopped
½ vanilla bean, split, or 1 tsp vanilla extract
Sweetener of choice, to taste if not using dates
FOR THE MILK
Combine the water, cashews, almonds, oats and dates in a large bowl and soak for at least 8 hours. I like to toss everything in my Vitamix before I leave the house for work.
After it’s soaked, blend well. Put a fine-mesh strainer over a saucepan and strain the milk mixture to remove the sediment. You should have pulp left over. You can use this in a baked good or your morning bowl of oatmeal.
Add the milk, cacao butter and vanilla (either scraped or extract) to a saucepan. If you didn’t use dates earlier, now is the time to add your sweetener. I used 2 tablespoons (24 g) of sugar in one batch, dates in another and monk fruit in the last. They all worked well, and you will be able to add more later if it’s not sweet enough for you.
Heat over medium heat, whisking all the time. First the cocoa butter will melt and cover the top of the mixture like an oil slick. Don’t panic—this is supposed to happen.
Keep whisking. The oil will incorporate and the oats in the milk will begin to thicken ever so slightly.
It’s a fine line between making it just right and cooking it too long until it looks like gravy. It is tasty gravy, so if that happens just whisk in some nondairy milk you have hiding in the fridge.
I like to take it off the heat as soon as the oil droplets disappear—this takes between 5 to 10 minutes—but still whisk a minute more. If it doesn’t thicken up enough, put it back on the heat for another minute or so.
I’ve made this thick like a liquid truffle or French hot chocolate and I like it that way. It will continue to thicken, so err on the side of thinness.