Nourishing honey sweetened hot chocolate?!
I have fond childhood memories of my grandma making hot chocolate for me {she called it hot cocoa}. When I would visit her, she would make me hot cocoa every morning as soon as I woke up. It was such a special treat and I always knew she made it for me with lots of love.
I want my girls to be able to enjoy hot chocolate the way I did as a little girl. But I'm not okay with the mainstream packaged versions or the kind made with syrups or powders.
All of the mainstream kinds of hot chocolate are full of refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. No thanks!
My version uses nourishing ingredients and is heated at a low temperature so it retains most of the beneficial nutrients.
Both Little Love and Tiny Love are fond of nourishing honey sweetened hot chocolate just like me. It is a favorite in our home during the colder months and holiday months.
This nourishing honey sweetened hot chocolate is the perfect treat on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning too!
Nourishing Honey Sweetened Hot Chocolate
Nourishing Honey Sweetened Hot Chocolate
This real food Nourishing Honey Sweetened Hot Chocolate is chocolaty and comforting like the old fashioned kind we all grew up with. This version has lots of optional nourishing add-ins.
Ingredients
- 3 cups raw/organic/grass-fed whole milk
- 3 tablespoon cocoa powder (<< this is the fair-trade cocoa I use) or cacao powder
- 2 tablespoon mild, light colored raw honey (<< I use this honey)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a medium-size saucepan and gently heat over low heat for about 5-7 minutes or until desired temperature. Make sure to vigorously whisk from time to time to combine all ingredients - this is easiest to do once the honey has melted.
- Serve immediately and top with optional homemade honey sweetened whipped cream or homemade marshmallows.
Notes
You Will Need: Measuring Spoons, Measuring Cup, Medium-Size Saucepan, Whisk
- Recipe can easily be doubled.
- Dairy-Free Option: Substitute full-fat coconut milk for the raw milk. I use this BPA free organic coconut milk that has no added guar gum.
- If using cacao powder, I've found it's easier to add the cacao powder, honey and vanilla to a small bowl and mix it up until it forms a chocolate paste - this helps remove any cacao powder lumps. Once the chocolate paste is made, add it to the warmed milk in the saucepan and stir to fully combine. I love this organic cacao powder brand and this organic cacao powder too.
Optional Nourishing Add-Ins:
- Pasture Butter - yes butter! It's absolutely delicious, creamy and rich. I add about 1 tablespoon of this healthy fat to mine. I like this + this brand. Once the butter has melted into the hot chocolate, vigorously whisk it so it mixes into the warming drink.
- Grass-fed Collagen - I use this because it's high in protein, dissolves in liquid and does not alter the flavor. It's known for having gut-healing properties and for supporting bone and teeth health. I add about 2 tablespoons or 1 scoop (or more) which equals about 11 grams of protein. I love this grass-fed collagen because it's the only certified pesticide-free brand on the market. My family has been using it for over 5 years. Use my link and code NOURISH10 for 10% off!
- Cinnamon - this makes a lovely addition too. I love this organic cinnamon that supports the protection of the orangutan. I use about ¼ teaspoon for the whole batch, use a whisk to mix it in.
- Celtic Sea Salt - a little pinch of salt tastes delicious and adds a little bit of savory to the sweet. It also adds a small amount of extra nutrients and minerals. Unrefined sea salt is actually known for supporting your health (table salt is not). This is my absolute favorite brand. I usually add just a pinch of sea salt, about 1/16 of a teaspoon (I don't measure it, I just sprinkle a dash in).
- Grass-fed Gelatin - instead of the collagen. I only use gelatin when I'm not using collagen and when I want a foamy "marshmallowy" top. To get the delicious thick foam on top, place heated hot chocolate in a high-powered blender, add desired amount of gelatin (I usually add 1-2 tablespoons) and blend for at least 25 seconds. Pour into cup and enjoy all of that yummy foam. My kids love it this way. I love this brand of grass-fed gelatin. It has the same benefits as the collagen listed above and has a good amount of protein. Use my link and code NOURISH10 for 10% off!
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 9g
This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Are you on Pinterest? I pin lots of yummy real food recipes + more there. I have a board just for Gluten Free Treats and Beverages too! Come follow along.
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michaelagrubbs
This is DELICIOUS!!! Thanks for posting this!!
Emily Sunwell
Thank you 🙂
suzyhomemaker
I love how easy this looks and that there is only a few ingredients. I can't wait to make it!
