Ready for another photogenic iced drink? Introducing "The Stella," named after my black and white spotted Australian cattle dog blue heeler mix, Stella! It's also called a marble drink because it resembles marble. All names aside, this drink is an iced dalgona charcoal latte (whipped charcoal) with charcoal syrup ANNNND it's 100% date-sweetened, vegan, and all-natural. Plus it's super healthy thanks to detoxing activated coconut charcoal! It's fairly simple and quick to make, and if you're looking for a drink that's a little untraditional, this is it. It's just so aesthetically pleasing PLUS delicious! Soon I'll be posting a recipe for a drink called "The Colbie," named after my German shepherd mix (it will be a dalgona peanut butter w/ charcoal syrup)! This recipe is for a latte you won't find in the coffee shop!
This drink is ABSOLUTELY delicious, aesthetically pleasing, and healthy! You can make it with or without the dalgona charcoal (whipped charcoal) on top, and just have the charcoal syrup in the drink itself. Or you can leave out the charcoal syrup, and just have the dalgona. It's really whatever you want! This drink is vegan, paleo, 100% date-sweetened, and naturally colored (thanks to activated coconut charcoal).
It's super yummy, sweet, and vanilla-forward, you don't taste the activated charcoal at all! And it's iced, so it will help keep you cool in this hot summer month!
Above is a shot of Stella, my 5 year old Australian cattle dog blue heeler mix! You can easily see how she inspired my drink! She was the goodest girl in this photoshoot, I put the drink right in front of her, and although she wanted to check it out, she didn't go for it! :) <3
Soon another drink will be coming inspired by my 13 year old German shepherd mix, Colbie! It's gonna be a dalgona PB drink w/ charcoal syrup, but I don't know if I'll be able to put the drink right in front of her for the photoshoot without her lunging for the dalgona peanut butter, but we'll see how that goes! :D
I'm working on lots of new recipes including some inspired by a certain new movie based on a doll in a world full of pink that will be on the way to The Dimpled Date soon ;) Stay tuned for the updates!
This iced dalgona charcoal is a treat and can pass for a dessert or drink, so serve it up as you please! Keep in mind, however that you may want to space out this drink from your meals/snacks, as charcoal is so powerfully detoxing and has such a strong binding capacity that believe it or not it binds to many nutrients! (For reference, activated charcoal is sometimes used as an anti-poison substance in emergency situations where someone has digested poison). But this it still has benefits for the body because it's so detoxing! To space it out from your meals, ensure that you have this drink at least 2 hours after your last meal and at least 1 hour before your next meal.
Substitutions
For the drink itself, you may use any kind of unsweetened plant milk, nut-free as needed, such as almond milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk or oat milk, rice milk, soy milk, pea milk, hemp milk, etc. for nut-free. The ice is optional, if you want an iced drink use it, if you want a warm drink, gently heat the plant milk (but be sure not to boil it!) or if you want a cold drink just add the cold plant milk straight from the fridge. For the charcoal syrup, technically it's optional, but is needed for the marble effect of this drink. The date sugar for the charcoal syrup can be replaced with maple sugar, coconut sugar, pure maple syrup, honey (if not strictly vegan), agave, coconut nectar, etc. For 100% sugar free, you can use pure monk fruit extract (with NO erythritol or other sweeteners, JUST monk fruit), to taste. The hot water for the charcoal syrup can't be replaced. And of course the activated coconut charcoal can't be replaced, since it gives the syrup its characteristic black color for the marble effect. But, you can omit the activated coconut charcoal in the syrup for a brown/beige syrup, depending on the sweetener you use.
