After a frosty winter walk on a blustery day there are few ways more helpful to thaw out chilled hands and warm up the spirit than fixing a cup of hot chocolate.
The warmth of the drink thaws out the hands and the taste of chocolate melts the spirit.
Main Hot Chocolate Ingredients
Fixing a healthy version of Hot Cocoa to enjoy can be made easier by picking healthy choices from the three main ingredients, milk, cocoa and sweetener.
- Milk - low fat, skim, soy or rice milk
- Cocoa Powder - 70% dark chocolate or cocoa powder
- Sweetener – Organic Cane Sugar, Granulated Sugar or Splenda (sugar substitute)
People can adjust the ingredients used to meet their particular health needs or food preferences, accommodating diabetics, those who are lactose intolerance or vegan.
The nutritional information will vary depending on the ingredients used.
Extra Hot Chocolate Flavorings and Stirrers
A cup of Hot Chocolate can be made extraordinary by adding in some extra flavorings or using a special stirrer or stirring stick.
- Extra Flavorings – Mint, Orange or Maple Extract, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
- Stirrers – Cinnamon Stick or Candy Cane?
While the candy cane may not be the healthiest option, or the lowest calorie option, it may perhaps be the most fun option.
The most important thing to remember about creating Hot Cocoa is to savor the flavor of the hot chocolate and the moment.
Recipes
Healthy Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk – low-fat, skim, soy, or rice milk
2 heaping tablespoons 70 % dark chocolate cocoa powder
2 teaspoon sweetener – Organic cane sugar, granulated sugar or sugar substitute
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling).
2. Add cocoa powder and sweetener and whisk to combine ingredients.
3. Whisk the cocoa powder and sweetener until well-blended.
4. Pour into favorite mugs or cups.
5. Enjoy.
2 servings
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Healthy Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk – low-fat, skim, soy, or rice milk
2 heaping tablespoons 70 % dark chocolate cocoa powder
2 teaspoon sweetener – Organic cane sugar, granulated sugar or sugar substitute
½ teaspoon Cinnamon
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling).
2. Add cocoa powder, cinnamon and sweetener and whisk to combine ingredients.
3. Whisk the cocoa powder, cinnamon and sweetener until well-blended.
4. Pour into favorite mugs or cups.
5. Enjoy.
2 servings
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Healthy Minty Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk – low-fat, skim, soy, or rice milk
2 heaping tablespoons 70 % dark chocolate cocoa powder
2 teaspoon sweetener – Organic cane sugar, granulated sugar or sugar substitute
1/4 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling).
2. Add cocoa powder, peppermint extract and sweetener and whisk to combine ingredients.
3. Whisk the cocoa powder, peppermint extract and sweetener until well-blended.
4. Pour into favorite mugs or cups.
5. Enjoy
2 servings
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Healthy Hot Orange Chocolate
2 cups milk – low-fat, skim, soy, or rice milk
2 heaping tablespoons 70 % dark chocolate cocoa powder
2 teaspoon sweetener – Organic cane sugar, granulated sugar or sugar substitute
1/4 teaspoon Orange Extract or Orange Peel
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling).
2. Add cocoa powder, orange extract or orange peel and sweetener and whisk to combine ingredients.
3. Whisk the cocoa powder, orange extract or orange peel and sweetener until well-blended.
4. Pour into favorite mugs or cups.
5. Enjoy.
2 servings
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Healthy Cinnamon Stick Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk – low-fat, skim, soy, or rice milk
2 heaping tablespoons 70 % dark chocolate cocoa powder
2 teaspoon sweetener – Organic cane sugar, granulated sugar or sugar substitute
1 Cinnamon Stick
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling).
2. Add cocoa powder and sweetener and whisk to combine ingredients.
3. Whisk the cocoa powder and sweetener until well-blended.
4. Pour into favorite mugs or cups.
5. Add Cinnamon Stick.
6. Stir and Enjoy.
2 servings
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Fun Peppermint Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk – low-fat, skim, soy, or rice milk
2 heaping tablespoons 70 % dark chocolate cocoa powder
1 teaspoon sweetener – Organic cane sugar, granulated sugar or sugar substitute
1 Candy Cane
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling).
2. Add cocoa powder and sweetener and whisk to combine ingredients.
3. Whisk the cocoa powder and sweetener until well-blended.
4. Pour into favorite mugs or cups.
5. Add Candy Cane.
6. Stir and Enjoy.
2 servings
Additional Resources:
Harris J. 2007. Vegan Hot Chocolate from Scratch: Three Easy Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Recipes. Food & Drink. Vegetarian Recipies, Suite 101.
Dyer K. 2008. Chocolate can be a Healthy Treat: The Heart and Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Powder. Nutrition. Food Facts, Suite 101.
© Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, CWS
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