Learn how to make a delicious, healthy hot chocolate with five simple ingredients. It only takes a few minutes to make and is perfect for a chilly day inside.
The winter months are the perfect time of the year to enjoy all of those cozy comforting foods and drinks. Some of our cold weather favorites are a Pumpkin Spice Latte, honey lavender latte, and this healthy hot chocolate.
A hot cup of cocoa is the epitome of a perfect cold weather drink, and this homemade version will have you ditching the store-bought mixes for good! Made up of only natural ingredients, you don’t have to sacrifice taste for artificial ingredients with a lot of sugar.
Serve this decadent drink topped with healthy homemade marshmallows or whipped cream. Pair it with a sourdough croissant or a fresh slice of sourdough bread for the perfect, indulgent winter treat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Wholesome Treat – This healthier hot chocolate recipe calls for whole food ingredients that are full of health benefits for your body. If you want even more nutrition in your cup, try my gut-healthy bone broth hot chocolate recipe.
Fast and Easy – This recipe is super quick and easy to make. A handful of ingredients and a few minutes will leave you with a delicious treat that your family is sure to love.
Versatility – Make this homemade hot chocolate to your own unique tastes and preferences and top with whatever you like. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon, or garnish with heaps of mini marshmallows. Chocolate shavings or chocolate chips can add a decorative touch when sprinkled over a dollop of whipped heavy cream.
Ingredients
Milk: I prefer to use organic grass fed milk, but you can use whatever type of milk you have on hand. You can also make this dairy free by using oat milk, or another milk alternative.
Maple syrup or honey: Pure maple syrup and raw honey in their most natural form will have the most health benefits. I prefer to use these in this recipe as a natural sweetener. You could also use coconut sugar.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Modifications and Variations
A great way to customize your hot chocolate is to add mix-ins and toppings. Here are some ideas to personalize this tasty drink:
- Peanut butter for a chocolate peanut butter treat.
- Add a candy cane for a festive minty touch.
- A bit of coconut oil for a subtle coconut flavor.
- Different extracts – almond, peppermint, etc.
- Cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne or chili powder for a Mexican hot chocolate with a spicy kick.
- A pinch of sea salt and dark chocolate chips for a cocoa with rich chocolate flavor.
How To Make Healthy Hot Chocolate
Step 1: Add 2 cups of milk to a medium saucepan over low to medium heat.
Step 2: Add in the maple syrup and whisk in.
Step 3: Add in cocoa powder and whisk until combined.
Step 4: Remove from heat and add in the vanilla and a dash of salt.
Step 5: Whisk together and ladle into a mug for serving.
Step 6: Whip up some cream if you want to get extra fancy, and leave a little room in the top of your mug so that it doesn’t overflow when you add the cream!
Tips
- Opt for a whisk opposed to a fork or spoon to incorporate all of your ingredients. A whisk works best to make sure you don’t leave any clumps behind.
- Use whole milk for a creamy hot chocolate. The higher the fat content in your milk, the creamier the hot cocoa will be.
- Double or triple this recipe and add it to a slow cooker to keep it warm to serve at holiday parties and get togethers.
Recipe FAQs
Hot cocoa that is made with milk rather than water gives you a more creamy result and also has more beneficial nutrients.
Hot chocolate made with hot chocolate powder is more highly processed and has more added sugars and preservatives than hot cocoa made with all natural unsweetened cocoa powder. If you are looking for something with more health benefits, opt for hot cocoa made with all natural ingredients.
Let the cocoa cool completely and place covered in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
More Drink Recipes From the Farmhouse
- How to make Homemade Water Kefir
- Easy Fermented Lemonade – Refreshing Probiotic Soda
- Berry Kefir Smoothie
- Pumpkin Smoothie
- How to Make Milk Kefir
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Healthy Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk, organic and grass fed
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash salt
- cream for whipping, optional
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of milk to a medium saucepan.
- Warm milk over medium to low heat.
- Add in cocoa and maple syrup and whisk until combined.
- Remove from heat and add in the vanilla and dash of salt.
- Whip up some cream to add on top if you want to get extra fancy.
Notes
- Opt for a whisk opposed to a fork or spoon to incorporate all of your ingredients. A whisk works best to make sure you don’t leave any clumps behind.
- Use whole milk for a creamy hot chocolate. The higher the fat content in your milk, the creamier the hot cocoa will be.
- Add extracts such as almond or peppermint for an added punch of flavor.
- Double or triple this recipe and add it to a slow cooker to keep it warm to serve at holiday parties and get togethers.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Lisa, my daughter asked to make homemade marshmallows and I said “I know exactly where to look!” as I’ve seen you making them on your channel. But I can’t find a recipe here. Do you have a recipe that you could send please?
I made this today and it was great, however, in Chicago, the best I can do is store bought whole milk, but I have a larger container of heavy whipping cream on hand, so subbed 1/3C of milk with whipping cream. Then whipped up 1/4 C of whipped cream top put on top. Good !
The fresh milk definitely makes a difference. And , of course, the fresh whipped cream. Farmhouse on Boone is my newest obsession!
I cut the cocoa powder in half and then I can cut the sweetener in half (cocoa powder is bitter). I also started to cut the milk in half with water and it’s still very delish, no powdered milk needed.
We don’t bother making a mix as it’s so easy to just put steamy milk & water in mugs, then a tbsp of powder and a tbsp of sugar with a sprinkle of salt. Stir well and drop in some vanilla. Don’t need dry milk or dry coffee creamer.
(I keep my homemade vanilla in old dropper bottles for ease of measuring. 1 dropperful is a 1/2 tsp)
Cheers to toasty cocoa mugs!
Every time I make this, my husband and I can’t get over how amazing it is!! By far the best we’ve ever had.
wondering if this hot chocolate could be made in a slow cooker ?????
That is not something I have tried. Let us know if you try it!
I made hot chocolate and kept it warm in a crockpot during a Holiday get together and it worked perfectly. Just added all my ingredients and stirred. Be sure to keep it on lowest setting. My crockpot has a warm setting. Then check back every so often to stir to keep all the creamy goodness combined.
Trying tomorrow!😍
Hope you enjoy!
Looks yummy and healthy…but for the aluminum mugs 🤔😬 Cannot wait to try thanks!
It was just for the pictures. Cute mugs = cute pictures haha. I don’t usually use aluminum.
This Hot Chocolate is AMAZING! I don’t drink coffee and so I love a good hot chocolate! I will be making this more for my family and friends! Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Really like the mugs. Could you share the link for them? Thanks so much.
I live 20 minutes from Washington MO. Where do you get your raw milk from? Also, what brand of cocoa do you use?
We have our own dairy cows now, but you can look on realmilk.com for a farmer near you.