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If you're looking for a healthy, caffeine-free drink to curb those coffee cravings, this Homemade French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix is just the ticket! It's caffeine-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free. Plus, once you have a batch of this instant cappuccino mix whipped up, your mornings will be a breeze!
I've never been a big coffee drinker, but I do love me a good latte or cappuccino once in a while. And I have to admit I went through a big Starbucks Latte phase in college. However, I soon learned that coffee and I don't get along all that well.
Symptoms I Experience After Drinking Coffee
- The Common Jitters
- Increased Anxiety
- Sweaty Palms, Back and Armpits
- Heart Palpitations
- Trouble Focusing
- Gut Cramps
- Cystic Acne
No matter what I tried, whether it be switching to decaf or adding good fats and adaptogens to my coffee, I would still experience most of the above symptoms. It wasn't until just a couple of years ago, I finally decided to break up with coffee for good. The few minutes of satisfaction just wasn't worth the consequences.
Thankfully, there are now many delicious coffee substitutes on the market that make it much easier to break up with coffee. Also, if you're not a fan of coffee substitutes on their own, you may just fall in love when you try this Homemade French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix!
What's In This Homemade French Vanilla Mix
Coffee Substitute
I like using Dandy Blend for this french vanilla cappuccino recipe. I find it has a very close flavour to coffee and dandelion root has so many health benefits, such as balancing hormones (which is a big plus if you're prone to acne, like me). You could also use roasted, ground dandelion root on its own, ground chicory root or any other plain coffee substitute you prefer.
Cacao Powder
Cacao powder gives this french vanilla mix a bit more bitterness, adding to the coffee flavour. It also helps to bring the french vanilla flavour together. It perfectly complements both the coffee and vanilla flavours without overpowering them.
Homemade Vanilla Powder
The key to this recipe is making your own vanilla powder. It offers a much richer and sweeter flavour. Plus, making your own is much cheaper than buying a big jar of it and is way simpler than you might think! To make this French Vanilla Mix, all you need is two fresh vanilla beans. I got mine from Java Sisters Vanilla. I can honestly say their vanilla beans are the freshest I've ever bought. They are also a woman-owned business that truly has the earth and your health in mind. They grow, harvest and ship their organic vanilla beans ethically and sustainably. Grab your vanilla beans here and enter the code WILD1 to get 10% off your purchase!
Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar offers a sweet caramel-like flavour, similar to brown sugar. It pairs perfectly with the vanilla and cacao, bringing more warmth to this french vanilla cappuccino mix. The coconut sugar also doesn't make it overly sweet, so if you have a sweet tooth, you can always add more to taste.
Coconut Milk Powder
Coconut Milk Powder adds a natural sweetness and little creaminess, just like powdered milk would do. However, coconut milk powder is a much healthier option as it usually doesn't contain any or many additives. It's also a great source of good fats. Plus, it makes this French Vanilla Cappuccino mix dairy-free and vegan.
How to Make French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix
Making your own French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix couldn't be easier! If you pre-made your vanilla powder, it only takes a minute to whip up! Of course, making the vanilla powder takes a little time, but it's incredibly simple.
Equipment You'll Need
- Oven or Toaster Oven
- Smoothie blender or Small Food Processor
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Airtight Storage Container (Preferably Glass)
How to make Vanilla Powder
As mentioned above, it's actually quite simple to make homemade vanilla powder.
Bake On Very Low Heat
First, you need to dry your vanilla beans. You can do this two different ways. One way is to allow your vanilla beans to dry out over a few weeks by exposing them to air. You can do this by leaving them in an open jar on your counter or on a herb drying rack if you have one. The quicker way to dry them out is in the oven on very low heat. First, preheat your oven to 100° - 200° F. (preferably 100°, but some ovens, like mine, only go down to 200°).
Next, line your baking sheet with parchment paper and place your fresh vanilla beans on top.
Once the oven is preheated, place in the oven. Your cooking time really depends on how fresh your vanilla beans are and how low the temperature of your oven is.
If your vanilla beans are very moist and your oven is set 100° F, you will want to bake your vanilla for 1.5 - 2 hours. Alternatively, if your oven is set to 200° F, you'll want to bake your vanilla for 1 - 1.5 hours. If your vanilla beans are already starting to dry out, you may want to check them after 30 - 45 minutes.
Slow & Steady is the Key (Don't Over Heat)
You don't want to overcook them, but rather get them nice and dry. If your vanilla beans are still moist after baking, place them back in the oven for a little longer. I find it's always best to err on the side of caution and keep checking, rather than leaving them in too long and overcooking them.
Once you think they're dry enough, bend a tip, and it should snap right off. The seeds inside will still be a little shiny, but they shouldn't be too moist.
Finely Grind
Once your vanilla is dried and cooled, place into your blender or food processor (a small smoothie blender works great for small batches like this), and blend for about a minute or until it becomes a fine powder. Alternatively, you could use a mortar and pestle to grind your dried vanilla beans.
