A warm mug of cozy hot chocolate is a necessary indulgence whenever the weather gets colder. But, store-bought hot chocolate powders contain many artificial ingredients that can be harmful to our health! This is why it’s so important to make a healthy hot chocolate from scratch. This nutritious hot chocolate with cacao powder is both nourishing and delicious!
Supplies Needed
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk of choice (fresh raw milk, standard store-bought milk, or plant-based) (980g)
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or cocoa if desired) (25g)
- 1/4-1/3 cup pure maple syrup to taste (or honey or brown sugar) (80g-115g)
- 1/4 tsp salt (2g)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract (5g)
Directions
- Add milk, raw cacao powder, maple syrup, and salt to a medium saucepan.
- Warm over low-medium heat, stirring frequently until the mixture reaches your desired temperature and cacao has fully dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Serve warm with optional toppings (such as these gut-healthy vanilla bean marshmallows, or homemade maple whipped cream)!
Substitutions
- You can use any milk that you desire. It can be raw milk, store-bought pasteurized milk, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or any other milk that you already know and love!
- You can use cocoa powder in place of cacao powder if desired.
- You may substitute the maple syrup for honey to get even more health benefits! The hot chocolate will most likely take on some of the honey flavor though. You can use brown sugar instead if you prefer a more classic taste and do not have maple syrup.
How to Preserve the Probiotics in Raw Milk Hot Chocolate
Raw milk is so nutrient dense, and one of the reasons why is for the probiotic benefits! Raw milk is living, but when you heat it too high it can kill off some of those beneficial bacteria. To preserve the probiotics in raw milk hot chocolate, heat it over low or medium-low heat, and remove from the heat as soon as it reaches your desired temperature. The hotter you allow it to get, the more benefits you will lose.
Additional Flavors
Sometimes it’s nice to switch things up and add some additional flavors to your healthy hot chocolate recipe! Here are some ideas for other flavor combinations:
- Try substituting the pure maple syrup for equal amounts of homemade maple caramel sauce for a caramel hot chocolate! Add an additional pinch of salt for a salted caramel hot chocolate.
- Add 1-2 tsp. ground Saigon cinnamon for unique flavors as well as additional health benefits.
- Add 2 tbsp. peanut butter or peanut powder to make a peanut butter cup hot chocolate with cacao powder and extra protein!
- Add 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract for a peppermint hot chocolate.
- Top the hot chocolate with homemade vanilla bean marshmallows, and then toast them to perfection using a kitchen torch! You’ll get that classic roasted marshmallow flavor with every sip.
Nutritious Hot Chocolate (With Cacao Powder & Pure Maple Syrup)
4
servings5
minutes10
minutes290
kcalThis cozy hot chocolate with cacao powder has so many health benefits and tastes like the perfect winter day! It’s creamy, frothy, and delicious. You won’t have to compromise your health for a warm winter treat this year!
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Ingredients
4 cups whole milk of choice (fresh raw milk, standard store-bought milk, or plant-based) (980g)
1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or cocoa if desired) (25g)
1/4-1/3 cup pure maple syrup to taste (or honey or brown sugar) (80g-115g)
1/4 tsp salt (2g)
1 tsp. vanilla extract (5g)
Directions
- Add milk, raw cacao powder, maple syrup, and salt to a medium saucepan.
- Warm over low-medium heat, stirring frequently until the mixture reaches your desired temperature and cacao has fully dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Serve warm with optional toppings (such as these gut-healthy vanilla bean marshmallows, or homemade maple whipped cream)! Serves 4.
Notes
- Approximate Nutritional Information Per Serving: 290 calories, 8g protein, 8g fats, 50g carbs, 260mg sodium, 44g sugars
- You can make the hot chocolate ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator. Then, simply warm it up and it’s instant hot chocolate!
- Optional flavor variations in post above (such as peanut butter cup hot chocolate, or toasted marshmallow)
- Raw Milk Hot Chocolate: To preserve the probiotics in raw milk, heat it over low or medium-low heat, and remove from the heat as soon as it reaches your desired temperature. The hotter you allow it to get, the more benefits you will lose.
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This was awesome!!!! Followed the recipe and added some suggestions. I work nights so now that it is getting colder going to double the recipe for my thermos to take to work.