A five-ingredient, paleo hot chocolate recipe perfect to cozy up with. This peppermint hot cocoa is made with minimal ingredients and sweetened only with maple syrup. It can be made in the slow cooker or on the stove.
Keep warm this winter with a rich and creamy cup of your favorite hot cocoa.
Not only does this paleo hot chocolate give you a cup of comfort on a cold day, but it also gives you a nutrient boost!
Learn more about the difference between raw cacao powder and cocoa powder and why it's a crucial ingredient in your pantry.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, this homemade hot chocolate makes it so that I never feel bad about curling up with a mug of it. It's easy to adapt and always delicious.
Plus, you can actually whip up the ingredients in a jar, pop a bow on it and hand out super cute, homemade Christmas gifts!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This dairy-free hot chocolate isn't just delicious. It also comes with a host of healthy perks too!
- Lower in sugar than store-bought
- Dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and vegan
- Contains calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants
- If using fortified milk it will boost Vit. D intake
- It’s creamy and indulgent
- Can be made stovetop or in the slow cooker making it perfect for parties!
Ingredients
This homemade hot chocolate uses only five ingredients (that you probably already have on hand if you have a well-stocked gluten-free pantry!).
Almond milk: Using plant-based milk as the base (almond or homemade hemp milk work the best) though oat milk works in a pinch. Oat milk just tends to come out a bit thinner than almond milk.
Maple syrup: Make sure to opt for real maple syrup for the best flavor, the man-made, corn syrup maple syrup won't have the same deliciousness. Likewise, coconut palm sugar would work here too.
This also helps create a rich chocolate flavor and keeps the processed sugar intake to a minimum.
Full-fat coconut milk: added as a dairy-free alternative (here are tips on how to go dairy-free) to create a creamy, decadent consistency. Make sure to grab the coconut milk in a can (the thick, white cream part) and not the carton.
Extracts: vanilla and peppermint extract are both used. If you prefer a sweeter taste for your hot cocoa, you can use Vanilla Stevia which brings an amazing flavor out.
Raw Cacao powder: probably one of my favorite ingredients in my cupboards. It is the least processed of chocolate powders and comes with a host of healthy benefits.
- 40 times the antioxidants than blueberries
- the biggest source of plant-based iron
- It contains a host of minerals
- more calcium than cow's milk.
However, given it is the least processed of the two, it is also the slightly more bitter one.
Personally, I use raw cacao powder for absolutely everything. However, if you want a sweeter paleo hot cocoa recipe, opt for cocoa powder instead.
Expert Tips
Full fat coconut milk from a can will make this hot cocoa recipe much richer and indulgent.
It will thicken up while cooking in the slow cooker and slightly separate. Just whisk it and it'll be smooth again.
Make sure to keep the slow cooker on low when cooking to prevent the milk from burning.
How To Make It
There are two ways to make this paleo hot chocolate: stovetop or in the slow cooker.
For the slow cooker:
Combine all the ingredients into the slow cooker and whisk well. Heat on low for 2-3 hours whisking once or twice to combine everything.
To make it stovetop:
Step 1: Add all the ingredients into a small pot adding in the cacao powder last.
Step 2: Heat over low to medium heat and whisk once the dairy-free milk becomes warm.
Gut Healing Add-In
I am always looking for ways to make recipes more gut-friendly. Since our immune system stems from our gut, this is a top priority to me. If you want to add a nutrient boost to this dairy-free hot cocoa recipe, add in a hint of collagen.
Collagen is a protein in its purest form. It is the structural protein found in bones, ligaments, and joints. From a nutrient perspective, it helps fill you up, improve your skin and nails, heal your gut, and much much more.
Personally, I use collagen powder to give things an extra boost. I mix it into yogurts, oatmeal, and smoothies when I'm not using protein powder (learn how to build healthier smoothies).
If you want to ease bump up the healing benefits of this dairy-free, peppermint hot chocolate recipe, simply whisk a pack of collagen into it when boiling and enjoy!
How To Store It
Leftover paleo hot cocoa can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days,
To reheat it, place it in a small pot over low heat and stir every couple of minutes until heated through.
To reheat it in the slow cooker, pour the leftovers in and turn the slow cooker to warm.
Topping Paleo Hot Chocolate
This hot chocolate recipe can be made into anything you like! Top it with any of the following ideas and celebrate in style:
- Whole30 whipped cream
- Dairy-free caramel sauce on top of the whipped cream
- Dairy-free chocolate ganache on top of whipped cream
- Crushed candy canes
- Marshmellows
Frequently Asked Questions About Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate
The kind of milk you choose will affect the flavor and texture of the hot chocolate. For creamier hot chocolate, opt for hemp or cashew milk. While almond milk is an easy choice, it will cause the hot chocolate to be less smooth.
Adding peppermint extract to hot cocoa is an easy and fun way to make the drink a bit more festive. However, it's not essential. Instead, you can use vanilla extract if you're looking to add a new flavor.
It's important while pregnant to monitor caffeine intake and strive not to consume more than 200 milligrams per day. Hot chocolate made with cacao powder has roughly 12 milligrams per tablespoon of cacao powder making it a safe choice for pregnancy. However, expecting moms will want to watch or omit the peppermint extract in later stages of pregnancy as peppermint can cause a reduction in the production of breastmilk.
Keeping cacao powder at a high heat point will destroy some of its wicked benefits. This is why it's important to whisk in the cacao powder quickly, and not keep it at a boil.
Other Christmas Recipes You'll Love
- Hot chocolate bombs
- Candy cane fudge
- Candy cane paleo donuts
- Almond flour sugar cookies
- Healthy caramel popcorn
- Coconut flour sugar cookies
- Peppermint patties
- Peanut butter and jam thumbprint cookies
- Salted chocolate fudge
- White chocolate fudge
- Healthy dessert recipes
Creamy, Paleo Hot Chocolate Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups almond milk
- 5 tablespoons cacao powder or cocoa powder for a sweeter taste
- 66 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup coconut cream see notes
- ½ teaspoons peppermint extract
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- In a small pot, heat the almond milk and coconut cream over medium heat.
- Once the milk is starting to really warm up, whisk in the cacao powder, syrup, and vanilla until no clumps remain.
- You want the milk to heat but not boil so be patient! Once mixed, add in the peppermint.
- Heat a minute or two more until creamy looking without letting it burn.
- Remove from heat, top with more coconut cream or crushed candy caned, and enjoy!
In The Slow Cooker
- Pour the liquid ingredients into the slow cooker and whisk together.
- Whisk in the cacao powder. It will look clumpy and bubbly.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours whisking every hour or so.
Notes
- Make sure to use coconut cream for a creamier texture. Coconut milk and powder may work but not as well.
- The taste is very much like dark chocolate. If you want it sweeter, add in extra maple syrup to taste.
- Make the hot cacao more indulgent and top it with 2-minute coconut whipped cream
- Make sure not to actually boil the milk or keep it there for long once the cacao powder is added in.
- The recipe is best enjoyed immediately after making. However, it will store in the fridge for 2-3 days in a sealed jar.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
A healthy, homemade, dairy-free hot cocoa recipe that's creamy and indulgent. It's the only hot chocolate I feel comfortable giving my kids as it contains nourishing ingredients while still managing to taste delicious.
Thus, it's become a tasty treat on a winters day... and even more delicious with a shot of dairy-free Bailey's 😉
Shelby S says
I love how creamy this comes out and having it in the slow cooker means I can sip all day!