Straight up: I’ve overextended myself this holiday season. Oh, you too? I think it’s safe to say that we could all use a milkshake and a pat on the back right about now. Emotions run high and the frantic aspect of it all doesn’t seem to offer any relief (like when I overheard a bundled up elderly woman kindly asking where the chocolates were at Target the other night and immediately felt so emotional–this season is a lot). Something frothy and sweet, and maybe just a little assurance that all of our efforts are worth it could certainly help in some way. This is true in the busyness of life in a general sense; not just the month of December.
So I’m here to help with a simple little treat and a virtual high five for all the things you’ve got on the go–the multiple shopping lists, the handmade hostess gifts, conveying sentiment in a way that feels just right, making the best appetizer ever, hitting that high note in “silent night,” flooding your sugar cookie cutouts with precision, foraging for decorative twigs to tie on your packages, planning a perfect Christmas morning breakfast, strategizing your boxing day scores well in advance, working in some time to partake in Beyoncé’s “visual experience” (you must), shovelling the driveway like a boss, buying enough dog food to make it over the obligatory 3 day holiday retail closure, syncing your twinkle lights up to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, giving up and realizing that just telling someone how grateful you are for their light and a big hug is probably more than enough… I know that you’ve got all of this on lock.
I’ve got faith in the healing properties of a chocolate shake, like a magical salve for your entire being. My little version here has an earl grey-steeped almond milk that brings it, and some premium vanilla from vegan baking pro/total sweetheart Ashlae. I add a little citrus zest to the milk to really enhance the bergamot in the tea. Since I went the extra step on the steep + chill earl grey milk move, I rely on some particularly good chocolate ice cream from the people at Luna & Larry’s to make this come together quickly. If you have time to make your own, this recipe without the hazelnuts would be just right.
Anyway, short and sweet today. I probably won’t be back with a post until the new year! Once I get through all of the things, I’ll be taking a couple days to just chill the most. Hope you all have a restorative and full holiday. Sending my big hugs for the start of 2014 too. It’s gonna be a big one, I can feel it :) Thanks as always for your love and kindness here. xo
VEGAN EARL GREY CHOCOLATE SHAKES
Print the recipe here!
SERVES: 4 small servings or 2 very adult portions
NOTES: I like to blend a shake with ice to get it super frothy, but this is personal preference. Leave it out if you want a smoother kind of feel.
shakes:
1 1/2 cups almond milk (I used unsweetened)
3-4 earl grey tea bags, or 4 tsp loose leaf earl grey tea
strip of orange zest
splash of maple syrup (if you used unsweetened almond milk)
1 tsp vanilla extract
6-8 scoops of non-dairy chocolate ice cream
big handful of ice (optional)
to serve:
coconut whip
shaved dark chocolate
In a small saucepan, bring the almond milk, tea, and orange zest to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the mixture to steep for 10 minutes. Strain and cool the mixture completely in the fridge (or place the pot in some snow if you have it in your area–worked like a charm for me).
In a blender combine the earl grey milk, maple syrup, vanilla, chocolate ice cream, and ice. Blend on high for a minute or so, or until you have a creamy, smooth and homogenous mixture. Pour it out into glasses and serve with coconut whip and shaved chocolate if you like. Enjoy immediately.
These look wonderful, and I sure could use one right now (6am -that’s ok right). So overextended even though I planned not to be. Oh well, it always works out in the end (true words from my 7 year old!)
If any proof exists that our souls are on the same plane, it’s the fact that I read this post WHILE getting down to the Beyonce experience. For maybe the fifth time.
Shake looks so, so boss. Big hugs for a present-(both kinds)-filled 2014, and for shakes at all times of the year.
you are a total genius, I love this blog!
i LOVE this.
You’re constantly coming up with the most BOMB beverages. Love the combo of soothing earl gray and the comfort that chocolate provides :) Merry, merry and happy, happy in 2014 xo!
Girl you are steeping that milk and making it all earl grey up in hurrr! Love it!
I wish I had this in front of me right now! Think I’ll prep the tea mixture and coconut whip on Christmas Eve so I can enjoy this on Christmas morning :)
These sound amazing. You are a total genius girl!
Um, ya, this looks wonderful Laura! You’re a star. Merry Christmas and enjoy the R&R. Looking forward to more from you in the New Year! xo
I laughed out loud at the “buying enough dog food to make it over the obligatory 3 day holiday retail closure” part. I’m totes with you there. Especially because my dog eats raw food and therefore I can only buy a couple of weeks worth at a time. Sounds like you deserve a break – ENJOY!
This looks stupefyingly delicious. Tea-infused anything is magical.
Thank you for your words on the festive craziness – this year I’m feeling a very relaxed Christmas is required, with lots of warmth and love.
Wishing you the merriest of Christmases, Laura! XX
This looks perfect! Ill be making one as soon as we get home. Happy holidays to you love, I hope they slow down for you soon xxx
Happy holidays Laura. Wishing you lots of love and laughter for 2014 xo
Oh, I love you. Every night for the last month, my kids ask me to sing Silent Night to them before bed – and half the time I ace that note, and the others, well, they don’t mind.
This looks so good! I’ve overextended myself, too, and could sure use this shake.
Much love to you, Laura. I hope your holidays are merry and bright. And let your heart be light. xo
HELLLLLLL YES! So stoked the vanilla snuck through security. I made a chai version of this for my post-workout indulgence – used cinnamon ice cream (it’s all I haaaaad), hella cacao powder, and protein powder. So good. You rule.
smitten smitten smitten with this post/recipe/these photos! Love it all, friend!
I am going to try this over the holidays. So gorgeous. Great job!
Oh, YES. I just made a big batch of Sarah Kieffer’s peppermint bark, and am getting quite close to overextending myself. These look brilliant. Happy holidays dear friend!
Sometimes Christmas is synonymous with stress, which is a terrible thing to admit—but in the end it always wraps up to be perfectly sentimental, festive, memorable, and all the things that the holiday season is meant to be. Beautiful photos as always, and three cheers to Earl Grey. I’m returning to London soon, and the first thing I’m gonna do is have a huge steaming mug of it.
yumiiiiii, what a great and beautiful way to drink christmas spirit ;)
healing power of ice cream all the way. For some reason, I would have never thought of putting early grey and chocolate together, but it makes so much sense (citrus+chocolate=magic). I hope you’re enjoying a restful internet break.
I so overextend myself every day of the year as an excuse to get a chocolate shake… Have a happy one!
When you first mentioned the earl grey shakes I was hoping you would post the recipe! Although earl grey is not my number one favourite tea (that honour goes to Darjeeling, swiftly followed by hochija and chai), citrus and chocolate is one of my favourite flavour pairings so immediately warmed to the idea of a bergamotty chocolate shake!
Also, I cannot get your idea for a vegetarian charcuterie platter out of my mind, so many possible ideas – I hope you post some more recipes for that too!
wait, are you serious? earl grey AND chocolate?! My two favorite flavors ever. I’ve had them in a cookie, but NOT a drink yet. YUM Happy new year, Laura!
Dude. Earl Grey reminds me of the months I spent in Paris as a teenager, and milkshakes remind me of being a kid in California. This is basically all the great memories of youth put together in the best way, because shakes are totally the best answer to all things. Thanks bunches. Happy late New Year!
i love your blog. it is my favourite cooking blog. i made your lentil soup the other night and i screamed out happiness. it was incredible. i will make these shakes tonight. thank you.
All so lovely. Makes me almost wish it were December again:)
I love chai lattes so I have a feeling I will be loving this earl grey shake recipe. Thank you for sharing, I can’t wait to try it!