• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Retreats, Classes & Events
  • Work with me
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Private Events
  • Corporate Wellness

happy eats healthy

being healthy is finally delicious!

 

Healthy Chicago Cooking Classes

hot chocolate

Vegan Homemade Hot Chocolate

Easy Peasy Homemade Hot Chocolate {df, gf}

Does anyone really need a reason to drink Hot Chocolate?

In case you do- it’s National Hot Chocolate Day on January 3st- woo hoo!

Making a mug of hot chocolate can be as simple as hot water with a spoon of pre-mixed powder. However, the chance that truly satisfies is debatable, especially when it only takes a few extra simple steps to make a deep, rich, creamy cup of cocoa.

When you make your own, you get to control the ingredients! Use my Easy Peasy Homemade Hot Chocolate recipe as a base.

First, choose your milk:

  • Dairy-free: coconut, cashew and oat milk will result in the most creamy, full-body hot chocolate.
  • Dairy-full: use whole milk and add in a few splashes of half-n-half or cream.

Then the chocolate:

  • Use a mix of cacao powder AND dark chocolate chunks/bar for the richest depth of flavor.

Choose a sweetener:

  • Maple syrup, coconut sugar, or monk fruit sugar are all great options; you may need more or less of each so start with only 1 tablespoon and adjust as needed.

Finally, the spices:

  • Always a pinch of pink salt.
  • I almost always add a dash of cinnamon powder and vanilla extract.
  • Try cardamom, clove or a dash of cayenne for spice.
  • A drop of peppermint or almond for a holiday splash.
  • A spoonful of creamy peanut butter or a glug of cherry syrup adds a fun twist.

Opportunities are endless once you have this Easy Peasy Homemade Hot Chocolate base recipe.

Cacao and maple syrup are naturally filled with nutritious ingredients like antioxidants and magnesium. With all things, moderation is key because sugar is still sugar.
Happy National Hot Chocolate Day,
~Monique

Easy Peasy Homemade Hot Chocolate

2 cups preferred milk, see above (if you are using a can of full fat coconut milk, add 2/3 cup water)
2 tbls raw cacao powder
2 tbls dark chocolate chips/chunks (I like Hu Gems for a DF option)
1-3 tbls sweetener (maple syrup, coconut or monk fruit sugar)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
OPTIONAL flavorings: 1 shot of espresso or 1 tbls ground espresso, a pinch of cayenne, a drop of peppermint oil, 1 heaping spoon of peanut butter

Place all the ingredients in a small pot over medium heat. Stir to combine. Option to blend or whisk vigorously to create a foamy top.

TASTE and ADJUST: add more chocolate chunks for a richer hot chocolate. Simmer for an extra minute if you want a thicker mug. Too thick? Add a bit of water to thin. Add additional spice for interest.

Pour into your favorite mug, wrap your hands around it and breathe in the glorious Easy Peasy Homemade Hot Chocolate aroma before taking the first sip!

Pumpkin Hot Chocolate with Whipped Coconut Cream

Prep Time
Overnight if making the Whipped Coconut Cream

Prep Notes
To make the Coconut Whipped Cream, place one can of full fat coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight.

Cooking Time
5 minutes

Yields
4 small cups

Ingredients
1/2 cup pumpkin (roasted or pureed)

1/2 cup water

1 cup coconut milk (I prefer to use the leftover liquid from when I make Whipped Coconut Cream- see notes below; otherwise any milk will do)

2 heaping tbls raw cocao powder

3 tbls maple syrup

scant 1 tsp cinnamon

2 dashes ground clove

1 tsp vanilla

Optional:

1/4 cup amaretto

Whipped Coconut Cream

Directions
Place all the ingredients except the whipped coconut cream and the amaretto in a blender, blend for 30 seconds or until smooth. Pour into a saucepan and heat to desired temperature.

If using, add in the amaretto, pour into small mugs and top with the Coconut Whipped Cream; wrap your hands around the mug, breathe deep and enjoy.

A note about the coconut milk and whipped coconut cream:

Coconut cream makes the most amazing whipped cream – it’s luscious, thick and dreamy! And it’s a good fat so there is no feeling guilty. I keep a can in my fridge at all times just in case.

Follow my recipe for how to make the Whipped Coconut Cream here. Use the remaining liquid in the can for the recipe above.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Things I Like

Branch Basics Coupon

Can your toxic-free cleaner do all this?

Picture this: I tried out yet another ...

Keep reading

footprints

the importance of remembering how far you’ve come

Remembering how far you've come can be ...

Keep reading

Check out all the things I like

Your chef

Monique Costello Happy Eats Healthy Chef

About Us

Want to find your happy? You hold the key!

Happy Eats Healthy exists to help others learn about and incorporate the healing power of clean foods in their lifestyle while experiencing how delicious healthy can be. Also, cooking and eating and socializing are FUN!

> LEARN MORE

Private Events

Happy Eats Healthy Private Events

Hosting a private event?

Don’t stress, we’ll cook for you!

> LEARN MORE

Recent Posts

  • Cabbage Steak with Pickle Labneh
  • Planes, Trains, and Tight Spaces: Is posture a part of your travel plans?
  • Egg, dairy, gluten and oil free coconut cake {v, gf}
  • Truth or Trend? Your Wellness Hype Buster
  • 10,000 steps a day was a marketing ploy!

Read by category

  • Apps & Snacks
  • baking
  • Beauty
  • blogging
  • Bread
  • Breakfast
  • Breakfast
  • Dairy-Free
  • Dessert
  • Detox
  • Drinks & Cocktails
  • Fall
  • Fermentation
  • from scratch
  • Gluten-Free
  • Happy Eats Healthy
  • Home
  • Kitchen
  • Main
  • Meats & Fish
  • Paleo
  • Recipes
  • Salads
  • Sauces
  • Season
  • Self Care
  • Sides
  • Skin Care
  • soap
  • Soups
  • Special Diets
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Super Foods
  • Supplements
  • Sweets
  • Things I Like
  • Tools
  • Tutorials
  • Vegan
  • vegan
  • vegetarian
  • Vegetarian
  • Veggies
  • Winter

Archives

Footer

Join the Party

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

More to Explore

  • About Us
  • Things I Like
  • Happy Clients
  • Contact

Want More Monique?

Visit her here

Copyright © 2025 · Happy Eats Healthy · All Rights Reserved