Healthy Hot Chocolate

This healthy hot chocolate recipe is the perfect cold weather treat! It's totally vegan and dairy-free, but it's still rich, chocolatey, and delicious.

Healthy Hot Chocolate

Lately, Jack and I have been guzzling mugs of this healthy hot chocolate for breakfast. If you’re thinking, “Hot chocolate for breakfast?!”, you have to hear me out. This healthy hot chocolate recipe is a far cry from the Swiss Miss hot cocoa I drank as a kid. It’s naturally sweetened, and nutrient-rich cacao powder takes the place of processed cocoa. Plus, I make it with almond milk, so it’s totally vegan and dairy-free. Fair game for breakfast? 100% yes.

Now, if you think “healthy” is code for “watery” or “bland,” think again. This healthier hot chocolate is rich, creamy, and comforting. For me, it’s an energizing way to start the day, and it’s so delicious that I’m always excited to jump out of bed to make it. Of course, it’s also a great dessert or afternoon treat. Enjoy it on its own, or pair it with a cookie or any baked good you like.

Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe Ingredients

You only need a few ingredients to make this healthy hot chocolate recipe:

  • Raw cacao powder – The most pure form of chocolate, cacao is packed with antioxidants, fiber, and magnesium. It makes this recipe rich and chocolatey, but good for you, too!
  • Maca powder – Its malty flavor adds depth to this homemade hot chocolate. But that’s not all! It has health benefits too. It’s chock-full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and it’s said to improve your memory.*
  • Almond milk – I use almond milk because it’s what I keep on hand, but feel free to substitute any type of milk you like. Cow’s milk, coconut milk, or my homemade oat milk would also work here.
  • Maple syrup – It sweetens this healthy hot chocolate naturally. Plus, I love the maple flavor with the malty maca and rich cacao.
  • Coconut oil – For richness and healthy fats! Don’t worry – this nourishing treat is still far lighter than hot chocolate made with whole milk and/or heavy cream.
  • Cinnamon – It adds warm depth of flavor. If you like your hot chocolate with a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne as well.
  • And a little bit of salt – Don’t skip it! It makes all these delicious flavors pop.

Combine these ingredients in a blender, or whisk them together by hand. Then, transfer the chocolate mixture to a small saucepan and warm it over medium heat. Taste and adjust the healthy hot chocolate. You’ll know it’s right when you can’t stop tasting spoonful after spoonful. Pour it into mugs, top it with coconut whipped cream and shaved dark chocolate, and enjoy!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe Ingredients

More Favorite Winter Treats

This healthy hot chocolate is delicious on its own, but it’s also fantastic paired with these other cozy treats:


4.8 from 27 reviews

Healthy Hot Chocolate

 
Prep time
Total time
 
This healthy hot chocolate is a delicious winter breakfast or dessert! Vegan and gluten-free.
Author:
Recipe type: Beverage, Dessert
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 2½ cups unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons cacao powder (I use Nativas Naturals)
  • 1 tablespoon maca powder (I use Essential Living Foods)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon coconut oil
  • Pinch of cinnamon
  • Tiny pinch of sea salt
Optional toppings:
  • Coconut whip** (see homemade instructions below)
  • Shaved dark chocolate
Instructions
  1. In a blender, mix the almond milk, cacao powder, maca, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon and salt. (You can also whisk this together by hand). Transfer to a small saucepan and warm over medium heat. Taste and adjust the sweetness if desired. If it's too thick, add a little more almond milk.
  2. Serve with coconut whip and shaved dark chocolate, both optional.
Notes
** Homemade Coconut Whip:
solids from 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
â…“ cup powdered sugar
Few drops of vanilla extract

Make the coconut whip by combining the ingredients in a mixer and mix until whipped and fluffy. Note: some cans of coconut milk are duds - meaning that the solids and the water do not separate and the whip cream will not whip. I've had the best luck using Whole Foods 365 brand full-fat canned coconut milk.

*I’m not a nutritionist, but you can google to read about the benefits of cacao and maca. Most sites list these same attributes.

