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January is the perfect month for hot chocolate! It’s so nice to come in from the cold and relax with a nice warm cup of hot chocolate by the fire. We just got 6 inches of snow in New England, so I was out enjoying it and doing some cross country skiing. When I was done, I was thinking how nice it’s going to be to go inside and make a cup of delicious healthy hot chocolate!
This hot chocolate is a lot better than the instant packets for hot chocolate. The instant hot chocolate, that you buy in the store, typically contains artificial flavors, carrageenan, artificial sweeteners, and it also may contain corn syrup. I checked the label of one major brand and it contained the artificial sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame potassium, which may be carcinogenic.
What’s Wrong with Artificial Sweeteners in Instant Cocoa?
According to Dr. Mercola, artificial sweeteners can “wreak havoc on your body”. He cited one recent study that found individuals consuming sucralose, experienced adverse health effects, specifically: a 50% reduction of good bacteria in the intestines, increased intestinal pH level, and an increase in intestinal p-glycoprotein, which affects some medications. Another study which is pending, linked the consumption of sucralose to leukemia in mice. Due to the health concerns regarding sucralose, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) changed the safety rating of this ingredient from “safe” to “caution”. The other common sweetener, acesulfame potassium contains methylene chloride, a known carcinogen. This has been linked to causing headaches, nausea, and detrimental effects on the liver and kidneys (1). For these reasons, we should try to avoid artificial sweeteners as much as we can.
How to Make Healthy Hot Chocolate
For this recipe, I used organic raw honey as a natural sweetener. Raw honey has numerous health benefits such as, antiviral and antibacterial properties. It also aids in boosting the immune system! You can make this recipe using 100% organic ingredients. To make this healthy hot chocolate, you can use raw cacao or cocoa powder. I used raw cacao because it has more health benefits, is not as processed and contains a higher amount of antioxidants. For the milk, I used almond milk, but any kind should work just fine, such as coconut milk or raw milk.
How Does this Healthy Hot Chocolate Taste?
This is the most delicious hot chocolate…so yummy! I tend to make my hot chocolate not super chocolaty, but you can add more cacao/cocoa powder to your taste.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk (almond, coconut, raw, or any kind)
- 3/4 tablespoon raw cacao powder or cocoa powder (see it here)
- 1 tablespoon organic raw honey (see it here)
Instructions:
1. Pour the milk into a sauce pan and heat on low to medium heat. You want to heat it, but don’t let it boil.
2. Once the milk is heated, add the honey and raw cacao to the pan.
3. Stir until it is thoroughly mixed and then remove from heat.
4. Pour into mug and enjoy!
Sources:
1. http://www.naturalnews.com/041510_acesulfame-k_methylene_chloride_carcinogen.html
danielle
Will have to make a lot of this because me and my hubby like to have something warm in the cold weather
Lori
I love having it in the winter! It’s delicious and so nice to drink something hot.
Joanne
I made this hot chocolate last night. But the raw cacao nibs didn’t dissolve. What did I miss it do wrong?
Joanne
Lori
I’m surprised they didn’t dissolve. Did you add it to the boiling water?
lynn
Looks good, can’t wait to try it out, rather than a boxed mix!
Lori
Great! Let us know how you like it 🙂
Katie Hamilton
Lori,
I just wanted to let you know that I have made this hot chocolate NEARLY EVERY. DAY. for the past few weeks. It is SO yummy! and much healthier than the alternative! I have an old Mr Coffee coco-motion machine whips and heats it up in a hurry! I’ve taken to adding about a tsp or an unmeasured chunk of good-quality coconut oil and occasionally coffee to it as well!
AWESOME RECIPE!!!!!
Katie 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Lori
Hi Katie, glad you liked the recipe! Adding coconut oil sounds like a great addition, I’ll have to try that next time I make it.