Cold weather necessitates hot drinks. We have no choice but to stay inside with steaming mugs of Healthy Hot Chocolate. It’s for our well being, really and truly!
Good news! I bet you have everything you need to make this simple hot chocolate recipe in your pantry right now. I don’t even buy the packets any more, because it’s so easy to make from scratch.
In this article we’ll let you in on 12 of the best hot chocolate recipes for you to try out!
12 Best Hot Chocolate Recipes
1. Vanilla hot chocolate – A simple hot chocolate with a splash of this vanilla extract.
Ingredients:
1 cup of milk (whole milk, 2% milk, full-fat coconut milk, almond milk, etc).
1 tbsp cacao powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
Sweetener to taste
Whipped cream or marshmallows ( optional)
Method:
Add milk into a cup and warm it up in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, add the cacao powder and give it a mix. Then add in the vanilla extract and some sweetener to taste. Stir and consume hot.
2. Coconut hot chocolate – treat yourself to a cup of hot chocolate with a coconutty flavor.
Ingredients:
1 cup of coconut milk
1 tbsp cacao powder
2 tbsp cup chocolate chopped
Sweetener – coconut sugar
A pinch of salt
Method:
Into a saucepan add coconut milk, add in the cacao powder, chocolate, and a pinch of salt, and give it a mix. Whisk until the chocolate has melted, do not let it boil. Turn off the flame and add in some sweetener to taste. Stir and consume hot.
3. Cinnamon hot chocolate
Ingredients:
1 cup of coconut milk
1 tbsp cacao powder
1/4 Ceylon cinnamon powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sweetener to taste – homemade date syrup
Method:
Into a hot cup of coconut milk, add in the cacao powder and a pinch of cinnamon powder and give it a mix. Then add in the vanilla extract and some sweetener to taste. Stir and consume hot.
12. Mexican hot chocolate –
Ingredients:
2 cups of milk
4 ounces dark chocolate ( lightly chopped)
1/4 tsp Ceylon cinnamon powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Sweetener to taste
Pinch of salt
Method:
In a saucepan, add milk, sweetener, and chocolate, and bring to a simmer. Lightly whisk until the chocolate has completely melted. Add in cinnamon, salt and whisk until combined. Serve with a pinch of cayenne pepper.
5. Nutella hot chocolate
Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
1 tsp cacao powder
1.5 tbsp Nutella
Method:
Into a hot cup of milk, add in the cacao powder and Nutella and give it a mix and consume hot. Note: No sweetener is required as the Nutella is already sweet.
6. coffee hot chocolate
Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
1 tbsp cacao powder
½ tsp instant coffee powder
Sweetener to taste
Pinch of salt
Method:
Into a hot cup of milk, add in the cacao powder and instant coffee powder and give it a mix. Then add in some sweetener to taste. Stir and consume hot.
7. Pumpkin spice hot chocolate
Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
1 tbsp cacao powder
¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sweetener to taste
Method:
Into a hot cup of milk, add in the cacao powder and pumpkin pie spice powder and give it a mix. Then add in the vanilla extract and some sweetener to taste. Stir and consume hot.
8. Double hot chocolate
Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
2 tbsp cacao powder
1 tbsp choco chips
A pinch of salt
Sweetener to taste
Method:
Into a hot cup of milk, add in the cacao powder and choco chips and give it a mix. Once the choco chips have melted, add in a pinch of salt and some sweetener to taste. Stir and consume hot.
9. Berry hot chocolate
Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
1 tbsp cacao powder
1 tbsp berry jam
Method:
Into a hot cup of milk, add in the cacao powder and give it a mix. Then add in the berry syrup and some sweetener to taste. Give it a stir and consume it hot.
Berry syrup suggestions: Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, cranberry
10. Espresso hot chocolate
Ingredients:
2 cups of milk
4 ounces semisweet chocolate ( lightly chopped)
1/4 cup espresso
Sweetener to taste
Pinch of salt
Method:
In a saucepan, add milk, sweetener, and semi-sweet chocolate, and bring to a simmer. Lightly whisk until the chocolate has completely melted. Add coffee, and whisk until combined.
11. Peanut butter hot chocolate – The best way to make your hot chocolate healthier is to add peanut butter to it.
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
6 tbsp bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate
¼ cup creamy peanut butter – homemade peanut butter
2 tbsp date syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp sea salt (optional)
Method:
Pour milk, chocolate and peanut butter into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Add vanilla, date syrup and salt (if desired) and whisk until completely combined and warm. Cover and remove from heat and let cacao sit (covered) for 2-3 minutes before serving if you would like a very thick hot cocoa, or serve immediately.
12. Orange hot chocolate
Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
1 tbsp cacao powder
½ tsp orange zest
(Or orange peel powder)
Sweetener to taste
Method:
Into a hot cup of milk, add in the cacao powder and some sweetener to taste and give it a mix. Then add in the orange zest or orange peel powder (if you want the flavor enhanced), with some sweetener to taste. Stir and consume hot.
Tips – Store leftovers in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store leftovers in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
