This healthy hot chocolate is rich, creamy, low in carbs & calories, & dairy-free. It’s the perfect vegan cocoa recipe for a chilly night in.
Just over 2 years ago, I found out I was pregnant with our little girl. The holidays happened, and this mom-to-be became obsessed with hot chocolate.
So much so, that I’d made it for myself every night, and my husband even themed my Christmas gifts around hot cocoa. It was my favorite after-dinner treat, and I’d be so sad (like, pregancy sad) on nights I didn’t get my creamy cup of hot cocoa.
I’ve had those pregnancy memories in mind while testing this recipe, and have thought to myself, “Would pregnant Megan like this”? The answer is 100% yes!
This dairy-free, healthy hot chocolate recipe is creamy, simple, and really delicious! It’s perfect for the holidays but just as perfect for a cozy night in, too!
Is it healthy to drink hot chocolate?
It depends on the hot chocolate you’re making! If using a premade mix from the store, that hot cocoa will probably have quite a bit of refined sugars and unnecessary carbohydrates and additives, which isn’t that healthy on a daily basis.
To make a healthier hot chocolate, it’s best to use ingredients that are lower in sugar and artificial ingredients, like unsweetened cocoa powder, unsweetened almond milk, and a touch of maple syrup. My hot cocoa recipe is not only delicious, it’s healthy too!
Is hot chocolate better with milk or water?
Hot chocolate made with milk is a little more rich and creamy. If you make hot cocoa with water, it isn’t quite as thick and smooth, so it does taste a little watery. This dairy-free hot cocoa recipe lands right in between water and milk, because it calls for almond milk. This gives it a little more richness without all the calories.
What makes hot chocolate taste better?
There are so many variations you can make with hot chocolate. You can add any of the following to give it a new and fun taste:
- Marshmallows
- Cinnamon (my favorite!)
- Ginger
- Cayenne pepper
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Peppermint extract
- Almond extract
- Orange extract
- White chocolate chips
- Peanut butter chips
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How many calories and carbs are in a hot chocolate?
A cup of hot cocoa made with storebought hot cocoa mix and 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk is about 190 calories and 34 g of carbohydrates total.
Compared to storebought hot cocoa, this healthy hot chocolate recipe is lower in calories and carbs, at about 126 calories and 19 grams of carbs per cup.
Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe
What makes this hot cocoa recipe so much healthier than storebought mix is the ingredients it uses. A regular packet of storebought hot cocoa mix has 23 grams of sugar, and the first 2 ingredients on the package are sugar and corn syrup.
This dairy-free hot chocolate recipe has 5 simple ingredients: unsweetened almond milk, unsweeted cocoa powder, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and a sprinkle of dairy-free chocolate chips.
Not only that, but each cup provides 3 grams of fiber! That fiber comes from the natural cocoa powder used in this recipe. For a holiday drink, 3 grams of fiber is pretty impressive.
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 126 calories
- Protein: 2 grams
- Sodium: 183 mg
- Carbohydrates: 19 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
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Budget Friendly
This recipe comes out to be about $.88 per cup, which is a bargain for a healthy cup of hot chocolate!
Any additional add in’s such as peppermint extract, orange extract, peppermint extract, or marshmallows (the possibilities are endless!) will obviously cost more.
However, you can substitute the vanilla extract for another extract if you’re wanting to change it up, and that will keep the cost down.
Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Recipe
Healthy Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tsp unsweeteend cocoa powder
- 2 tsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp vegan chocolate chips
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan, bring the almond milk to a simmer over medium heat.
- Reduce the heat to low, whisk in in cocoa powder, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract.
- Continue to heat the hot cocoa on low until the chocolate chips have melted and everything is smooth and well combined.
- Top with marshmallows and a sprinkle of cinnamon!
Notes
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Healthy, dairy-free hot cocoa is one of the easiest recipes you’ll make for the holidays. It’s definitely a crowd pleaser but also is just as delicious on a cozy weekday night!
xoxo Megan
This was great! I used agave instead of maple syrup just because I happened to be out, and it was satisfying with cinnamon and a sprinkle of marshmallows.
I’m so glad you loved it! Agave works great too! 🙂
AMAZING!!!! Thanks, Megan!!! I had to exercise a lot of self control not to make myself two mugs of this stuff in one afternoon. We’ll see how tomorrow goes haha. I used macadamia milk because that’s what was open. Looking forward to trying it with almond milk!