A warm cup of healthy hot chocolate is ideal in the winter. The best warm beverage is hot chocolate. This warm, delectable dessert combines sweet chocolate and rich milk with the most spectacular flavor! Even though normal hot chocolate is usually made with dairy, processed white sugar, and other artificial preservatives and ingredients, it may still be tasty.
You may precisely customize the chocolate flavor of handmade hot chocolate to your preferences. Add more cacao powder for a darker chocolate beverage and more sugar for a sweeter beverage, as desired.
Tips to Make Healthy Hot Chocolate with Milk
Hot beverages are necessary for cold weather. We’re stuck inside drinking steaming mugs of healthy hot chocolate. Honestly, it’s in our best interests! Hot chocolate can be consumed in various ways, and the recipe and preparation instructions for this delight are no different.
Here are some suggestions for how to make this tasty treat healthier. You can always use almond milk instead of whole milk if you don’t have access to it. The most popular choice is whole milk, but there are other choices. Water might not be the best option for your hot chocolate if you want to consume less dairy.
Ingredients:
Milk of your Choice. Use almond milk to make your healthy hot chocolate dairy-free, vegan, and as low in calories as possible. However, the hot chocolate will be richer the richer milk you use.
Powdered Cocoa without Sugar. It doesn’t get any more intensely chocolate-flavored than this pantry staple. Cacao can make healthy hot chocolate, but you’ll need to taste it and alter the amount of maple syrup. Cacao is a tiny bit more bitter, in our opinion.
Maple Syrup. We advise beginning with a modest amount and gradually increasing it by a teaspoon until you reach the perfect sweetness. Once more, this is your cup.
Pure Vanilla Extract. This is a great technique to intensify the chocolate flavor and make this healthy hot chocolate taste richer than it is.
Dark Chocolate Chopped or in Chocolate chips form. Many healthy hot chocolate recipes that omit these to reduce calories can be found online, but we like our hot cocoa better when melted chocolate is in it. It enhances the flavor and lessens the sadness. You can always try the nutritious hot chocolate without it first, decide whether you like it, and then if not, add the melted chocolate.
Directions:
Step 1: Heat the almond milk (or any of your choice) on the stovetop for about 5 minutes or until it is hot but not boiling.
Step 2: Include the vanilla essence, honey or maple syrup, and chocolate powder. Add and blend with a whisk (1-2 minutes).
Step 3: Vanilla and chocolate chips should be added. The chocolate should be combined and melted while whisking. Pour into a mug and top with more chocolate, if desired. ENJOY! DONE.
Tips:
What makes this recipe for dairy-free hot chocolate the best? How simple it is to create! I have a few recommendations for making it wonderful and perfectly creamy:
Blend on low. Combine all of your ingredients in a small pot set over low heat.
Continue whisking. Make sure to whisk until the mixture is smooth to remove any cocoa powder lumps.
Keep it from boiling. Just whisk it until it’s nice and steaming, being careful not to let the hot chocolate boil as the almond milk can burn and affect the flavor.
Beautify your mug. Ensure you include your favorite toppings! We adore marshmallows, whipped cream, and a dash of cinnamon.
Complementary Nutritious Desserts
Hot chocolate and tart fruits make a great combination if you’re in the mood for a sweet treat. These fruits cleanse the palette and go well with the sweetness of hot chocolate. Try Granny Smith apples, sour berries, or even green grapes. Even cheese and goat’s milk go well with hot cocoa. It’s amazing to see how hot and cold contrast.
You can sprinkle cinnamon or ground cardamom on your chocolate to give it more taste. Additionally, you may include spices like espresso, chai, or ginger powder. Hazelnuts or nut butter can also be used for an extra-rich flavor. Maca powder tastes like malty caramel and offers health advantages. When combined with hot chocolate, alcoholic beverages are also a wise choice.
Substitutes for Whole Milk
There are numerous options if whole milk is not what you prefer. As well as evaporated milk, good options include almond, coconut, and rice milk. However, remember that these milk substitutes don’t give the finished product the same creaminess as regular milk. If you must drink dairy milk, think about going with skim, low-fat, or reduced-fat varieties. In addition, you can use leftover canned milk to prepare other mouthwatering dishes like omelets and spaghetti sauce. Additionally, vegan and dairy-free options for thickening hot chocolate include cornstarch and coconut milk.
Use almond milk instead of whole milk to make hot chocolate that is creamier and thicker. Additionally, it results in a creamier, smoother beverage than whole milk. You can also try macadamia, soy, or coconut milk for an even creamier, richer beverage. You can use almond milk if you have lactose intolerance. Although coconut milk is a great substitute, it doesn’t quite match.
Healthy Hot Chocolate: Variations on the Recipe
Everyday enjoyment of this low-calorie hot chocolate is intended! Here are several entertaining methods to keep it tasting fresh.
Healthy Cinnamon Hot Chocolate. Cinnamon sticks and milk should be simmering. The stick can either be thrown away or used as a garnish within your cup. Because ground cinnamon floats on top rather than blending in well with hot chocolate, we do not advise using it.
Vegan Hot Chocolate. Make sure to use dairy-free milk (almond milk) and dairy-free chocolate.
Hot chocolate in Coconut Oil. There’s still time to add decadence. 12 tbsp of coconut oil should be melted in the saucepan with the other ingredients.
Mexican Hot Chocolate. Milk and a cinnamon stick are simmered (as suggested in the cinnamon variation above). Add a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper; a little bit goes a long way!
Irish Hot Chocolate. Pour in a little Irish whiskey or cream liqueur like Bailey’s. Although not quite as nutritious, YUM.
Healthful Hot Chocolate with Peanut Butter. Add PB2 or other powdered peanut butter to taste.
Hot chocolate with Whipped Cream. The traditional hot chocolate garnish! Use whipped coconut cream to keep the dish dairy- and vegan-free. Use the can, whatever you like—we won’t judge.
Does Making Hot Chocolate Require Boiling Milk?
The milk combination should only be heated until it is warm but not boiling. Tiny bubbles will start to form on the side, and steam will begin to emerge from the top. Ensure the milk is only heated because boiling it will make the chocolate seize.
Can Hot Chocolate Help you Lose Weight?
It may be difficult to lose weight if you consume hot chocolate frequently or daily. Although this low-calorie healthy hot chocolate recipe is fairly nutritious, if weight loss is your primary concern, we wouldn’t suggest drinking it daily. It’s a terrific lighter alternative, though, for the rare treat.
Is Daily Use of Chocolate Milk Okay?
Due to its high sugar content, this beverage may benefit your muscles and bones, but it may also worsen problems like adult heart disease and childhood obesity. So rather than drinking it every day, chocolate milk is better savored sometimes as a treat and in moderation.
Can you Make Hot Chocolate with Cacao Powder in Advance?
Yes! You can put the mug of hot chocolate in the refrigerator and reheat it before serving. Before reheating, stir the mixture with a whisk or shake it up. The chocolate will sink to the bottom (We store it in a large jar). You could even make it into nutritious chocolate milk if that is more to your liking.
Conclusion
A healthy form of hot chocolate is a tasty beverage naturally sweetened and tastes far better than the powdered version that can be purchased in stores. This recipe for healthy hot chocolate calls for almond milk, which makes it naturally vegan and free of gluten when prepared according to the instructions. This recipe for healthy hot chocolate has less than 75 calories per cup, making it an excellent choice for those watching their caloric intake. Usually, one serving of regular powdered hot chocolate mix contains more than 100 calories.