Emily Sunwell
I hope you enjoy it! It is so simple, and the nice things is it's not a science, so really you can add any amounts of the cacao or honey, you can alter it completely to your liking 🙂 Take care.
Miz Helen
This looks so delicious and a great treat! Thank you so much for sharing your great recipe with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you will have a fabulous week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Melynda
Honey hot chocolate sounds delicious, thanks for sharing with the Hearth and Soul.
Emily Sunwell
Thanks Miz Helen! Hope you have a fabulous week too!
Emily Sunwell
Thanks Melynda and thanks for hosting 🙂
Linda
That looks so delicious and I bet it would be just as good with a milk substitute. Thanks for sharing it at Gluten-Free Wednesdays!
Emily Sunwell
Thanks Linda, thanks for hosting too.
Chris
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing the hot chocolate recipe with us. Sounds delicious. Will have to try it this winter and it just might become a favourite!! I recently found your blog and am now a follower. Please pop on over and visit my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. I would love that. Hugs, Chris
Lorie
This is the only recipe I've used since you posted this! I now add a pinch of sea salt and a tsp or 2 coconut oil - yum!
Emily Sunwell
Thank you Lorie!!! That sounds lovely with the added sea salt and coconut oil too. Take care.
Sherri Lynn
This is amazing! I agree with the other readers its so yummy!!! Our family can't stop making it now that its cold out. Its a great substitute for Swiss miss which is chock full of sugar. Thank you so much for posting and sharing your recipe!
Emily Sunwell
Thank you, you're so kind. We love it too, it's a favorite when the weather gets colder. Best wishes to you and your family 🙂
The Organic Christian
We get our Raw milk from Claravale as well. I thought I recognized that bottle! lol We get ours through real food bay area.com for anyone that's interested and can't find it in a store. Sadly I can't have the milk *sobs* I wonder if this would be good with coconut milk. mmmmm
Emily Sunwell
Coconut milk would be delicious! I've heard that's a great resource in the Bay Area for real food 🙂
Thanks for stopping by! Be well.
Brian & Abbey
Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.
Emily Sunwell
Hope you enjoy it!
Renee Kohley
I love your idea to mix the cacao and honey before you put it in! What a great idea! I am doing that next time! It is definitely hot cocoa season! Pretty picture too!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks Renee! I bet the girls would love to mix up the cacao and honey, Little Love enjoys it.
Masha Ellis
This is the right inspiration at the right time - my daughters flask needs something warm for a forrest day in her Kindergarten. Great idea to mix honey and cocoa - we always used hot water, but the honey method doesn't dilute the milk! Do you heat the milk to just 40 C to keep it raw and keep honey benefits?
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I hope she has a great day on forrest day. I don't really worry about the actual temperature, I don't own a thermometer either. I have always read that even if you're heating your raw milk, you're still getting a better quality milk. To be honest I don't always use raw milk because it's not always in our budget. But when I do use it, I just warm it for longer over a low temperature - so it never boils, just gets it to a very warm drinking temperature. The WAPF site says, "Gentle heating is probably okay, such as putting cheese in an omelet, warming milk (but not more than you can touch it without burning)."
Megan Stevens
Delicious!!! I want a mug full right now. 🙂 great recipe:)
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thank you!
linda spiker
Hot chocolate is my one and only vice:)...well one of three maybe...
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
LOL you crack me up Linda. I sure love it too.
Kim
This looks so good! I can't wait to try it. 🙂
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks! I hope you get to.
Marla
Hi Emily,
This brings such sweet memories of my childhood and the hot chocolate that my Mother used to make. This recipes sounds so delicious and I love that you use grass fed organic Milk. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays Pinned & tweeted!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I love that you have special memories like that about hot chocolate too 🙂 Thank you so much for the pin and tweet!
Marla
Hi Emily,
Just a note to let you know that I have chosen your post as one of my features for this weeks Real Food Fridays blog hop that goes live every Thursday @ 7pm EST. Thank you sharing and being part of our mission to make it a healthier world.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thank you so much Maria! I really appreciate it. 🙂
Megan
Why have I never thought of this????? Great idea.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
It's awesome stuff! I hop you get to try some Megan! 🙂
Elle Kirschenbaum
I swear you created this recipe for me. This clearly beats coffee!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
LOL yes it's beat coffee any day for sure! xo
Tessa
It’s amazing how many healthy goodies you can get in a cup of hot cocoa!! Some excellent ideas on the add ins and beauty in the simplicity!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thank you Tessa! It's one of my favorite things, so I try to pack as much as I can in it. 🙂