Healthy Hot Chocolate – Delicious Meets Healthy

Rich, creamy, and made with only a handful of ingredients this healthy hot chocolate recipe is the perfect drink to curl up with. Made with cocoa powder and honey, the hot chocolate whips up quickly so that it can warm up you up from the inside out in no time.

Save This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Delicious Meets Healthy.

You’ll never go back to store-bought hot cocoa again once you try this homemade hot chocolate. It’s made with ingredients you already have in the cupboard and has just the right amount of rich chocolate flavor and sweet, comforting taste.

Naturally sweetened with honey, this hot chocolate recipe tastes even better if you add the tiniest pinch of salt to the batch. With your mug in hand, you’ll be ready to curl up in front of the fire and savor every sip.

Looking for more cozy and healthy drinks? Don’t miss my Ginger Lemon Tea and Golden Turmetic Latte – they’re so delicious!

hot chocolate served with whipped topping

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Easy to make: You only need a handful of ingredients to whip it up and you should have most of them already in the house.
Comforting: It’s light and sweet but not too rich. The perfect amount of milk chocolate flavor.
Versatile: Delicious as written but also easy to adapt depending on what you’re craving that day.

Ingredients And Sustitutions

For a full ingredients list with measurements, check the recipe card below.

Milk: Any milk that suits your diet will work here. Just know that plant-based milk won’t have as creamy of a texture unless you opt for some coconut milk. Other dairy-free milk like cashew milk, almond milk or oat milk will work great too.
Dutch cocoa powder: The unsweetened cocoa powder is what gives the drink its rich chocolate flavor. Raw cacao powder can also work here, but you’ll need more sweetener to counter the bitterness.
Honey: Sweet but not overpowering, you can use another sweetener of choice to change the flavor easily enough.
Chocolate: The kind of chocolate you choose will reflect the final taste. Milk chocolate will give a creamier blend, but dark chocolate is for true chocolate lovers.
Vanilla extract: You add in more or less depending on your preference. Know that the higher the quality of the vanilla is, the richer it will become.
Sea salt: A pinch of salt is optional but always brings out the best sweetness and an overall balance in the flavors.

How to Make Healthy Hot Chocolate

mixing cocoa powder and milk in a saucepan

Make a slurry. Whisk together the cocoa powder, honey, and a small amount of milk in a saucepan until smooth.

Add more milk. Stir in the remaining milk and chocolate to the pan.

Add chopped chocolate. Add chopped chocolate and stir everything.

Heat it up. Warm the mixture over medium low heat, whisking constantly, until the chocolate melts and the milk is steaming (but not simmering). Remove from heat and stir in a pinch of salt and vanilla extract.
Taste and adjust. Give it a taste and adjust the sweetness if needed. Serve warm and enjoy!

TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN

Recipe Tips For The Best Healthy Hot Cholate

Do not allow the milk to come to a simmer while melting down the chocolate. Otherwise, your drink will have a bit of a burnt taste to it.
Use a milk you already enjoy on an everyday basis. This way you know what to expect from the flavor.
Once the chocolate is melted, you can mix it all with a handheld frother. This not only combines the ingredients but gives the healthy hot cocoa a frothy, comforting feel.

Recipe Variations

Below are a few ways to adjust the recipe and change the flavor based on what you’re craving that day.

White chocolate: Want a super-rich cup of cocoa? Substitute the chocolate for white chocolate instead.
Toppings: Add a dollop of whipped cream, mini marshmallows, or candy canes to complete the hot chocolate. You can also add a peppermint extract for a festive flavor.
Spices: A sprinkle of cinnamon or chai spice goes a long way. You can even add maca powder for its antioxidants benefits.
Mocha: Add a shot of coffee to make a chocolate mocha drink. You could even top it with shaved chocolate too.

Storing and Reheating

Refrigerate: If you have leftover hot chocolate, let it cool before storing it in a mason jar in the fridge. It will last up to 3 days.
Reheat: To reheat it, pour it back into a saucepan and heat it over low on the stove until warmed through. You may wish to add an extra splash of milk to thin it out.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Sure! To make the healthy hot chocolate dairy-free, simply opt for plant-based milk in place of traditional and ensure your chocolate is dairy-free as well.

Can I use a sweetener different from honey?

Of course, maple syrup, organic cane sugar, or stevia can all be used to sweeten the hot chocolate recipe. Just know that each one brings with it a unique flavor.

How to make vegan hot chocolate?

Make sure you use dairy-free milk and make sure your chocolate is dairy-free too. And for the sweetener, you can use maple syrup instead of honey.

More Warm Beverages

If you enjoyed this Healthy Hot Chocolate recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 2