We serve it at family game nights and as a Christmas Eve tradition! My hot cocoa is rich and warming and a great replacement for unhealthy hot chocolate recipes or packages out there. The combination of sweeteners makes my homemade version taste like it has mini marshmallows in it so I know this winter must-have is something your family will love just as much as mine does.
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Healthy Cocoa Recipe Ingredient Benefits
This healthy hot cocoa recipe includes the best ingredients with health benefits that mean guilt-free holiday enjoyment. It’s so rich; you’ll never believe it doesn’t contain dairy! Here’s a list of the simple ingredients you need to add to your shopping cart.
Purified or Distilled Water: Tap water can contain toxins that may lead to health issues, such as congenital birth disabilities, diabetes, obesity, and more. Using filtered water is a small step that can dramatically impact your health without creating plastic waste.
Consider at-home filtration systems that hook up to your tap. Filtering your water is a small step you can take that dramatically impacts your health!
Vanilla Almond or Coconut Milk Beverage: We use a dairy-free alternative instead of conventional milk. Unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk beverages are smooth and creamy, making them an excellent addition to this healthy hot cocoa recipe. Either will work well so choose the non-dairy replacement milk of choice for your family.
We like using vanilla-flavored beverages to add to the flavor of this hot cocoa. When purchasing this ingredient, opt for the unsweetened variety. You wouldn’t believe the hidden sugars in other kinds!
Raw Cacao Powder: Cacao powder is similar to unsweetened cocoa powder in taste but contains more nutritional benefits. It’s minimally processed and contains no additives, making it 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 be totally dairy-free recipe, use coconut oil. Coconut oil is one of my favorite fats as it’s full of MCTs that give you a boost of energy! (1)
Sea Salt: Traditional table salt undergoes a rigorous harvesting process that strips it of most nutritional benefits. 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 sweeten the hot cocoa. Powdered stevia is potent, so 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 holiday beverage needs. We love using these sweeteners in coffee or tea!
Essential Oil: Peppermint essential oil is a favorite 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 essential oil in a recipe, you also need to have a dispersant. In this recipe, coconut oil ensures the essential oils are distributed 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 delicious this drink tastes compared to powdered hot chocolate mixes.
- 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
- 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 a glass 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!
Coffee Hot Cocoa Recipe 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.
See all our allergy-friendly recipes, complete with step-by-step directions, along with an exclusive collection of meal plan ideas, in our Bible Health Academy.
