Name: Superfood Vanilla Latte Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup brewed coffee; 1 TBSP grass-fed butter; 1 TBSP coconut oil; 1 TBSP collagen peptides; 5 drops vanilla creme stevia

Coffee is a controversial topic in health circles and I could write equally supported posts about why coffee is great for you and why it is horrible. The bottom line is that when sourced correctly, coffee can have some health benefits, but there are also people who should avoid it. Like most aspects of health, the answer is personalized to who asked the question.

The Problem With Regular Vanilla Lattes

In college, I used to subsist on vanilla lattes from the coffee shop on campus, and I still love the taste of them. Now that I’m not consuming pasteurized milk or sugars, I don’t drink coffee shop lattes and I definitely don’t drink pre-made coffee creamers (seriously… check the ingredients if you still consume these). I wanted to find a real food alternative that tasted just as good.

If you are a latte fan and usually spend $3-5 on a sugar-laden one at a coffee shop, try this real food recipe instead!

Brain-Fuel Coffee: A Latte Better for You

I’ve written before about my favorite way to drink coffee with added nutrient-dense foods like coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and sometimes spices. I still love drinking coffee this way and often add liquid stevia or spices like cinnamon for extra flavor.

As an experiment, I took my original favorite coffee recipe and added collagen peptides, an easily digested form of gelatin. I love that this recipe combines some of my favorite nutrient-rich foods and is a good combination of fats and protein. I often drink this in the morning and have tons of energy and mental focus all day.

If you can tolerate stevia, adding a few drops of English toffee or vanilla stevia makes this taste better than a coffee shop. If not, a splash of vanilla creates almost the same flavor.

But why is the recipe a “superfood” vanilla latte? A few extra touches:

Vanilla Latte Super Ingredients

Grass-fed butter is a great source of vitamin K2 which helps decalcify arteries and is important for proper blood clotting. There is also research that it can lower the risk of heart disease.
Coconut oil (or MCT oil) is a great source of lauric acid and medium-chain fatty acids, which are an excellent easy fuel source for the body and brain.
Collagen hydrolysate is an easily digestible form of gelatin that supports skin, hair, nails, and digestion and is a good source of protein. (This is the collagen hydrolysate I use – the blue lid)
Chicory and dandelion root are naturally supportive of the liver. I order both dandelion root and chicory root in bulk and make them like coffee in a French press.
Another superfood option is using this mushroom coffee blend instead of regular coffee. I know it sounds a little weird, but you won’t even know there’s mushrooms in it, and the lasting energy and nutritional benefits seriously trump regular coffee. They have both regular and caffeine-free versions too.

Caffeine-Free Coffee Alternatives

When I was working to intensively support my body to get my autoimmune disease into remission, I wasn’t drinking coffee, but found that I could create the same flavors by making a strong tea of dandelion root and chicory root. I fell in love with the flavor of chicory when I visited New Orleans and sometimes prefer an herbal coffee or tea recipe like this one even when I can have caffeine.

This vanilla latte recipe offers several stand-ins if you need to avoid coffee as well.

Superfood Vanilla Latte Recipe

A delicious latte with a coffee-free option. Superfoods like coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and collagen for protein make this a beneficial fat-rich morning drink.

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Calories 259kcal

Author Katie Wells

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Servings

Ingredients

1 cup brewed coffee (herbal coffee alternative)
1 TBSP grass-fed butter
1 TBSP coconut oil (or MCT oil)
1 TBSP collagen peptides (work up slowly!)
5 drops vanilla creme stevia (or ½ tsp pure vanilla extract)

Instructions

Brew coffee in a French press for best results, but any coffee will work.
Place brewed coffee, butter, coconut oil/MCT, collagen, and vanilla in a blender. Do not use a Magic Bullet or other closed-in blender as it can crack or explode.
Blend on high for 10-15 seconds until froth forms.
Drink and enjoy.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Superfood Vanilla Latte Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 cup)

Calories 259 Calories from Fat 230

% Daily Value*

Fat 25.6g39%

Saturated Fat 20.8g130%

Cholesterol 31mg10%

Sodium 100mg4%

Carbohydrates 0.3g0%

Sugar 0.3g0%

Protein 6.4g13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Use dandelion tea and/or chicory if you’re avoiding caffeine.

