Hot chocolate is just one of those things that you have to indulge in when 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 find a healthy hot chocolate recipe that is both nourishing and delicious. This recipe is both of these things, plus it only takes five ingredients and fifteen minutes to make!
Supplies
- Measuring cups and spoons: I use these measuring cups and these measuring spoons.
- Cookware: You’ll need a large pot to heat it.
- Spatula: You can use a wood spatula or a silicone spatula, whichever you prefer!
- Immersion Blender (optional but very helpful): For the smoothest hot chocolate, you will want to use an immersion blender.
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk (raw, pasturized, or plant-based)
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or cocoa if desired)
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions
- Add all ingredients to a large pot on the stovetop.
- Use the immersion blender to thoroughly combine the ingredients and froth the milk.
- Heat over low-medium heat, stirring very frequently or constantly, until the mixture your reaches the desired temperature.
- Serve warm with optional toppings (such as homemade maple whipped cream from this recipe)!
Substitutions
- You can use any milk that you desire. It can be raw milk, store-bought pasteurized milk, almond milk, oat milk, or any other milk that you already know and love!
- You can use cocoa powder in place of cacao powder if desired.
- You can use honey in place of the maple syrup. That will offer some other health benefits, and the hot chocolate will most likely take on some of the honey flavor.
Additional Flavors
Sometimes it’s nice to spice 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 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 cinnamon such as saigon cinnamon for additional flavor and health benefits.
- Add in 2 tbsp. peanut butter or peanut powder for additional protein and to make it taste like a peanut butter cup!
Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe (With Raw Cacao and Pure Maple Syrup)
Course: Natural Food4
servings5
minutes5
minutes298
kcalThis healthy hot chocolate recipe uses no refined sugar, and it’s made with raw cacao powder for the most health benefits! It’s so creamy, frothy, and delicious.
Ingredients
- Supplies
– Measuring cups and measuring spoons
– Large pot
– Spatula
– Immersion blender (optional but helpful)- Ingredients
4 cups whole milk (raw, pasturized, or plant-based)
1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or cocoa if desired)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions
- Add all ingredients to a large pot on the stovetop.
- Use the immersion blender to thoroughly combine the ingredients and froth the milk.
- Heat over low-medium heat, stirring very frequently or constantly, until the mixture your reaches the desired temperature.
- Serve warm with optional toppings (such as homemade maple whipped cream from this recipe)!
Notes
- Approximate Nutritional Information Per Serving: 298 calories, 8g protein, 8g fats, 50g carbs, 260mg sodium, 44g sugars
- If using raw milk, be sure to heat slowly over low heat just until it is warmed. This will preserve some of the live cultures that are present in raw milk. Overheating the milk would pasteurize it, and you would lose many of those benefits.
- The immersion blender isn’t necessary, but it makes very easy work of combining the cacao into the hot chocolate smoothly, and it froths the milk for a deliciously foamy hot chocolate.
- 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!