For the dalgona charcoal (whipped charcoal on top of this drink), the coconut cream can be replaced with 3 Tbsp aquafaba (chickpea brine from a can of chickpeas) plus (optionally) 1/8 tsp cream of tartar per single batch. Simply whip up the aquafaba (and cream of tartar if using) to stiff peaks before adding the other ingredients and proceeding with the recipe. The coconut butter is technically optional but can be replaced with an additional Tbsp coconut cream OR aquafaba. The activated coconut charcoal is kinda necessary because this is a recipe for a dalgona charcoal drink, but if you must you may omit it for an off-white dalgona vanilla. For the sweetener, you may use either date sugar (from whole dried and ground dates, NOT date palm sugar AKA palm sugar which is refined) OR date syrup OR pure maple syrup OR maple sugar. For 100% sugar-free, you could try using pure monk fruit extract to taste (with NO erythritol or other sweetners, JUST monk fruit). The vanilla extract is optional, but can be substituted with an equivalent amount of scraped vanilla bean, pure ground vanilla beans, OR sugar-free vanilla powder/paste/syrup. You could also use natural coconut extract OR real almond extract in place of the vanilla for a slightly different flavor. If you must, you can omit the vanilla.
You can garnish with one of my Healthy "Oreos," a piece of my Date-Sweetened White Chocolate, a chocolate-covered coffee bean, or whatever you want!
More Recipes Coming to a Computer/Phone Near You Soon!
Keep posted for the latest & greatest! If you tried this recipe and liked it, give it a like and leave a comment!
In the meantime,
Enjoy! <3
-K.
"The Stella" AKA Marble Drink (Iced Dalgona Charcoal Latte) (Vegan, Paleo, 100% Date-Sweetened, Natural, Nut-Free Option)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients (for the optional charcoal syrup):
-1 Tbsp date sugar* OR 1 Tbsp 100% pure maple syrup OR 1 Tbsp maple sugar OR 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
-1 Tbsp hot filtered water
-1 scoop activated coconut charcoal powder (probably abt 1/4 tsp)
Ingredients (for the dalgona charcoal):
-3 Tbsp coconut cream**
-1 Tbsp softened coconut butter**
-1 scoop activated coconut charcoal powder (probably abt 1/4 tsp)
-2 Tbsp date sugar* OR 2 Tbsp date syrup OR 2 Tbsp powdered maple sugar OR 2 Tbsp 100% pure maple syrup
-1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Ingredients (for the drink):
-1 to 1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla plant milk of choice***
-ice (optional // for an iced drink)
Directions:
1. Ensure you've chilled a can of full-fat coconut milk/coconut cream in the fridge for at least 12 hours prior to making "The Stella" latte. Soften the coconut butter for the dalgona/whipped charcoal in the microwave for short intervals or in a small double boiler.
2. For the dalgona: whip up the coconut cream and softened coconut butter in a bowl with a hand mixer until creamy, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the other ingredients for the dalgona (activated coconut charcoal, sweetener, and vanilla) and blend another minute until incorporated.
4. For the optional charcoal syrup: add the sweetener and activated charcoal in a small bowl or mug. Pour over the hot water, then using a small whisk, spoon, or hand frother, mix together until well-combined.
5. Put the plant milk and ice in a glass/glass mug. For a regular cold latte, omit the ice. For a warm latte, gently heat the milk until warm in a small saucepan over very low heat (be sure not to let it boil!).
6. Spoon the charcoal syrup into your iced plant milk and stir gently to swirl more if desired.
7. Dollop the dalgona on top of the drink. Smooth the whipped charcoal with a spoon or spatula to get that characteristic swirl. You can pipe it if you want, but I don't think it's necessary.
8. Serve. Garnish with one of my Healthy "Oreos," a piece of my Date-Sweetened White Chocolate, a chocolate-covered coffee bean, toppings of your choice to get all the Stella vibes, or leave as is. Enjoy! (Woof woof! says Stella = woof woof means enjoy!)
NOTES:
*from whole dried and ground dates, NOT date palm sugar/palm sugar // preferably a lighter-color variety for best taste // see "Substitutions" section, above for alternate sweeteners
**the hardened white cream that floats to the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk/coconut cream that's been refrigerated for at least 12 hrs // see "Substitutions" section above for coconut-free/nut-free aquafaba version
***use nut-free plant milks, such as oat milk, rice milk, hemp milk, pea milk, pepita milk, quinoa milk, etc. for nut-free/coconut-free. If you only need nut-free, you can use thin/cartoned coconut milk. Use soy-free plant milk as needed.
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