Almond Butter Cold Brew Smoothie

A cold brew smoothie to start your day is the perfect way to get your caffeine fix.

My morning routine starts with a piping hot cup of strong coffee with lots of milk. But if you remember from July, I have kind of been on a cold brew kick. It’s been so hot and humid here lately that sometimes an ice-cold coffee is welcome. Even in the morning.

And cold brew is easy to make and always ready — you don’t need any special equipment. If you have a jar and a strainer, you’re ready.

If you want to skip the straining step, this is a perfect option that’s inexpensive and works well. What I like about this is I don’t have to measure my coffee grounds — I just fill it up and add water and I’m good to go.

I typically drink my cold brew with lots of cream. Sometimes I’ll add sweetener, but strong and creamy is my go-to.

But there are other ways to use it, like this cold brew smoothie with almond butter, oats, and a banana. For an extra special smoothie, I added a chocolate chip Lara bar. You can certainly skip that if you want, or try smoothie bombs. These are perfect in smoothies like this.

I have used frozen bananas and ice in this, and it’s much more flavorful with frozen bananas. To freeze, slice and lay on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Pop in the freezer for an hour or two, remove, and transfer to a freezer-safe container — I use a freezer bag, and they’re always ready to go.

I like this because, on a busy day, I can get started with my coffee and breakfast all in one go. It’s also sweet and creamy, which is perfect with extra strong cold brew.