Honey Cocoa Iced Tea

I typically make iced coffee in the summer but I just started making good iced tea. Since I have way too much tea and it's far too hot outside to drink it warm, I needed an alternative.

Here are some simple tips for brewing your own iced tea with loose tea leaves:

1) Use more tea leaves then you would for hot tea (rather than 1 teaspoon use 1 1/2 teaspoons)

2) Let your tea steep for a good chunk of time. Depending on how strong the tea is, I usually let it steep for about 20-30 minutes

3) Sweeten your tea while it's still hot- this way the sweetener fully dissolves. I like to use honey rather than sugar so my drink is sweet, but not entirely bad for me!

4) Make tea ice cubes so the tea does't get watered down. Like watery iced coffee, it just isn't pleasant.

Ok enough tips, here's how I made this delicious Cocoa Iced Tea!

Honey Cocoa Iced Tea

4 cups of hot water
5-6 teaspoons of cocoa tea leaves (I used this tea: http://www.ambrosiaherb.com)
1 Tablespoon organic honey
2-3 teaspoons caramel sauce (Optional- this is for more of a dessert iced tea)
1/4 cup almond milk, milk or half & half (I prefer a mix of milk and almond milk)

1) Add tea leaves to almost boiling water

2) Add honey and caramel sauce

3) Let leaves steep for about 20 minutes

4) Strain tea into container and set in fridge until completely chilled

5) Pour chilled tea into glasses with ice

6) Add a touch of milk/cream

Enjoy!

Butterscotch Cookies (GF)

After making many batches of delicious chocolate chip cookies, I decided to switch up my recipe and do butterscotch cookies. The lovely thing about these cookies is that you can't even tell they are gluten-free. I have tested this on multiple people- all of whom said that they couldn't tell!

All I can say is that these are magical. If you love butterscotch than you'll love these cookies with all your heart.

Butterscotch Cookie Recipe (Gluten-Free)

Makes about 2 dozen

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed 

1 1/2 Tablespoon water 

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/4 cup oats (oat flour)

1/2 bag of butterscotch chips 

1) Mix softened butter and sugar until smooth

2) In blender, mix flaxseed and water together 

3) Add flaxseed/water mixture to the butter and sugar- mix until combined. 

4) Add egg and vanilla to butter/sugar and mix until combined 

5) Mix the oat flour, baking soda, and salt together 

6) Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. (Add little bits at a time and stir) 

7) Mix in the butterscotch chips 

8) Put dough in fridge for 15-20 minutes while oven preheats to 350F 

Bake for 10 minutes - until edges become golden grown 

*Note- if you desire, you can use chocolate chips for chocolate chip cookies 

Caramel Coffee Ice Cream

A few days back, when the summer heat was pretty unbearable, I made this wonderful coffee ice cream. It's so refreshing!

I followed this recipe: http://www.indochinekitchen.com/recipes/coffee-ice-cream/
I ended up adding caramel syrup to the recipe and it was a great combo.

Peanut Butter Caramel Mocha

For one person:

about 2 cups of milk
1/2 cup of coffee (or more if you'd like!) 
2 Tablespoons of sugar 
1 Tablespoon of cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon of caramel
1 Tablespoon of peanut butter (you can kinda guess with this and add more or less) 
1/2 Tablespoon of vanilla
pinch of salt

Put the milk in a pot on medium heat. stir until hot. add the rest of the ingredients, stirring in each before adding the next. once all the ingredients are added, make sure you stir some more for a few minutes. then enjoy! 

Caramel Apple Latte

I've been wanting to create this delicious drink ever since the idea entered my mind 2 weeks ago. I've made it one of my goals to create a fancy drink once a month with the teas I receive (from my tea reviewing job). This latte turned out amazing and is now one of my favorite fall drinks! 

For this latte, I used tea. The tea gave my latte the spicy, caramel apple flavor. I used NecessiTeas Caramel Dipped Apple Tea. You can purchase this tea here: http://www.thenecessiteas.com

You could also use any other caramel apple (or just apple) tea you find in a grocery store or other tea company. 

Caramel Apple Latte Recipe

(1 serving) 

Without Coffee                                                                     With Coffee

1/2 Tablespoon sugar                                                           1/2 Tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract                                                     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 small spoonful of caramel                                                 1 small spoonful of caramel

1 cup milk (a mug-full)                                                        3/4 cup milk

1 1/2 teaspoon Caramel Dipped Apple Tea                     1/4 cup coffee

                                                                                            1 1/2 teaspoon Caramel Dipped Apple Tea

1) Put your tea leaves into a tea steeper and set aside

2) Put the sugar, vanilla, and caramel into a small sauce pan. Add the milk (or milk & coffee) and put on medium heat. Stir until the sugar and caramel have melted and completely mixed into the milk. Stir the milk fast to create bubbles on top (like a latte!) 

3) Put the tea into the milk mixture and let it steep for a few minutes

4) Pour latte into a mug and drizzle caramel on top

5) Enjoy!