Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your favorite treats. My Healthy Hot Cocoa is one of our favorite nourishing beverages. It’s free of dairy and sugar! We serve it at family game nights, and it’s a Christmas Eve tradition! This recipe is a Winter must-have.
My hot cocoa is rich and warming. The combination of sweeteners makes it taste like it has marshmallows in it! I know your family will love it just as much as mine does.
Table of Contents:
- Healthy Cocoa Ingredients 101
- How to Make Healthy Hot Cocoa
- High-Octane Variation
Healthy Cocoa Ingredients 101
This healthy hot cocoa includes the best ingredients! It’s so rich; you’ll never believe it doesn’t contain dairy! Here’s what you need to add to your shopping cart.
Purified or Distilled Water: Tap water can contain toxins that lead to congenital birth disabilities, diabetes, obesity, and more. Filtering your water is a small step you can take that dramatically impacts your health!
This doesn’t mean you have to create a lot of plastic waste, though. There are so many great at-home filtration systems that hook right up to the tap!
Vanilla Almond or Coconut Milk Beverage: We use a dairy-free alternative instead of conventional milk. Almond or coconut milk beverages are smooth and creamy. They are an excellent addition to this recipe!
We like using vanilla-flavored beverages to add to the flavor of this hot cocoa. When purchasing this ingredient, be sure to grab the unsweetened variety. You wouldn’t believe the hidden sugars in other kinds!
Raw Cacao Powder: Cacao powder is similar to cocoa powder in taste but contains more nutritional benefits. It’s minimally processed and contains no additives. This is why it’s our top choice for all things chocolate!
Swapping cocoa powder for cacao powder is an easy way to add extra nutrients to your diet.
Healthy Fats: Healthy fats make this recipe smooth and creamy! We like using a combination of grass-fed, organic butter, and raw coconut oil. Butter has a certain richness that makes this cocoa taste so decadent!
If you want to make this recipe totally dairy-free, use coconut oil. Coconut oil is one of my favorite fats as it’s full of MCTs that give you a boost of energy (3)!
Sea Salt: Traditional table salt undergoes a rigorous harvesting process that strips it of most nutritional benefit. We love using Colima sea salt because it’s hand-harvested. This process leaves the good stuff intact!
Bonus: It tastes great and adds a gourmet flair to any recipe.
Sweetener: This recipe uses multiple forms of stevia to create lovely hot cocoa! Powdered stevia is a potent sweetener. You only need a little to sweeten the whole batch.
We also use flavored liquid stevias to enhance the already present flavors. Chocolate and vanilla-flavored stevia are great options to keep on hand for all your beverage needs. We love using these sweeteners in coffee or tea!
Essential Oil: Peppermint EO is a favorite oil and is one of “The Big Four” in our diet plan! Peppermint oil is also a natural energizer. Take a sniff, and you’ll instantly feel more awake!
Safety Note: Using essential oils in your recipes is a great way to include them in everyday life. This is a safe practice if you use wisdom. Whenever you include an EO in a recipe, you also need to have a dispersant.
In this recipe, coconut oil ensures the essential oils distribute evenly. Without them, your mouth would get irritated. Remember: Never ingest an EO neat!
How to Make Healthy Hot Cocoa
This recipe comes together in minutes! We like using our electric kettle as it boils water in no time. You’ll have enough hot cocoa to serve four people, so invite friends over. They’ll be amazed at how different this drink tastes from powdered mixes.
Healthy Hot Cocoa: A Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free Treat!
Author: Mama Z
Ingredients
- 32 ounces hot water
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla-flavored almond or coconut milk
- ¼ cup chocolate bone broth protein powder (optional)
- ¼ cup raw organic cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons grass fed butter
- 1 tablespoon raw organic coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon organic pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground Himalayan salt or sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon powdered stevia
- 3 dropperfuls vanilla-flavored liquid stevia
- 3 dropperfuls chocolate-flavored liquid stevia
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil(optional)
- Supplies:
- Blender
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and allow to cool for a minute.
- Place the hot water, almond milk, chocolate gold (if using), cacao powder, butter, coconut oil, vanilla extract, sea salt, stevias, and essential oil in a high-powered blender.
- Blend until frothy.
- Top with froth or coconut whipped cream and serve.
- Leftovers can be stored in aglass jar in the refrigerator and rewarmed on the stove.
Step One: Blend Ingredients
Bring the purified water to a boil and cool for one minute. Place the water, almond milk, protein powder (if using), cacao powder, butter, coconut oil, vanilla, sea salt, sweeteners, and essential oil (if using) in a high-powered blender.
Blend on high until frothy.
Step Two: Garnish the Hot Cocoa and Serve
Top with froth or my Coconut Milk Whipped Cream. Garnish with a sprinkle of Pumpkin Pie Spice if desired to cut down on the foam.
You can store leftovers in a glass jar placed in the refrigerator. Just reheat on the stove when ready! Enjoy!
High Octane Variation
Want a little pep in your step? Try our energizing cocoa variation! This recipe tastes just like a mocha from your favorite coffee shop, without added sugar and dairy. It’s such a fun twist on a classic, and it’s full of mood-boosting components like cacao powder.
Step One: Add Coffee
To make this recipe, follow the above instructions but add ½ cup organic, low-acid coffee and decrease the almond milk to ½ cup.
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