Make a healthier holiday hot cocoa at home for all diets in festive flavors such as mint, gingerbread, Irish, and mocha. This dairy free and gluten free holiday hot cocoa recipe can be made in a blender and heated in the microwave or stove.
Making healthy holiday hot cocoa with a blender, making it as easy to make as a smoothie. The only difference is you heat the milk before you blend. I make my version dairy free, vegan and gluten free - you can adjust for your diet by the milk you choose.
Depending on your chosen holiday, this Christmas hot cocoa recipe results in a decadent creamy drink that has all the chocolate flavor of your favorite chocolate treat or cocktail, but few of the calories and only as much sweetener as you decide. Enjoy a cup of holiday hot chocolate with my cosmic brownie cookies, my applesauce chocolate chip cookies or soft chocolate sugar cookies.
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Is Holiday Hot Cocoa?
Commercial instant hot chocolate powders are typically made with refined sugar and contain other preservatives. It's healthier to make homemade holiday hot chocolate from scratch using unsweetened cocoa powder.
Cocoa powder is rich in phytonutrients but low in fat and sugar, and packed with healthy nutrients. Studies have also found that cocoa helps to regulate energy use and metabolism while also increasing feelings of fullness. Another hot chocolate recipe you might enjoy is my single serve microwave hot chocolate with milk.
Ingredients
- Milk. Use almond milk or oat milk if you’d like to make your healthy hot chocolate dairy free, vegan, and as low calorie as possible.
- Cocoa powder.
- Maple Syrup. Start small and work up. Or add half a date to the blender or use date paste.
- Vanilla extract.
- Flavorings: Cinnamon, pepper, salt, a small amount of dark chocolate or chocolate chips.
See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
For more detail, visit the complete and printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.
Step 1: Heat the milk in a heat-safe mug in the microwave for 1 minute. Add it to a small blender jar, and add in cocoa powder, maple syrup, salt and vanilla. Also add any flavorings you choose.
Step 2: Blend and serve. If you want it warmer, re-microwave another 30 seconds. Optionally, you can add a dollop of whipped cream on top.
Want to make only one cup? Visit my single serve microwave hot chocolate with milk recipe made in the microwave.
Holiday Hot Chocolate Flavors
- Mint Hot Chocolate. Add ½ teaspoon mint extract.
- Gingerbread Hot Chocolate. Add 1 teaspoon gingerbread spices.
- Irish Hot Chocolate. Add a tablespoon or two of Irish Whiskey, or my homemade Bailey's Irish Cream.
- Date-sweetened Hot Chocolate. Instead of maple syrup, add a date.
- Mocha Hot Chocolate. Add 1 teaspoon instant coffee.
Recipe Tips
- Don't overheat the milk or let it cool if you do before adding it to the blender so the blender lid doesn't pop up due to steam.
- Boost the chocolate flavor by adding an extra half tablespoon of cocoa powder to the recipe.
- Be sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder; do not use cocoa mix with any added ingredients.
FAQS
Hot cocoa is typically made with cocoa powder, whereas hot chocolate is made with melted chocolate.
National hot chocolate day is celebrated in the United States of America on January 31st.
Hot cocoa made with cocoa powder supports weight loss by regulating energy, reducing appetite and inflammation and helping a person feel full.
More Hot Drinks
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📖 Recipe
Healthy Holiday Hot Cocoa (dairy free)
Equipment
- microwave
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk almond milk or milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon cocoa, unsweetened
- ½ tablespoon chocolate chips or cacao nibs
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup or a Medjool date
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
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Instructions
Make it in a blender
- In a heat-safe mug, add milk and microwave for 1 minutes.1 cup milk
- Add the warm milk and the rest of ingredients to a blender jar. Blend for 30 seconds or less.1 tablespoon cocoa, unsweetened, ½ tablespoon chocolate chips or cacao nibs, ½ tablespoon maple syrup, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon salt
Make it in a cup
- Add all ingredients to a cup, microwave uncovered for 1 minute, then stir with a spoon or frother. Pour and enjoy!
- Either way, pour the drink in a mug and serve.
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