Dairy Free Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Naturally, cold weather means warm drinks (like butt kicking teas!)! The exception to this rule is green smoothies of course because with so many nutrients in them you can’t not drink them 😛. But back to the hot chocolate… This hot chocolate is not only warm, creamy and delicious but healthy too!
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As a kid I loved hot chocolate (who doesn’t?!). You know the one I’m talking about. The instant, pre packaged one with those little marshmallows that expand? It was one of my absolute favorite things about winter (well that and candy canes!).
Unfortunately though, those packages contain a whole lot of crap and a lack of any possible nutrition. To top it off, as I grew older I found the taste watery and not delicious at all (this was actually pretty devastating).
One of the problems with anything pre-packaged is that it often consists of poor quality ingredients and far too much sugar. Not only does this do nothing to boost your health but the excess sugar causes poor focus, weight gain, and hunger. For me, it’s not really worth the poor taste 😛
This peppermint chocolate has none of those issues!
Not only is it extremely creamy but it contains real, quality nutrients so it’s healthy too!
Believe it or not, I actually have chocolate every day. Yup, you read that right! But before you go binge on caramel bars let’s clarify that.
I have healthy, homemade chocolate every day.
Cacao powder is probably one of my favorite ingredients in my cupboards. Not only does it allow me get my chocolate fixes but it’s utterly healthy!
Cacao powder has 40 times the antioxidants that blueberries does and is the biggest source of plant based iron. It contains a host of minerals as well and more calcium than cow’s milk.
When mixed with a sweetener it creates a delicious and healthy chocolate!
And even better is that this dairy free hot chocolate contains no processed sugar. I like to use pure maple syrup to sweeten the recipe as it helps create a rich chocolate flavor and keeps the sugar intake to a minimum.
This recipe is also dairy free as it’s made with my all time favorite alternative: coconut milk! Coconut milk is not only a great fat source but it makes everything just a bit sweeter.
Warning: I love coconut milk! But if you’re not used to it, coconut can act as a laxative for a lot of people (with the quarter cup in this recipe you should be fine)
This dairy free recipe contains a mix of both almond milk and coconut milk. I’m not a huge fan of dairy and both of these milks together help give the hot chocolate a smooth and ultra creamy texture.
This recipe is not only delicious but healthy. It’s the only hot chocolate I feel comfortable giving baby bear. It contains healthy, nourishing ingredients while still managing to taste delicious and comforting. Thankfully, baby bear absolutely adores the recipe and it makes a nice treat on a cold winters day or for a snuggle up movie day!
Ingredients In The Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- 2 cups almond milk
- 5 tablespoons raw Cacao powder
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon mint/peppermint extract
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
Note: all of these health boosting ingredients can be purchased through my favorite retailer Well.ca– and the best part is that they offer free shipping!
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
How To Make The Hot Chocolate
In a small pot combine the almond milk, cacao and syrup. Heat over medium heat.
As the milk warms, whisk the cacao until no clumps remain.
You want the milk to heat but not boil so be patient! Once warm, mix in the coconut milk, peppermint and vanilla.
Whisk really well so there’s no chunks from the coconut milk.
Heat a minute or two more until creamy looking.
Remove from heat and enjoy!
Makes 2 cups.
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A creamy and delicious treat perfect for a cold winters day! Filled with healthy ingredients this dairy free hot chocolate is yummy! In a small pot combine the almond milk, cacao and syrup. Heat over medium heat. As the milk warms, whisk the cacao until no clumps remain. You want the milk to heat but not boil so be patient! Once warm, mix in the coconut milk, peppermint and vanilla. Whisk really well so there’s no chunks from the coconut milk. Heat a minute or two more until creamy looking. Remove from heat and enjoy!Dairy Free Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
Instructions
This homemade hot chocolate is creamy, sweet and healthy! Filled with cacao powder, coconut milk and everything good for you this hot chocolate the perfect winter treat! It’s dairy free, contains no processed sugar and tastes great with shot of homemade baileys 😉
This sounds absolutely incredible and I don’t think I would feel guilty gulping multiple cups! Thank you for this recipe!
You most definitely don’t feel guilty! lol It’s soo creamy 😀
As soon as it starts to get cold here in Michigan we stock up on hot chocolate I love the dairy free option you shared I’ll be sure to give it a try
I’m in Canada so hot chocolate is a necessity! Let me know what you think when you try it 🙂
From Young sweet kids to the so called Grown one’s , everyone has the desire for hot chocolate … Easy to make and with coconut milk , sounds good for health too .. Going to try out this one soon
Let me know what you think! I adore coconut milk because it makes it healthy and so so creamy!
Looks great and super thick and creamy. Yum!
It’s definitely a thick one- I like that so I can’t drink TOO much lol
I just read another recipe for hot chocolate that contains maple syrup. I’ve never heard of doing that until today! Now I’m definitely going to try this recipe!
So confession… I have a serious obsession with maple syrup! It’s my go-to sweetener because it works in EVERYTHING lol #canadian
Peppermint hot chocolate actually sounds interesting. I think the hint of peppermint would be a welcomed little surprise.
It’s like dipping a candy cane into it!
Wow, what a recipe! I haven’t had hot chocolate in so long. Even though I’m not into peppermint, I do love that this is dairy free.
It’s tasty without the peppermint too 🙂 It;s super creamy which is always nice!
Going to have to make this for hubby. Peppermint anything is his favorite!
Chocolate peppermint is always a win!
This is a wonderful recipe!!! I love hot chocolate, and I am always looking for natural dairy-free recipes. Wahoo! Cacao powder is a staple in my home, so I am going to make this delightful drink asap. Thanks!
I love that cacao powder is a staple for you- I think I live off the stuff lol Let me know what you think when you try it!
Everything tastes better homemade! Nice and easy recipe ?
Haha yes homemade is better!
Omg this looks and sounds delicious! I need to try it
It’s a tasty one! Perfect on a chilly day 🙂
Ooh this sounds delish and I can almost taste the creaminess of the chocolate. I’ve never tried using coconut milk in mine but it’s something I’ll do soon 😉
Love love LOVE coconut milk because it makes everything so decadent!