There’s nothing more comforting than a warm cup of hot cocoa on a cold day. While it’s a true winter classic, most american families rely on chemical-laden powdered hot chocolate mix or store-bought chocolate syrup to make it themselves. (Updated Jan 24, 2024)
You don’t need to use dairy or expensive chocolate to make the best hot cocoa, all you need is just a few superfood ingredients you probably already have a home.
Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe
This delicious recipe serves 2 cups of creamy goodness!
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups of coconut milk
- 1/2 cup of alkaline water
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
- 1/2 teaspoon raw maca powder
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered turmeric
- a pinch of black pepper
- honey to taste
- 3 dashes of pure cinnamon
- a pinch of cayenne pepper
- a pinch of Himalayan salt
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan, whisk coconut milk and water over medium heat.
- Just before it boils, remove from heat.
- Place into a tempered glass blender.
- Sift cocoa and maca powder through a fine mesh strainer and into the blender.
- Add all the remaining ingredients.
- Blend at high speed until the milk gets nice and frothy.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Ingredient Benefits
Coconut oil and coconut milk promote heart and digestive health (1,2). Together. they regulate cholesterol to help prevent cardiovascular disease (3,4).
Cinnamon reduces blood glucose concentration and enhances insulin sensitivity, which can help assist with weight loss and help manage diabetes (5).
Cinnamaldehyde, an active compound found in cinnamon, is also believed to suppress colon cancer cells (6) and may be effective against human liver cancer cells (7).
Turmeric is a spice with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (8). It’s also well-known for fighting cancer (9). Taking it with black pepper increases the effectiveness of the spice by as much as 2000% (10). You can learn more about how to optimize turmeric absorption here.
Cayenne pepper fights inflammation (11), boosts metabolism (12) and prevents complications from diabetes (13).
Cocoa‘s antioxidant properties offer neuron protection and enhance cognition and positive mood. It also lessens allergic responses and fight bacterial overgrowth in the intestines (14).
Maca is comonly used to treat anemia and chronic fatigue syndrome. It also boosts energy, stamina, athletic performance, memory, and fertility.
Women can use maca for female hormone imbalance, menstrual problems, and to lessen symptoms of menopause (15).