I’ve posted a few times about my healthy hot chocolate on Instagram and always get requests to explain how I make it. It’s super easy so I’m throwing in a second easy recipe as a bonus today.
I love chocolate and milk together, hot or cold. Brad thinks I’m crazy because I drink hot chocolate all year long, even in the heat of summer. That’s why God made air conditioning, right? I don’t think it’s any stranger than the fact that I’ll eat ice cream all year long too.
Hot chocolate and chocolate milk always get a wrap of being a “kiddie drink”, but I think it’s a great way to curb a sweet tooth and a chocolate tooth (I have both) in a healthy way, if you make it from healthy ingredients.
Both of these drinks have the exact same three ingredients, but they’re made slightly differently. Full disclosure here — my healthy chocolate milk and healthy hot chocolate have no added sugar. I use stevia to sweeten these drinks.
I’m a big fan of stevia, in case you can’t tell from all my baked good recipes that involve stevia. If you haven’t tried it, you have to and soon. It’s made from a plant so it’s just as natural as sugar IF you buy it in its purest form. If you buy a cheap version that you find in most grocery stores, 1) it’s not necessarily pure stevia (check the ingredient list — I bet there’s some kind of filler in there to make it cheaper) and 2) it probably will have a bitter taste.
Pure stevia is highly concentrated so you only need a bit to really sweeten whatever you’re eating or drinking. I highly recommend NuNaturals, which you can order online from many retailers (just Google it) or can find in some health food stores. They sent me their products to try about three years ago and I’ve loyally used them ever since. I’ve tried cheaper brands but they just don’t cut it. And not only are they not paying me to say that, they have no idea that I’m writing this post (overuse of negatives much?).
This is not a sponsored post.
I like to enjoy either one of these drinks when I have a raging sweet tooth or if I’m actually hungry, I’ll pair it with some berries for a more filling snack. And you can make this completely vegan by using almond milk. I’ve made this alternative version a bunch of times, but feel free to substitute other milks as well.
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Stevia to taste (I use 10 drops of NuNaturals liquid stevia)
Heat milk in the microwave in a microwave safe mug for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes (depending on your preference) or place in a small pot on the stove on medium and heat slowly until it starts to bubble. In the mug of milk, add cocoa powder and stevia. Use a spoon to stir quickly until cocoa has dissolved. Add more stevia if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Place milk, cocoa powder, and stevia in a blender. Blend on high for 15 seconds. If you like a lot of froth, blend for as much as 30 seconds (no longer or milk will get warm). Pour into a glass and add more stevia if desired. Enjoy immediately.