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We don’t get much snow since we moved (or any!) but back in the day the kids loved to play outside for hours when it snowed. It’s pretty much a sacred tradition of every childhood to have a cup of steaming hot chocolate to warm up when you come inside, so I was eager to find a substitute for the conventional hot cocoa mix packets.
Thanks to this healthier hot chocolate recipe, I am happy to oblige when my children ask for hot cocoa after coming in from many hours of playing in the snow.
The Best Hot Chocolate Recipe (Option for Dairy Free)
This healthy homemade hot chocolate combines natural ingredients like cocoa powder, turmeric, gelatin, coconut oil or butter, and optional raw honey or maple syrup and cinnamon. I’ve also included options for making it dairy, coconut, or nut free.
I whipped this up in the blender in under two minutes and it was easy to make by the glass or by the blender full. The recipe lists ingredients per cup, but you can easily double, triple, or multiply the recipe as needed to make more than one serving.
TIP: I don’t recommend making this at night as the chocolate may keep kids (and adults) awake!
This can be easily customized to your preferences and I’d love to hear your variations in the comments. Some of my favorites are to add a dash of cayenne for a spicy version or a few frozen raspberries for a berry variation. This hazelnut hot chocolate recipe is also a family favorite.
Hot Chocolate With (Healthy) Marshmallows
We think of marshmallows as junk food, but when made homemade with grass-fed gelatin, they can actually have health benefits. It also is a fun process that makes for a great snow day activity! See the full recipe here.
No time make from scratch?
This Organifi superfood chocolate powder makes a healthy and delicious hot chocolate! I’ve also used these better-for-you marshmallows in a pinch.
Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces water (hot, or coconut milk, whole milk, or almond milk)
- 2 TBSP cocoa powder
- 1 TBSP gelatin powder
- 1 TBSP butter (or coconut oil)
- 1 tsp maca powder (optional)
- ½ tsp ground turmeric (optional)
- ½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tsp maple syrup (or honey or stevia drops to taste, optional)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- pinch salt (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in blender and blend to combine.
- Warm over medium heat in a small saucepan while stirring.
- Top with marshmallows if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- Double or multiply recipe as needed.
- For thicker hot chocolate, add more butter or coconut oil. This must be done in a blender, since with the added coconut oil or butter, just stirring will not make a smooth mixture.
Nutrition
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What is your favorite warm drink on snowy days?
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Best hot chocolate! I put collagen instead of gelatin, use Kerrygold butter and drink this every morning instead of coffee.
I am a vegetarian. So what substitute would you recommend for gelatin? If agar agar, would the recipe steps remain the same? Pls suggest. Thank you
Can you make this ahead of time? With the coconut oil – to make into bigger batches to use throughout the season or to give away as gifts?
Thanks. I have horrible services and can’t load a lot of comments
This was so bitter I had to add loads of coconut sugar and stevia to make it palatable. Even then, my kids didn’t like it, and it’s worth mentioning that they are not picky at all -among other things, they will gladly take fermented fish oil without a problem! I suspect that it was either too much turmeric or too much cinnamon. Next time, I will cut down on those two and see if it’s better.
Hi there,
When you refer to gelatin in this recipe, which product from the Vital Proteins site do you mean? Thanks!
I use collagen peptides or marine collagen.
Thank You for this delicious recipe. I also added 7 cups strong brewed coffee along withMarshmallow crème , for serving to it and it was a lip smacking one.
I have tried your Healthy Onion Rings Recipe and it was too good that my kid Lin ask me to make it often.
Thank you for this recipe – it’s wonderful !! I just spent an hour shoveling snow , and came inside craving something warm and comforting. This did the trick, and it’s perfect for someone (me) who is trying to avoid anything that spikes blood sugar.
I just made this with glucomannan powder, instead of maca and gelatin, and added a crack of black pepper, and a table spoon of butter with a table spoon of coconut oil, finished off with a shot of espresso. So, I’m getting my golden paste and bullet coffee in for the day too 🙂 I reduced hot water to around half a cup, and it’s thick and velvety 🙂 Love the texture, just like real hot chocolate! I added erythritol, with a tiny bit of honey, and it’s actually very nice 🙂 Very filling though due to the glucomannan.
Is Maca safe for children? I use it in my shakes all the time but always leave it out of my little guys drink because I know it can affect hormones. Wasnt sure how it would effect him?