QUICK SUMMARY
This healthy hot cocoa is a rich, dairy-free, sugar-free drink made with raw cacao powder, unsweetened almond or coconut milk, butter or coconut oil, sea salt, stevia, and an optional touch of peppermint essential oil. Everything goes into a high-powered blender for a frothy cocoa that serves four in minutes. Add low-acid coffee for a sugar-free mocha variation.
We serve this healthy hot cocoa 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. Gathering around a warm mug together is one of the simple gifts God gives a family.
Table of Contents:
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 contaminants we would rather not drink, so we use filtered water. Consider an at-home filtration system that hooks up to your tap: it is a small step for your health that does not create plastic waste.
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 a totally dairy-free recipe, use coconut oil. Coconut oil is one of my favorite fats as it contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which a 2022 review describes as a ready source of energy that also increases fat burning! (1)
Sea Salt: Traditional table salt undergoes a rigorous refining 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 one, your mouth could get irritated. Never ingest an essential oil 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.
Healthy Hot Cocoa (With Vegan Option)
Servings
Ingredients
- 32 ounces hot purified OR distilled water
- 1 cup organic vanilla-flavored unsweetened almond OR coconut milk beverage
- ¼ cup organic plant-based chocolate protein powder (optional)
- ¼ cup organic raw cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons grass-fed organic sea-salted butter OR 2 tablespoons coconut oil, extra-virgin AND unrefined AND 2 pinches pink Himalayan salt OR sea salt, ground
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, extra-virgin AND unrefined
- 1 teaspoon organic pure vanilla extract OR Homemade Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt OR sea salt, ground
- 3 dropperfuls vanilla-flavored liquid stevia
- 3 dropperfuls chocolate-flavored liquid stevia
- ¼ teaspoon organic powdered stevia (optional)
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil (optional)
- Coconut Milk Whipped Cream AND/OR organic pumpkin pie spice powder, to garnish (optional)
Supplies
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and allow to cool for one minute. Place the hot water, almond milk, chocolate protein powder (if using), cacao powder, butter, coconut oil, vanilla extract, sea salt, stevias, and essential oil (if using) in a high-powered blender. Blend until frothy.
- Top with froth or Coconut Milk Whipped Cream and serve. Add a sprinkle of organic pumpkin pie spice powder to reduce the foam if desired. You can store leftovers in a glass jar in the refrigerator and rewarm them 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 coffee 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.
Keep reading: Chai Latte Recipe + Earl Grey Latte (Sugar-Free & Dairy-Free) · Coffee Latte Recipe with Essential Oils: Vegan, Dairy-Free & Sugar-Free · Healthy No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies with Peppermint
References
- Watanabe S, Tsujino S. Applications of Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Foods. Front Nutr. 2022. Source.
