Happy February!

Let’s celebrate with all things pink.  And red.  And heart-shaped.  And oh-so-sweet!

When ChocZero announced they were releasing three new syrup flavors, I scoped out Amazon daily until they finally showed up.  I had a cart filled with things I had wanted to purchase for Audrey’s and my upcoming trip (which I can finally start to count down!) but was waiting for their release before making my massive purchase.  Unfortunately, each day I checked I became a tiny bit more disappointed.

See, I had already started to formulate recipes in my mind in anticipation of these syrups and I couldn’t wait to test them out!  Luckily for me, the day after I made my original purchase, the syrups were finally available, and I quickly bought them, received them, and got to cooking.

And first on my list?  Raspberry white chocolate mocha latte!  Because who would have thought that I would have started with anything other than a latte recipe?  Or a coffee recipe of any sort for that matter.

It’s like as soon as I saw that one of ChocZero’s syrups was going to be raspberry, I couldn’t think of anything else.   I also wanted the quintessential Valentine’s combination of white chocolate and berries for a special treat this time of year.  In hindsight, I should have also purchased their white chocolate cocoa powder to make this entire drink sugar-free, butttt I didn’t.

Although, the thought is still on my mind.

I’ve received a few comments recently on my desire to live a sugar-free lifestyle and the usage of erythritol and the possible negative affects that the sugar alcohol may cause on the body.  I’ve done plenty of research on this ingredient, and will continue to use it, but I also want to make sure that those who follow my blog have other options – especially when it comes to purchasing products with certain ingredients in them.

ChocZero’s Honest Syrup is made with a combination of corn fiber and tapioca flber which  gives the syrup it’s desirable thickness.  It’s also sweetened with monk fruit, which is a sweetener derived from the fruit (monk fruit), a melon grown in Southeast Asia. The extract from the fruit contains zero calories, zero carbohydrates, zero sodium, and zero fat – making it a popular alternative to low carb dieters and those with diabetes.  Since monk fruit is not a sugar alcohol, the consumption of it doesn’t cause digestive upset.

So, it’s basically a win-win.

Raspberry White Chocolate Mocha Latte

• 1 c. unsweetened cashew almond milk
• 2 tbsp. white chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp. ChocZero’s Honest Syrup – Raspberry
• 1 c. strongly brewed coffee

Add all ingredients into a small saucepan, and heat up until the chocolate chips have melted, making sure not to burn the milk.

Pour into a mug. Top with whipped cream*, heart-shaped sprinkles, and a drizzle of the raspberry syrup.

*To make whipped cream, I use the Pampered Chef Whipped Cream Maker, which allows me to mix it up in less than a minute.  I pour heavy whipping cream up to the fill line, add 10-15 drops of liquid stevia and 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract.

Stay tuned for a couple more recipes made with the ChocZero syrups (including another Valentine themed one)!