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

What do you drink in the mornings?

Superfood Vanilla Latte Recipe

Sources

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

71 responses to “Superfood Vanilla Latte Recipe”

Natalie

January 3, 2015

I love my cup of joe with a generous dash of cinnamon and even some coconut oil. Do you know if the brand of coffee beans you use are considered acidic or alkaline?

Reply
Dell

December 29, 2014

Hi Katie,
I love this coffee! I make it every morning. Only thing is now I’m 17 weeks pregnant, do you think organic vanilla extract is ok even if it has alcohol in it?
Thanks!
S

Reply
Stephanie

November 30, 2014

This recipe is fantastic! I’ve been making this for the adults in my family for the last month or so and they LOVE it. They look forward to it every morning.

We bought Starbucks this morning and they couldn’t stand it because they were used to your recipe, which is so much better! I also love that the healthy fats slow the release of caffeine into the bloodstream, meaning a more steady release of caffeine.

Thanks for sharing this recipe with us!

Reply
Edie

November 25, 2014

Do collagen peptides have a taste? Why do we need to “work up to” a tablespoon? I would like to know before I order them if you can help me with this.

I discovered “WellnessMama” through a friend who has nursed her very sick husband back to health using the information you have on your site.

Thank you for the information you give us. It is such a relief to know I can take what you say, do a little extra reading if I choose, then feel confident about my choices. I had given up on much of changing things for health’s sake after my reading would come up with something like this: never eat fruit without protein, never eat fruit with protein, you don’t even need fruit and you don’t even need protein. It was making me crazy!

Reply
Lindsey

November 6, 2014

I just made this today, and it’s delicious! I used Teeccino Dandelion Caramel Nut, and I also just used regular vanilla extract. I think next time I will add a tiny bit of raw honey to sweeten it a bit. I will definitely be making this again! Thanks!!

Reply
lizanne

October 28, 2014

I tried a slight variation of this recipe today and I quite like it. I have never had a latte, but thought what the heck. I did use a few drops of vanilla essential oil and just a few of liquid stevia, very good.

Reply
Carol

October 8, 2014

You can get the chicory or dandelion root from Mountain Rose Herbs. They are a great company, and I use them as my go-to for most all of my recipe ingredients. They are local for me, and I pick up at their warehouse, and they have always been great about questions, and any issues I have with their products. Not sure about the collagen….sorry.

Reply
Terry Smith

October 6, 2014

I used the links above to get the collagen hydrolysate and roasted chicory root. I received them today and the roasted chicory root came in an unsealed bag. I am not sure if this is how yours comes but I feel quite uneasy about it. Also, the collagen had a misspelling in the label which also makes me feel uneasy about using that. Do you know of other sources to buy these products?

Reply
Christian

September 9, 2014

For those looking for a good brand of coffee, I prefer Ravens Brew. Yum. It is a little pricey, but its good quality and they sell organic of most of their blends. My favorites are the Bruin Blend and Deadman’s Reach. Although, dead man tends to have a little more caffeine than I should consume.

I’ve heard of using dandelion and chicory as coffee substitute before. I used to add chicory root to my cheap coffee to make it taste better. What are the proportions your using when you make the dandelion/chicory blend? I didn’t see it above.

Reply
Christa

August 29, 2014

Is Dandelion Root coffee safe to drink while breastfeeding (and possibly pregnant) ?

Reply
Sheri

August 29, 2014

Exccellent modification of the Bullet-Proff coffee! Delicious!! Thank you.

Reply
Rachel

August 26, 2014

I took your recipe for the “brain power smoothie” and like you suggested, I added coffee as the base, and sometimes I add a couple drops of honey or maple syrup, or none, as I like the plain old coffee taste as well, and its really good. it’s a great frothy coffee smoothie!

Reply
Becky

August 25, 2014

This sounds great and the way you explained it makes it sound easy to try. I have been looking for a better creamer option so thanks for this idea.

