Let's be honest: There are times when your morning cup of joe just doesn't cut it when it comes to truly kickstarting your day. While caffeine may be an effective stimulant, it can leave you feeling a little jittery, a little queasy, and a little lacking in the flavor department when consumed straight up. Of course, this is by no means to say that you should abandon your black coffee habit altogether if that's what floats your boat—but if you are looking for a way to give your coffee a little extra kick that can both help wake you up and keep you moving all morning, meet your new go-to: A cinnamon soy latte recipe from Healthy Happy Life's Kathy Patalsky that boasts more protein than an egg. No protein powder needed.

First, to quickly caveat, we are by no means considering this delicious latte a replacement for a well-balanced breakfast. We're simply recommending a simple, dreamy-creamy way to get just a little more nourishment out of your morning mug. Sound good? Let's get started.

Healthy Happy Life's recipe requires just three main ingredients: soy milk, espresso, and ground cinnamon. And thanks to soy milk in particular, this is a protein-packed morning beverage that will give you an extra oomph of energy that black coffee could never. “Soy milk is super rich in protein," says Melissa Bolona, RD, CNS, and the CEO and founder of Beauty and the Broth. "A single cup of unsweetened soy milk contains approximately seven grams of protein." For comparison, an egg contains about six grams of protein. "The protein in soy milk is also a plant-based protein that contains all nine essential amino acids. This means it's considered a 'complete' protein source versus an 'incomplete' one, which is quite rare for plant-based protein sources,” Bolona adds.

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Beyond soy milk, the other ingredients in this latte—espresso and cinnamon—are also great for your body, Bolona says. “Cinnamon has been shown to help fight infections and suppress inflammatory mediators,” she notes. “Cinnamon bark also contains flavonoids procyanidins and catechins, both of which act as antioxidants and work to reduce free-radical damage in the body. Additionally, cinnamaldehyde, a component of cinnamon, is responsible for its mild antimicrobial activity,” Bolona notes. “Cinnamon oil has also been shown to help treat certain fungal infections as well as prevent bad breath.”

Then, of course, there are the benefits of espresso, a concentrated form of coffee. “Coffee has several health advantages,” Bolona explains. In addition to providing you with caffeine, coffee is also a powerful antioxidant, as it contains chlorogenic acids, ferulic, caffeic, and n-coumaric acids, Bolona notes. “Moderate coffee consumption has been associated with lower risks of heart disease and stroke,” Bolona suggests. “This effect could be explained in part by caffeine's antagonistic effect on adenosine receptors, which leads to vasodilation and a slower heart rate.” Plus, coffee is a source of happiness-boosting B vitamins, including vitamin B2 and riboflavin.

Of course, all the health benefits in the world would be for naught were this recipe anything other than delicious. But luckily, this is one energy- and mood-boosting beverage that you’ll be itching to make over and over again.

Check out the full cinnamon soy latte recipe from Happy Healthy Life below.

Protein-packed cinnamon soy latte recipe

Ingredients
10 ounces soy milk
1 shot of espresso
Coconut sugar, optional
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Warm your milk until very hot. (Feel free to use your microwave.)

2. Pour the warm milk into a blender. Turn blender on lowest speed. Add the cinnamon and coconut sugar to taste—a few teaspoons should do it (you can also use maple syrup, agave or honey). Blend for a minute on low, then thirty seconds at a higher speed. Turn off blender and let the frothy milk sit there for at least a minute. This allows the foam to form at the top.
Add espresso to the empty mug that you used to warm the milk.

3. Slowly pour the milk over top the espresso. Your milk may not all fit in the mug, since it increased in ‘size’ from the foam. You can scoop foam over top or pour the extra in a side cup and add it after a few sips. Sprinkle coconut sugar over top, if desired, to serve.

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