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Healthy Hot Chocolate [5 Ways]

December 1, 2023

Looking for a healthy hot chocolate recipe? Look no further than these 5 healthy versions including banana hot chocolate, peppermint hot chocolate, chai hot chocolate and more! All made with healthy, nutritious ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!

Looking for a healthy hot chocolate recipe? Look no further than these 5 healthy recipes made from ingredients you already have in your kitchen!

I vividly remember coming in from playing outside in the snow to begging for a mug of hot chocolate afterwards. Those packets of powdered who-knows-what + extra marshmallows anyone?! That was living!

I thought it would be a fun little tribute to my childhood to create five versions of healthy hot chocolate (I won’t be buying packets of swiss miss anytime soon!) to share with you. Have no fear, these will not skimp on flavor or sweetness and take you back to those rosy cheek, runny nose days of your childhood!

Why Make These Recipes:

These hot cocoa recipes are all packed with healthy ingredients. Here’s why you should try them!

  • Dairy-Free – by using coconut milk or almond milk all of these recipes are dairy-free and so long as you stick with maple syrup (though honey will also work) they’re fully vegan too!
  • Kid-Approved – my todddler says these taste amazing! She particularly likes the banana hot chocolate.
  • Ready in minutes – especially if you prepare the cocoa and spices beforehand you can have your healthy hot chocolate on the table in minutes!

Ingredients in Healthy Hot Chocolate

All of these healthy hot chocolate recipes use a similar blend of ingredients. 1 cup of dairy-free milk to 1 tablespoon of raw cacao (cocoa powder can also be substituted). Each version has it’s own twist. Here’s what you’ll need:

Vanilla Bean Coconut Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1 vanilla bean, scraped
  • 1 tbsp coconut butter
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Chai-Spiced Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1 tsp chai spice mix (1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cloves, 1/4 tsp ginger, pinch of cardamom)
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Banana Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 medium ripe banana
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao

Mexican Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of sea salt
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Peppermint Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

How to Make Healthy Hot Chocolate

Follow along as I make these 5 healthy hot chocolate recipes with step-by-step guidance!

Easy Swaps + Variations

  • Swap the milk – I’ve included instructions for using either coconut milk or almond milk in each of these recipes. However, you can easily replace with any type of milk including both dairy and plant-based milk options.
  • Replace raw cacao with cocoa powder – I like using raw cacao powder for its health benefits but cocoa powder can easily be used in place.
  • Use honey for maple syrup – I’ve opted to use maple syrup as the sweetener to keep these healthy hot chocolate recipes vegan but you can replace with honey if desired.
  • Use vanilla extract in place of vanilla bean – if you don’t have vanilla bean you can use 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract instead.
  • Feel free to froth your milk – if you’d like to you can easily froth your milk before mixing but its not necessary.
  • Top with whipped cream – though this kind of defeats the purpose of healthy hot chocolate, for a sweet treat you can top your hot cocoa with whipped cream and chocolate shavings!

Storage Instructions

For the dry ingredients you can easily combine them and store them for up to 6 months in an airtight container or mason jar. Mix with wet ingredients before serving.

Ideally these healthy hot chocolate recipes will be consumed immediately since they taste best while still hot!

 5 healthy hot chocolate recipes including this chai tea hot chocolate with delicious flavor and healthy ingredients!

More Healthy Drink Recipes

Now for the recipes…

Print

Healthy Hot Chocolate {5 Ways}

Looking for a healthy hot chocolate recipe? Look no further than these 5 healthy versions including banana hot chocolate, peppermint hot chocolate, chai hot chocolate and more! All made with healthy, nutritious ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!

  • Author: Davida Lederle
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 7 minutes
  • Yield: 1 serving 1x
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Cook
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

Vanilla Bean Coconut Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1 vanilla bean, scraped
  • 1 tbsp coconut butter
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Chai-Spiced Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1 tsp chai spice mix (1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cloves, 1/4 tsp ginger, pinch of cardamom)
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Banana Hot Chocolate*:

  • 1 medium ripe banana
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao

Mexican Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of sea salt
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Peppermint Hot Chocolate:

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

For all recipes:

  1. Begin by adding your almond or coconut milk to a small pot and bring to a slow roll over medium heat.
  2. Add in all ingredients and whisk until mix-ins are well combined with milk.
  3. Serve immediately.

*For the banana hot chocolate:

  1. Blend banana and coconut milk in the blender
  2. Continue with instructions listed above

Keywords: healthy hot chocolate, healthy hot chocolate recipes

Looking for a healthy hot chocolate recipe? Look no further than these 5 healthy versions including banana hot chocolate, peppermint hot chocolate, chai hot chocolate and more! All made with healthy, nutritious ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!

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  • Reply
    Veronica
    November 7, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    Can I use unsweetened cocoa powder instead of raw cacao?

    • Reply
      Davida Lederle
      November 7, 2020 at 10:29 pm

      yes- absolutely!

  • Reply
    Denise Nix
    January 1, 2019 at 9:01 pm

    As I am going through the Institute of Integrated Nutrition, I am trying to come up with good replacements for comfort foods. Well, I just made the banana ho cho and love it. Thank you and Happy 2019!

  • Reply
    Sharon
    July 22, 2018 at 11:21 pm

    We tried the Mexican version of this and it was wonderful! It was so nice to drink it and not feel like I was drinking something totally artificial and unhealthy. It was smooth, too! Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply
      Davida @ The Healthy Maven
      July 27, 2018 at 1:47 pm

      So glad you enjoyed!!

  • Reply
    Krystal Herrera
    March 13, 2018 at 4:00 am

    Thank you for sharing! I love chocolates but it will be all worth if it is healthy. Anyways, great post! I took a note of this recipes. Cheers!

    • Reply
      Davida @ The Healthy Maven
      March 13, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      Thank you!! Enjoy!!

  • Reply
    Eme
    March 3, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    I love hot chocolate!, so I can’t wait to try these healthy versions, they sound so delicious. Thanks for sharing

    Eme | http://www.peoniesandpassionfruit.com

    • Reply
      Davida @ The Healthy Maven
      March 13, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      Hope you find a recipe you enjoy!!

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