A lot of times you just need that little something extra in the afternoon, and when that time rolls around I frequently have Starbucks on my mind. But let’s face it, a ‘bucks habit isn’t exactly the best thing for a law student budget. Let me re-phrase that, it’s a horrible thing for a law student budget. I usually just pine away for it and go unsatisfied, but today I bought a new brand of almond milk and I decided I would try to make one of my favorite Starbucks drinks, but KICKED UP A NOTCH!

P.S.- I recently discovered that I am lactose intolerant, which is why you keep seeing almond milk in my recipes. Obviously cow’s milk would work just fine as a replacement, and soy milk would be great too.

P.P.S- Yes I just said I’m lactose intolerant and yet there is a mound of heavy whipping cream on top of my beverage. I guess you could say that I’m not quite ready to say goodbye?

Nutella is great for hot drinks, and you can use it to make a mocha latte without all that chocolate flavored syrupy stuff.  I adore Nutella. As you can see.

Anyways, enough yapping, on to the good stuff.

Nutty Nutella Latte

• 2 cups vanilla almond milk
• 1 cup strong black coffee
• 1 T. nutella
• 1 t. vanilla extract

-Put the almond milk in a small saucepan and heat until simmering. Add the black coffee and whisk together over low heat.

-Add a heaping tablespoon of Nutella to the saucepan. (Or just do what I did and scrape out whatever is left in the container…)

-Whisk it together until the Nutella is melted into the liquid.

-Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into a couple mugs and top with whatever garnish you fancy! Sit back and watch your afternoon be suddenly improved.

I’m off to make Pioneer Woman’s Penne a la Betsy, one of my favorite dinner recipes ever. Thank heavens it’s the weekend. Thanks for reading!