And there you have it. Your very own, homemade vanilla powder!
Making Your French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix
To make your French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix, throw all your ingredients into a blender (again, a small smoothie blender works great), and blend until smooth. Alternatively, you can just mix the ingredients together with a spoon. However, I find that the cacao powder and coconut milk powder tend to get clumpy when it's not blended. It also helps to blend in the vanilla a little better with the other ingredients.
Once all the ingredients are mixed or blended, store in an airtight container (preferably glass) for up to six months.
How to Use Your Homemade French Vanilla Mix
To use your Homemade French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix, add two tablespoons to a 350ml (11oz) mug. To get it nice and smooth, I like to first mix it with a splash of milk or hot water to make a paste. Next, stir in either hot water or warmed milk (I love using tigernut or oat milk) and mix well.
When using hot water alone, it becomes more like a black french vanilla coffee. While, when using warmed milk, it becomes more like a creamy cappuccino. You can also do half hot water and half warm milk. Or you can always play around to get the ratio of your liking.
I should also note, this cappuccino mix isn't overly sweet. If you prefer your cappuccinos on the sweeter side or are used to Tim Horton's French Vanilla cappuccinos, you'll want to add another teaspoon or two of coconut sugar once you add the water or milk.
To make your french vanilla cappuccino extra frothy, blitz in the blender for about 30 seconds. And for an extra treat, you can even sprinkle some more cacao powder and vanilla powder on top!
Other Uses For Your Homemade French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix
You don't just have to use this delicious coffee free French Vanilla Mix just for cappuccinos! You can also use it to makes french vanilla flavoured sweet treats and baked goodies. Stay tuned for some recipes!
THIS RECIPE IS...
More Caffeine-Free Recipes You Might Enjoy
If you try this Homemade French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix recipe, let me know how it turns out by leaving a comment and/or a rating below! And make sure you're following along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for more wildly nutritious recipes!
Homemade French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Blender / Food Processor / Mortar and Pestel
- Airtight Container (Preferably Glass)
Ingredients
- ½ cup Coffee Substitute (I used Dandy Blend)
- 2 Vanilla Beans (I used Java Sisters Gourmet Tahitian)
- 2 tbsp Cacao Powder
- 2 tbsp Coconut Sugar
- 1 tsp Coconut Milk Powder
Instructions
- First, you need to dry your vanilla beans. You can do this two different ways. One way is to allow your vanilla beans to dry out over a few weeks by exposing them to air.
- The quicker way is to dry them out is in the oven on very low heat. First, preheat your oven to 100° - 200° F. (preferably 100°, but some ovens, like mine, only go down to 200°).
- Next, line your baking sheet with parchment paper and place your fresh vanilla beans on top.
- Once the oven is preheated, place in the oven. Your cooking time really depends on how fresh your vanilla beans are and how low the temperature of your oven is.
- If your vanilla beans are very moist and your oven is set 100°F, you will want to bake your vanilla for 1.5 - 2 hours. Alternatively, if your oven is set to 200°, you'll want to cook your vanilla for 1 - 1.5 hours.
- If your vanilla beans are already starting to dry out, you may want to check them after 30 - 45 minutes.
- You don't want to overcook them, but rather get them nice and dry. If your vanilla beans are still moist after baking, place them back in the oven for a little longer. I find it's always best to err on the side of caution and keep checking, rather than leaving them in too long and overcooking them.
- Once you think they're dry enough, bend a tip, and it should snap right off. The seeds inside will still be a little shiny, but they shouldn't be too moist.
- Once your vanilla is dried and cooled, place into your blender or food processor (a small smoothie blender works great for small batches like this), and blend for about a minute or until it becomes a fine powder.
- To make your French Vanilla Cappuccino Mix, throw all your ingredients into a blender (again, a small smoothie blender works great), and blend until smooth. Alternatively, you can just mix the ingredients together with a spoon. However, I find that the cacao powder and coconut milk powder tend to get clumpy when it's not blended. It also helps to blend in the vanilla a little better with the other ingredients.
- Once all the ingredients are mixed or blended, store in an airtight container (preferably glass) for up to six months.
Notes
When using hot water alone, it becomes more like a black french vanilla coffee. While, when using warmed milk, it becomes more like a creamy cappuccino. You can also do half hot water and half warm milk. Or you can always play around to get the ratio of your liking. I should also note, this cappuccino mix isn't overly sweet. If you prefer your cappuccinos on the sweeter side or are used to Tim Horton's French Vanilla cappuccinos, you'll want to add another teaspoon or two of coconut sugar once you add the water or milk. To make your french vanilla cappuccino extra frothy, blitz in the blender for about 30 seconds. And for an extra treat, you can even sprinkle some more cacao powder and vanilla powder on top!
You don't just have to use this delicious coffee free French Vanilla Mix just for cappuccinos! You can also use it to makes french vanilla flavoured sweet treats and baked goodies. Stay tuned for some recipes!
Nutrition
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Precisely what I was looking for, thanks for posting.