Most people would agree that processed hot cocoa from the store is not a healthy choice. However, don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater!
A cup of healthy hot cocoa made with fresh raw milk is a soothing and very healthy treat on a cold evening in front of the fire or watching a movie.
In this video and recipe below, I show you a healthy hot chocolate recipe to make and enjoy that avoids the GMO sugar, artificial flavors and other additives in commercial hot cocoa mixes.
This can be an occasional addition to the kids’ lunchbox on cold days too. Just put in a thermos and it stays nice and warm until lunchtime!
Homemade Hot Cocoa How-to Video
The key to making the best homemade hot chocolate is retaining all the probiotics and enzymes in the raw grassfed milk. Using a digital food thermometer to ensure the milk is hot but not hot enough to destroy these nutrients is key!
Each 8 oz serving in this recipe has 12 g of unrefined sugar compared with 18 g or more of refined sugar (usually GMO) in one envelope of hot cocoa mix from the store!
I recommend using cocoa powder and not cacao powder for this recipe. The reason is that raw cacao is very high in anti-nutrients like phytic acid and lectins. Cocoa powder is roasted as traditionally practiced. Hence, it is much lower in these substances which can trigger gastric distress in some people and block the nutrient absorption.
If you would prefer a hot cocoa recipe that is caffeine-free, this recipe for white hot chocolate is delicious!
Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe
Healthy and homemade hot chocolate recipe that retains all of the enzymes and probiotics in grassfed milk and uses the best whole sweeteners and the low anti-nutrient cocoa.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk preferably raw and grassfed
- 2 Tbl evaporated cane sugar preferably organic
- 1 Tbl cocoa powder heaping, preferably organic
- 1 tsp chocolate extract
- sprinkle cinnamon freshly ground is best
Instructions
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Warm milk on the stovetop to 117 F. Use a food thermometer or a clean finger to judge the temperature (when it feels hot but doesn't burn, it's about 117F so enzymes and probiotics remain intact).
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Turn off the heat but leave the pan on the burner.
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Quickly whisk in sucanat, cocoa or carob powder and chocolate extract. Add optional cinnamon if desired.
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Pour into mugs and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Substitute carob powder if a caffeine free hot cocoa is desired.
Use store bought or homemade coconut milk for a dairy free version!
Substitute the cane sugar with organic coconut sugar or dark maple syrup if desired.
If you love marshmallows in your hot chocolate, this recipe for homemade marshmallows is a good one to try.
Is there a charge for the videos? I can’t seem to watch any…
Thanks,
Lynn
This sounds like an interesting recipe. If you’re looking for an instant hot cocoa mix that is not filled with nasty chemicals and preservatives, try the Penzey’s version:
http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeyshotchocolatemix.html
Just cocoa, sugar, vanilla beans and cinnamon. I know it’s not ideal for people trying to cut sugar out of their diet, but we do a pretty good job of avoiding added sugar elsewhere, so this is a nice treat!
Just as an aside, I just watched a GREAT seminar on the dangers of fructose. I’m a registered dietitian, a product of the fat-free/high-carb diet generation, and I found it fascinating!! I intend to blog about it soon. Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!
Hi Megan, yes, you can most definitely use slightly soured raw milk for this. A great way to use it up and not waste a dime on your investment in REAL FOOD!
This looks delish! I have a ton of Equal Exchange Drinking Chocolate, so I may sub this recipe with that. And I like using vanilla extracts, also Fair Trade and organic, because it complements the chocolate flavor well. I don’t think I’ve even seen chocolate extractbefore–I’ll start looking!
I am looking forward to trying it. THanks
Excellent, will give it a try. I have to “import” my raw milk from Pennsylvania to NJ!
The PERFECT add on is a tsp of B.Radical Certified Organic Whole food antioxidant superfood. I purchased it the special going on in the resource page under Superfoods, and My two little ones & husband absolultely love it. Here’s the link:
http://healthquestmd.mionegroup.com/en/product/15113
Enjoy!
Hi Jenny, yes – the chocolate extract would have trace amounts of caffeine in it. Not enough to bother most folks, but if you are super sensitive or allergic to it then by all means leave it out and just go with the carob powder.
Thanks, Sarah. My husband is CRAZY sensitive to caffeine, and my son is too.
Sarah, I love your videos and am going to give your cocoa a try! I’ll make sure to add carob powder to my next azure order.
I will sometimes add raw egg yolks to ours too, and like to top it off with cream if we can get it. I have a question about the chocolate extract. Do you know how it’s made or whether it contains any trace amounts of caffeine?