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This is the ultimate healthy hot chocolate recipe, and I’m so excited for you to try it! It’s rich, creamy, and full of decadent chocolate flavor, but I’ve lightened it up so you can enjoy it anytime. It tastes just like classic hot chocolate, but it’s healthier, low-calorie, and you can even make it sugar-free. It’s the perfect quick, easy, and cozy drink to enjoy all season long!
For another delicious hot chocolate recipe, try our protein hot chocolate next!
Why You Will Love This Hot Chocolate
- Vegan: You can make this hot chocolate dairy-free and vegan.
- Easy: It is easy to make and packed with decadent chocolate flavor.
- Festive & Cozy: It’s the perfect cozy holiday treat!
- Delicious: This hot chocolate is decadent and incredibly delicious.
- Healthy: It’s healthier and lightened up.
“Love the hot chocolate recipe!”
– wendy
Ingredients Needed
- Milk: Use unsweetened almond milk or your milk of choice.
- Cocoa Powder: Use Dutch-processed cocoa powder or cacao powder.
- Vanilla: Add a splash of vanilla extract for flavor.
- Salt: Just a pinch of salt.
- Sweetener: Use your sweetener of choice.
- Chocolate Chips: The mini chocolate chips add incredible chocolate flavor.
Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
Hot Chocolate Variations
- Milk to Use: Make this hot chocolate with your favorite milk. Some great options are almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, and non-fat milk.
- Make it Vegan: To make this hot chocolate dairy-free and vegan, use dairy-free milk and vegan chocolate chips.
- Chocolate Chips: If you don’t have mini chocolate chips, you can use regular chocolate chips. Just make sure to melt them in the hot chocolate. Also, you can use sugar-free chocolate chips.
- Sweetener Options: Use your sweetener of choice in this recipe. Some options are sugar, a 1:1 sugar-free sweetener, maple syrup, or honey.
- Sugar-Free Option: Use a sugar-free sweetener and sugar-free chocolate chips.
- Mexican Hot Chocolate: Add a sprinkle of cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- High-Protein: Check out our protein hot chocolate recipe!
How To Make Healthy Hot Chocolate
Step 1: Thoroughly whisk together all the ingredients in a saucepan while they are cold.
Step 2: Place the saucepan on the stove over low heat. Whisk and warm until all ingredients are combined and the mini chocolate chips have melted.
Step 3: Pour the hot chocolate into a heat-safe mug. Then, let it slightly cool and enjoy.
Expert Tips
- Don’t Burn Your Hot Chocolate: Whisk the hot chocolate while you warm it up on the stove so it doesn’t burn.
- Melt the Chocolate: Make sure all the mini chocolate chips are melted into the hot chocolate before serving.
- Heat on Low: Heat your hot chocolate in a saucepan over low heat and whisk it. You don’t want it to burn or boil.
- Use a Heat-Safe Mug: Pour the warm hot chocolate into a heat-safe mug or cup.
- Let It Cool Slightly: Let the hot chocolate cool slightly so you don’t burn yourself when enjoying it. You want to enjoy it warm, but not immediately after pouring it into the mug when it is too hot.
How To Serve Hot Chocolate
Enjoy this hot chocolate in your favorite heat-safe mug, cup, or glass. Let it slightly cool down before enjoying it. As an option, top it with your favorite whipped cream and mini marshmallows. You can even grate some chocolate or sprinkle some crushed peppermint on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hot Chocolate Healthy?
This hot chocolate is a healthier version of the classic holiday treat. You have control over what milk and sweetener you use. You can make it sugar-free, dairy-free, and vegan. It is made with simple ingredients. We used almond milk instead of full-fat milk, which helps lighten it up.
What Is Hot Chocolate Made Of?
Hot chocolate is usually made with milk, cocoa powder, chocolate, and sugar. We have lightened it up while keeping the rich chocolate flavor. You can use dairy-free milk in this recipe. We used a small amount of chocolate chips for chocolate flavor. Also, you can use your sweetener of choice.
More Recipes to Try!
- Dark Chocolate Hummus
- Chocolate Peppermint Bark
- The Best Healthy Apple Pie Filling
- Sugar Cookies With Easy Icing
- Healthier Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies
- Chai Latte
- Pumpkin Chai Latte
If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.
HEALTHY HOT CHOCOLATE THAT YOU WILL LOVE
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon Dutch-processed cocoa powder or cacao powder
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch of salt
- 4 teaspoons sweetener of choice
- 2 grams mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add the almond milk, cocoa powder, sweetener, vanilla extract, mini chocolate chips, and a pinch of salt to a saucepan.
- Combine all of the ingredients as much as you can while they are cold and then transfer the saucepan to the stove.
- Heat the hot chocolate over low heat on the stove. Make sure all of the ingredients are combined and that the mini chocolate chips are melted. Also, keep an eye on it and whisk so you don’t scold the milk.
- Once done, pour the hot chocolate in a heat-safe mug or cup, let it slightly cool, and enjoy. Optional: Add your favorite toppings.
Video
Notes
- Milk to Use: Make this hot chocolate with your favorite milk. Some great options are almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, and non-fat milk.
- Vegan Option: Use dairy-free milk and vegan chocolate chips.
- Sweetener Options: Some options are sugar, a 1:1 sugar-free sweetener, maple syrup, or honey.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love the hot chocolate recipe!
Hi Wendy, we are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the hot chocolate! It’s a great staple for the winter season!