Reply
Morgan

August 20, 2014

I can’t wait to try this. I love roasted dandelion root and chamomile as a coffee alternative. The chamomile sweetness really balances the bitter from the dandelion. I’ve never tried it with chicory root! I’ve made a recipe similar to this using just regular coconut oil and the red canister of gelatin and it works fine. The heat from the coffee dissolves to gelatin but if you let it sit to long it does start to gel. I don’t actually understand the difference between mct oil an regular coconut oil so I’ve never bought it

Reply
1. Carol L
  
  May 20, 2018
  
  I am recently on the KETO diet, and wondered the same thing re: coconut oil and MCT oil. MCT can be made from coconuts, plam or a combination. The coconut oil alone is the best. It contains capric and caprylic acid. It is highly refined, but those two acids are healthy for you. Coconut oil, the unrefined kind contains lauric acid. They are similar and coconut oil can be used for cooking, while MCT oil should be used in cold preparations just like Olive oil. If you reference KETO diet, you can find this information and the differences in the acids and why they are beneficial for you. Anyway, just thought this might help answer your question.
  
  Reply
Amanda

August 19, 2014

I definitely agree with you that some people should avoid coffee. My boyfriend can drink 3 cups a day and feel great, but when I have just one it increases my anxiety. But, I think if you enjoy coffee and your body tolerates it well, the good vs the bad is pretty much equal (as long as it’s organic).

I used to be a coffee fiend/snob… If you like really good quality coffee here are some recommendations on making your brew even better!
1. Use beans that have been roasted in the past 2 weeks
2. Grind your coffee per cup immediately before using them
3. Use the pour over method or a french press to brew your coffee
4. Use filtered water!

Great post 🙂 I’ll definitely try this with some dandelion/chicory blend!

Reply
1. Lauren
  
  August 19, 2014
  
  Does using beans that are freshly roasted ensure reduced mold? Is this better?
  
  Reply
2. Carol
  
  August 20, 2014
  
  I noted someone else mentioned that although a french press makes good coffee, it is not the best because it leaves the oils which have something in them that isn’t healthy for you. (Can’t remember just what it is right now, but you could research it online). Today I used a drip machine, but I have a percolator, the very old style, and I’ll be using that with a filter…that’s for my power-less coffee …sans use of electricity, over a camp stove…
  
  Reply
Allison

August 19, 2014

I make something similar in the mornings as well! I’m not a big breakfast eater, so I use a stick blender and blend in 2 eggs to my coffee…with some coconut milk, grassfed butter, a dollup of maple syrup, 1 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 Tbs gelatin, cinnamon, turmeric, and a pinch of pink salt. Ha, it seems like a long list, but it seriously tastes like the best spiced mocha ever! I love it and it totally keeps me going till lunch without having to shovel a bowl of eggs down my throat before work. Maybe I will get some stevia drops to try instead of the maple syrup. I typically don’t like stevia because it has a weird aftertaste….but I will see! Didn’t know they had different flavors 🙂

Reply
1. Carol
  
  August 20, 2014
  
  Allison, I tried your recipe, because I don’t yet have the collagen, and I liked it! You didn’t give all the measurements, but I figured it out, and although I do buy pasture raised organic eggs, I was a bit reluctant to consume raw eggs….just the thought! But I did, and I was pleasantly surprised. I have noticed that for me, if I drink any coffee drink, I am not very hungry for some time. I drank your concoction around 6-8am ( It made two full insulated coffee mugs full).
  I didn’t use the immersion blender, but reading about not using a closed container, I poured the fresh brewed coffee into the cups 3/4 full, used my magic bullet, added the eggs and everything else, blended it up and added the remainder 1/4 of it to the two coffees. I didn’t get hungry until after about 11 am. This is very similar to Katie’s salted caramel latte…which I have made and I really like it too.
  I am anxious to get my order of the collagen, so I can make Katie’s recipe using the dandelion/chicory just to try them out… I probably won’t use stevia, as I am not a fan of it, either honey after it cools, or maple syrup will be my choices.
  Great post, as usual, Katie!
  
  Reply
jackie

August 19, 2014

Katie, I LOVE coffee and have read a lot of studies over the years, basically looking for reasons to keep drinking it. I’ll admit, I am hardly objective to risk vs. benefits in this area. I look for benefits.