Vegan Hot Chocolate

71 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Bec
    07.10.2017

    Any chance I could warm this in the microwave instead of on the stovetop?

  2. Vanessa
    05.01.2017

    After looking at the ingredient list on my regular hot chocolate powder container…I was pretty horrified! So I began to surf the net to see what the alternatives were and I came across this amazing blog and recipe. I was a little hesitant as I had never made a hot chocolate from scratch before however took a leap of faith with this recipe…. and boy am I glad I did! It was so delicious and it surprisingly tasted so much better than the regular stuff I use out of the container. This recipe is definitely a keeper for sure. Thank you so much for sharing, you have your newest home made hot chocolate milk convert here!!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.01.2017

      Hi Vanessa – welcome! I’m so glad you liked the healthier hot chocolate 🙂

  3. izzy
    04.27.2017

    So yummy! I don’t have the best blender though and found that the coconut oil didn’t liquidise enough and left little lumps, errrgh! If you have a cheap blender or are doing this by hand, maybe leave out the coconut oil…
    Thanks for the recipe!

  4. Katie from Www.hotmail.com
    02.10.2017

    How long should u leaveon the heat for? 🙂

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      02.10.2017

      Just until it’s as hot as you would like to drink it – a few minutes, depending how quick your stove heats up.

  5. Do I have to use almond milk or will regular full fat milk be acceptable? This is just what I have on hand right now. Thanks!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.01.2017

      You can use any milk!

      • Lisa
        12.08.2017

        Use fresh Nigerian Dwarf goat milk 🙂 Rich, creamy and super healthy 🙂

  6. Cecilia
    01.01.2017

    I made this recipe 3 times now and it is my absolute favorite! It is not too sweet, not too rich but still very tasty. Thanks!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.01.2017

      Hi Cecilia, I’m so happy to hear!

  7. Devon
    12.14.2016

    This looks amazing! Where did you get that sauce pan? So adorable.

  8. April
    12.09.2016

    This sounds amazing!

    Can I ask where your lovely white pot is from?

  9. Maria from almostproperly.com
    12.07.2016

    Oh man!!! There is a hot chocolate chain in Seattle that makes something that this reminds me of!! Its my favorite one they make!! So of course making it at home would be especially fabulous!

  10. So excited to try this…I have been searching for a recipe to use my cacao powder in, it’s so delicious!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.08.2016

      I hope you enjoy 🙂

  11. Jane
    12.06.2016

    This was so good i made it last night, used soy milk instead almond milk and also added some shaved dark chocolate on the top, it was delicious
    Thanks for posting!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.08.2016

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  12. Kendrick from furiousgrill.com
    12.05.2016

    Great recipe,
    It looks amazing and so easy to make.
    I am going to make it tomorrow.
    I think it will be delicious.
    Thank You!

  13. Victoria from foodieforthought.co.uk
    12.05.2016

    This sounds fabulous, I love the idea of the coconut whip!

  14. Perfect looking hot chocolate. Love that you added maca and cinnamon…two of my favorite add-ins as well. Will be making this soon!

  15. Vanilla from itsmevanilla.blogspot.sg
    12.04.2016

    So yummy! I will try to find maca powder next time i shop. Os there anyore maca recipies?

    • Lori
      12.24.2017

      ‘ve found organic maca powder at Trader Joes and most health food stores carry it as well (Natural Grocers, Whole Foods)

  16. Vicky from dalton-banks.co.uk
    12.04.2016

    These looks like such a luxurious hot chocolate! I’m definitely going to be making this on a cold Sunday like today!

  17. Cindy
    12.03.2016

    Oooooooh and add a dash of chipotle or cayenne and maybe the tiniest smidge of orange zest….. I am ON IT!!!!

  18. It definitely feels like December where I am!! (Canada, haha)
    This looks fanastic, will definitely be trying it out soon 🙂

  19. GiGi Eats from gigieatscelebrities.com
    12.02.2016

    This sounds and looks SENSATIONAL!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.