Hazelnut-Cacao Harvest Milk

If you’ve been here for a moment, you know that I’m a huge opponent of the smoothie. And so is Ayurveda.

They’re cold, which means they ice down digestion and stall metabolism. Their complicated modern concoctions challenge digestion and create bloating without exception. And they’re a symbol of the way we’re always hacking our health, trying to fit everything into a “convenient package.” The notion that we can “get everything we need to thrive without chewing or cooking” is completely counterintuitive to our nature as human beings.

And yet, sometimes you just need something quick and nourishing.

This past week, my little guy Leo has been under the weather. He had a runny nose, a fever, and he didn’t feel like eating much. And I, his mother, unable to cook with only one hand while holding him in my other arm. We needed something delicious, and grounding, easy to prepare, with ingredients we had on hand that would turn his little stuffy frown upside down. And in all of the conventional ways that a kiddo wants to be comforted when they’re sick (ice cream for dinner?! Yay!) and all the ways I wanted to nourish him as his holistic practitioner, this Hazelnut-Cacao Harvest Milk fit the bill.

Everything our bodies want in the fall

The weather has been changing fast, and this week of being home with a sick little guy made that truly stand out. Chilly nights, brisk mornings, sunshine-y days. Our bodies are craving calming, grounding, earthy, energizing foods. And several of them are swirled into this not-too-sweet Harvest Milk.

• • Pumpkin: classic early fall ingredient, grounding, sweet, and sattvic — signals that seasonal shift without going full “pumpkin spice cliché.”
  • Hazelnuts: show up in northern hemisphere harvests around September. They’re earthy, nutrient-rich, and a fresh swap from almond/tahini fatigue.
  • Cacao: grounding but not heavy, energizing for athletes, and cooling enough to not aggravate lingering summer Pitta.

Don’t call it a smoothie

…because, it’s not. Smoothies are traditionally cold, iced down and bulked up with heavy dairy, abundant fruits, and overwhelming amount of supplements and fractioned protein powders.

But this blended, boosted milk is a creamy, cocoa-driven base. Pumpkin adds fiber, minerals and nutrients, sweetened with dates and maple, while cacao delivers an anti-inflammatory punch. It’s easy to blend, no ice to add or big fruits to break down. Drinking this milk cool or at room temperature helps the body to absorb and benefit from this sweet elixir.

That doesn’t mean, however that this milk isn’t a great base to build upon…

Make it your own

I love to drink this Hazelnut-Cacao Harvest Milk as written, and little Leo loves it like that too, sometimes with toast or graham crackers. Sometimes as an afternoon snack.

But it’s also can easily be adapted; boosted to be your breakfast, or amped to be a recovery drink. You can shift the milk depending on your constitution and the signs your body is giving you. Here are some easy ways I can see swapping, shifting and supercharging it:

If you’re looking for a nourishing, not-too-heavy way to start your day:

Pumpkin and hazelnut are grounding, steady fuel to start the day. Cacao gives a light lift, not a caffeine crash, and warming spices wake digestion without being harsh. This light drink works well as a pre-workout fuel, or as a lovely part of a sweet fall breakfast.

If you’re looking for a recovery shake:

You can boost your milk to make it a perfect recovery drink to stabilize energy and reduce post-training Vata aggravation. Add additional dates to replenish glycogen. Your favorite protein powder (or mine!) can be added here without digestive distress or taxing the system by combining fruits with proteins. And, you can add additional spices such as turmeric, ginger or additional cinnamon to help reduce inflammation.

If you’re looking to add protein powder: 

Have at it! This is a wonderful place to include a simple, well-sourced protein powder without complicating the digestibility of your smoothie or milk. The protein powder will also thicken this milk, making it feel more like a substantive part of your meal as opposed to an accompaniment.

This Hazelnut-Cacao Harvest Milk

Is everything I want to drink this time of year. Almost reminiscent of a sophisticated Nutella, it’s not too sweet, comforting, creamy, earthy, grounded, sweet, rich and perfect for fall. Passing little Leo a cup of this milk and watching his little face soften, and a little squeak of satisfaction emerge from his mouth as his little lips emerged from his sip with a chocolate stain was everything I needed to commit the recipe to memory. All you’ll need are ingredients in your pantry, (save for the hazelnut butter that will absolutely be put to good use in other recipes) and a few minutes to make one for yourself. I often use canned pumpkin here, but if I have roasted pumpkin on hand it’s a wonderful addition. I also frequently make hazelnut milk or oat milk in my Nama Plant Milk Maker and these are amazing in this recipe. In a pinch almond works as well. My recommendation is to make the call on “malk” depending on what you’re seeing in your body. If you need grounded coziness, use oat milk. If you’re feeling heavy, sleek and lighter almond milk is a great choice. And something between the two? Hazelnut milk is special and rich.