Mainly, when I was pregnant, most doctors wanted you to give up coffee and caffeine in general. I worked weird hours and really, really, did not want to. Plus, I love coffee. I had no problems giving up anything for the health of my baby, even coffee, but I wanted to make sure that it was necessary. At the time, I found nothing that connected 3 cups of coffee or less to an increased risk of miscarriage. Although, I endured many snarky comments from an also-pregnant co-worker who gave up caffeine, I had no issues with that pregnancy which went full term and resulted in a healthy baby (he is leaving for college tomorrow). Since that time, anything about coffee and health has always caught my eye.

Most studies agree that coffee for MOST people is not harmful and may have some benefits. Before commenting, I wanted to take the time to do some checking and see if I remembered the facts correctly. This is what i found. I will start with a negative.

A french press and other unfiltered methods of brewing coffee do not remove oils called terpines. Diterpines, specifically cafestrol (in coffee) can raise cholesterol, including LDL’s. Low density lipids/LDL’s are the “bad” cholesterol. More than 12 studies link coffee to increases in cholesterol. A paper filter will remove these. In Europe, some place use perforated filters to enhance flavor (when they use filters). Those will not remove enough of the oils to help.

The good news is that Harvard did a large study of over 130,000 coffee drinkers and found few negative effects on health and many benefits. Even the increased cholesterol was not much of an issue when compared to other factors such as smoking and being overweight. Johns Hopkins University has also studies coffee and health.

I do have a strong family history of heart disease and hyperlipidemia. Because of this, I personally do not drink unfiltered coffee. My cholesterol levels run high and using a paper filter is one of the measures I use to keep it under control. Although I am middle aged and kind of fat these days, my cholesterol levels are no worse than when I was 25, much more active, and on the verge of being underweight. I will take the small victories when I can get them.

Reasons to skip coffee and other sources of caffeine include bladder irritation, irregular heart rate, and digestive upset. If coffee causes these issues, it might be time to give it up but there are things that you can try if giving up coffee makes you sad to even think about it. If coffee upsets your stomach, check into cold brew methods which result in lower acid content. Decaf coffee may help with irregular heart rate and bladder irritation but other compounds in coffee can contribute to all of these problems so it may be best to give it up entirely if decaf and/or cold brew don’t help.

I did not have time to check into the link with coffee and caffeine with fibrocystic breast tissue. If I remember correctly, fibrocystic breast tissue is not harmful but can make it harder to detect the early signs of breast cancer. I had one friend who eliminated caffeine from her diet (she was a diet Coke addict and quit drinking it because of issues with bone density, not because of breast issues) and her mammogram one year later had no signs of fibrocystic breast tissue where she had lots of it before. The change was so dramatic that the radiologist actually came out to speak with her. The female radiologist called her “the poster child for giving up caffeine.” If you have problems with fibrocystic breasts or a strong family history of breast cancer, you may want to check into this further. Remember, the fibocystic breast are NOT cancer. Coffee does NOT cause cancer, to my knowledge, but it may make it harder to detect for some women.

In conclusion, most of us can drink coffee and just enjoy it but I will take mine filtered, please. Cheers!

Reply
Kezia

August 19, 2014

Great plan -i have loads of gelatin at home so i guess i could maybe switch in that? I love coffee but am def trying the herbal options right now – which i have to say are lovely too. Loving your podcast to by the way:)

Reply
Jennifer

August 19, 2014

Tried this yesterday morning and it was really really good! I am going to play around with the amounts to better suit my taste as this was just a touch too strong. That is due to the brand of coffee I’m using though, I’m sure. I did add a couple more drops of the Stevia and next time will decrease the coconut oil just a touch. It was frothy and silky when I poured it out of my blender. Thanks for the recipe!

Reply
Dena

August 18, 2014

This looks delicious! How does it do iced? Could you make this into a gummy/gelatin type item? Thank you!

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  August 19, 2014
  
  I actually have not tried it iced or as gummies… but I bet it would work. If you try it, let us know how it worked!
  
  Reply
  1. Dena
    
    August 19, 2014
    
    I tried this iced with a dash of cinnamon, it was fantastic! I used frozen butter, so I had a few small, salty slivers in my drink that were a lovely surprise.
    
    Reply