DIY: HEALTHY HOT COCOA

There’s no other nostalgic feeling quite like sipping a cup of hot chocolate by a warm fire as the cool breeze outside brushes the windows. Hot chocolate reminds me of being a kid—specifically around the holidays, and watching every holiday-related movie that came on TV. It also reminds me of being around family, and the people I love.

Photo by Katya Austin on Unsplash

The only bad thing about hot chocolate—you guessed it, is the excessive amount of sugar in the store-bought hot chocolate powders. Well, I’m here to save the day and tell you that there’s another way. Make your own batch of healthy hot chocolate—without the added sugar. Below is a DIY healthy hot chocolate recipe with the rich taste that you remember and without the artificial sweeteners.

Easy home made hot chocolate recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup plant-based milk of your choice 1 Tbsp raw cocoa powder
1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1⁄4 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of sea salt

Directions: Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan over high heat, whisking it often to break up the clumps. Keep stirring the mixture until it is smooth and hot. When finished, pour contents into your favourite mug.

Optional step: Top your homemade hot cocoa with dairy-free whipped cream and shaved dark chocolate for an added treat.

TIP: If you would like a richer hot chocolate, add an extra teaspoon of cocoa powder.

More Inspiration: Check out this recipe for coconut flour banana spice muffins! Goes perfect with hot chocolate!

Author

Charmaine Millaire

Charmaine Millaire was the editor for Optimyz Magazine and is a graduate of the Kings School of Journalism in Nova Scotia.