Thanks to Starbucks for sending along some seasonal flavors and products. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Just in case you didn’t already know this about me, let me tell you now: I’m an iced coffee addict. I love iced coffee any time, all the time, ALWAYS. I never venture away from my beverage true love.
So I felt that I was having an out-of-body experience of sorts when, a few weeks ago, I ordered an iced chai latte at Starbucks instead of the usual. Even the barista gave me a raised eyebrow (yes, my barista knows me. What?).
I was sure it would be a huge mistake, but a valuable one, because it would remind me to appreciate what I already know I love and to never stray again!
Only I loved that iced chai latte. Oh man. I fell for it hard. It tasted like spiced heaven, and I knew on the spot that I would have to tell my beloved iced coffee that she had a new sister wife. I can’t be without either, friends.
So honestly, it’s a daily struggle to determine if I’m going to go for a chai latte or coffee, but one thing that is NOT a struggle is knowing what to eat while I drink. I recently made Gluten-Free Cinnamon Tea Cookies, based on a recipe from Padma Lakshmi, and they are just the most perfect accompaniment to a chai latte AND they taste great with iced coffee, too!
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Tea Cookies
(adapted from Padma Lakshmi’s Cinnamon Tea Cookies Recipe)
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 10 Tbsp butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda in a bowl and mix.
- In another bowl, combine sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla, beating together until smooth.
- Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and mix together until well combined.
- Using your hands, make small balls about 1 inch in diameter with the dough. Place these balls on 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper, 12 balls per sheet.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until just medium brown. Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks (but there’s no way they will stick around that long!).
So yummy, y’all. And if you aren’t on a first name basis with your Starbucks barista like I am, but still want to savor these great flavors, head to the store and pick up some Tazo Chai K-cups. You will be so glad you did (and it only takes a little patience to turn a hot latte into an iced one!).
Other great iced beverages this summer from Starbucks include individual sized iced coffees and some yummy iced mango green tea. And don’t forget about the carafe sized iced coffees and espressos in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.
So what cold beverages are you loving this time of year? Anything else you think I should take the leap and try the next time I head to Starbucks?