With the weather getting colder and snow accumulating on the ground, a warm hug-in-a-mug is about all we need to get through these next few months! This healthy hot chocolate recipe is both dairy-free and low in sugar making it a much healthier option than the traditional store-bought powdered mixes. If you’ve ever looked at the nutrition label, some of those mixes can be over 20g of sugar per serving! Yikes!

This delicious hot chocolate made from unsweetened cocoa powder can be customized in so many different ways and sometimes I top it off with some coconut whip cream and marshmallows for a little extra treat!

This delicious recipe is:

• Dairy-free
• Gluten-free
• Vegan
• Naturally sweetened
• Easy to make

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Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (I personally love Organic Traditions Organic Cacao Powder)
• Liquid Stevia drops OR Monk fruit drops OR 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• Optional – coconut whip cream, vegan marshmallows and cacao powder for dusting

Directions:

1. In a small pot, heat almond milk and cocoa powder on medium heat and whisk until powder dissolves. Add in sweetener of choice and gently stir.
2. Once warmed, transfer to 2 mugs and top with coconut whip cream, vegan marshmallows and cacao powder. Enjoy!

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Hot Chocolate Flavour Variations

Peppermint Hot Chocolate – add 1/8 tsp peppermint flavour (Simply Organic has a great one) – use this sparingly as it has a very intense flavour. Start with a small amount and add more if desired.

Vanilla Hot Chocolate – add ½ tsp pure vanilla extract or more if desired.

Cinnamon Hot Chocolate – add ½ tsp ground cinnamon.

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate – add 1 tbsp canned pumpkin puree and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice to the mixture while on the stove. Taste and add more pumpkin pie spice if desired.

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate – add 1 tbsp natural peanut butter to the mixture while on the stove and stir to dissolve before transferring into mugs.

Espresso Hot Chocolate – stir in 1 tsp instant espresso and a splash of pure vanilla extract (optional) while heating the mixture on the stove.

Like what you’ve read? Check out my favourite healthy holiday cookies here.