The colder the recipe, the simpler the photos. I don’t have time to make it pretty, IT’S MELTING! Ice cream and milkshake photos are a time sensitive matter. You should see me running from the kitchen to the camera like a mad woman! My dog grabs her toy thinking we must be playing a game with all this running. Well Iced Carob Lattes are no different…but SO worth it.
The photos may be simple, but the flavor is beautifully complex. The indescribably not-chocolate flavor of carob + the always lovely vanilla + the so sweet dates + the background of coconut water. It’s dreamy and creamy and frothy and fruity. Poured over chilly cubes and topped with banana milk, it’s a sweet sip like no other!
Make it raw! I unintentionally created this recipe with ingredients that can all be raw. If you use un-toasted carob powder and un-heated coconut water then its totally low fat raw vegan.
Iced Carob Latte
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp carob powder
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder
- 2 pitted medjool dates
- Handful ice
- BANANA MILK
- 1 ripe banana
- 2/3 cup water
- Optional: 1/2 of a frozen banana for extra thickness
Instructions
- FOR THE CAROB LATTE: Blend the carob, vanilla, coconut water, and dates on high until smooth.
- Fill your jar or glass with a handful of ice cubes. Pour the latte on top of the ice.
- Rinse the blender.
- FOR THE BANANA MILK: Blend the banana and water on high until smooth. Add a couple chunks of frozen banana if you want it thicker.
- Top off your jar/glass with banana milk. Add a straw. Sip, sip, sip!
I do realize that this is not technically a latte, but what else would I call it?
I have yet to try carob powder…I’ve never even seen it. I have heard it is quite sweet but an acquired taste. I need to order some and try it! I LOVE vanilla powder, it is like a dream and I love that you added it to this smoothie! Such a beautiful caramel color too! I laughed about the photo session…that is how I am with ice cream shots…total panic mode, haha!
It is sweet, and I think I have unintentionally acquired a taste for it. Just by using it every few months or so, it’s grown on me 🙂 If you go into it expecting chocolate then you will be quite surprised! I almost hate making ice cream recipes because the photographing stresses me out lol! With this one I was just trying to get the pics done before the caramel-colored bottom and the milky top all became one color 😀
I’m also yet to try carob powder. I was about to buy it couple of days ago but it had a long ingredient list so I left it, I think that was some kind of a blend or something, I’m waiting to find the purest form. Nevertheless this sounds so tasty especially with that vanilla and banana milk (my favourite!) Well I’m off to bake your mint cookies now 🙂
Thanks Petra, I knew the banana milk would make you happy…or banana anything 😉 Carob should just have one ingredient, I think you were smart to pass up on the blend! And even though I love this drink, all this talk (or just one mention) of mint cookies has given me a whole different craving 😉
This looks amazing!!! I love carob and never use it enough! Must pick some up to make this!
Thanks Kaila! It is definitely one of those underused ingredients. I’m going to start trying to use it more too 🙂
It’s the GOLDEN latte! It really is glistening and beautiful! I’m pretty sure if I slid down a rainbow and landed in a pool of this….I would be happy 😉
Take me with you on this rainbow sliding adventure!!! The Florida sun shining through the window right next to the jar helps with the glistening part too 🙂
Without even reading your description, I saw the first photo and thought, “oh, wow! It looks so creamy and dreamy!” I don’t use carob as much as I would like, but I love it. All I see in stores is the toasted carob, so I’ll have to look online! I can’t wait to try this!! ❤️
All I’ve seen in stores is the toasted stuff too, and I’ve never actually tried it. I’ve heard that the raw vs. toasted tastes quite different, but I really don’t know. It is SO creamy and dreamy, but something a little different to sip than a smoothie 🙂
That’s such a creative take on a latte – topping it with banana milk sounds so so good <3 I feel you about the frozen things and taking pictures 😉 With my last nicecream recipe is was running between the kitchen and my photo set up like a crazy person 😉 Every second counts!
I use the term ‘latte’ very loosely, but what else would it be called!? 🙂 Nicecream is one of the toughest photo subjects because it melts even faster than ice-cream! I will often scoop/style the nicecream then stick it in the freezer again for like 10 minutes before taking pics…but it’s still a crazy race against melting!
I haven’t tried carob yet, but this drink is totally convincing me I should. So creamy and delicious looking! I know what you mean, photographing anything freezy-like is tough! I did the same thing last week with the watermelon slush.
I don’t feel as strongly about carob as I do about vanilla, but you should give it a try 🙂 It’s a hard flavor to describe, but it’s pretty sweet and kind of coffee-esque to me. And that watermelon slush was gorgeous, totally worth it 🙂
I’d call it deliciousness!! Love love love this idea! The banana milk – oh yeah that’s the icing on the cake!
Thanks Sam 🙂 Banana milk is a fun alternative to regular milk and a heck of a lot easier than homemade nut milk would be!
That banana milk looks incredibly rich and delicious. I do love and appreciate your valiant effort to make these healthful. While still being DELICIOUS! Great recipe and great photographs!
★★★★★
Aww thanks Kennedy <3 I do try to make things as healthy and easy as possible, because that's how I like to eat and I know I'm not the only one 😉 The banana milk is SO good, although you've gotta use it pretty quick because, well, oxidation and all. But very yummy and thick! Thank you for all your sweet words!
Way better than the mocha/frappe/cocoa concoctions I used to buy from Gloria Jeans……aww iced though! Will have to wait until the cold snap ends! Clear blue skies and sun do not a warm day make….
Ooh yeah I don’t go anywhere near iced anything when the weather is cold! You could probably make it a warm drink instead though. Just sub hot water for the coconut water, blend it up, and still top with banana milk! I haven’t tried it, because it’s blazing hot (like 100 degrees Fahrenheit here) but once it’s winter time again I’ll probably give that a try myself 🙂
Hi.
Which brand of Carob did you use??
I do believe that was a raw one from a brand called Foods Alive. It was a while ago but looking at the package just now on google I’m pretty sure that ways it. Hope that helps!
Hi there..could you please tell me what i can subsitute the coconut water with and is vanilla escense ok to replace the vanilla powder
Vanilla essence is fine, yes! And you could just use regular water or non-dairy milk in place of the coconut water😊