Healthy Hot Chocolate (dairy free)
Do you love hot chocolate but want a healthier option? Maybe you've tried those expensive mushroom hot chocolate packets and thought they were overpriced and bitter? I sure did, so I set out to make a healthy and tasty version that you could feel good about serving to your family.
This recipe can be customized to suit your dietary preferences and tastes by adjusting the type of milk used, the amount of sweetener, omitting the mushroom powder, etc. As you will find, the majority of my recipes are a little bit of this and a little bit of that so feel free to make your own modifications to suit your taste!
The combination of the healthy fat in the coconut milk and the protein from the collagen peptides provide a good balance to the sweetener and prevents a blood sugar spike and crash.
If you don't like coconut milk, you can substitute full fat cow or goat milk or any alternative milk. However, low or non fat milks are going to lose much of the creaminess that the fat content provides.
I place all ingredients into a saucepan and use a frother or immersion blender to mix. However, if you don't have either of these, simply place all ingredients into a blender first and then transfer to the saucepan to heat to your desired temperature.
Healthy Hot Chocolate
1 can full fat coconut milk
(Thai kitchen is my favorite)
2 scoops collagen peptides
(I use one scoop of chocolate and one plain, but you can use what you have!)
1 tsp Mushroom powder
(optional; I use the Immune Blend from Om)
3-4 tbsp cacao powder
(you may need less if you use chocolate collagen peptides)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp pink or other coarse salt
(use less if using fine salt)
3-4 tbsp total sweetener
(I use 1 tbsp organic cane sugar and 2 tbsp maple syrup)
Add all ingredients to a small pot on the stovetop over low heat. Use a frother or handheld immersion blender until fully mixed. You could also blend all ingredients in a regular blender prior to heating. Heat to desired temperature and serve with marshmallows if desired. My son likes peppermint hot chocolate so we add a few drops of peppermint extract to his.
I have never had great luck making my own marshmallows, but Dandie's are a better option than the traditional corn syrup laden variety!
Leave me a comment and let me know if you tried it or made modifications of your own!