It’s the perfect time to start curling up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa. However, I often find that typical hot chocolate feels a bit overly sweet and heavy—particularly for my kids! After trying a ton of boxed options, I decided to develop my own kid-friendly healthy hot chocolate recipe.
I’m happy to say this one is a hit! It’s absolutely child-approved and a recipe my own four children ask for all winter long. Even better? It has just four ingredients!
I will note that this recipe is refined sugar free and dairy free. Because of this, it’s not as rich and chocolatey as some people may prefer. I find it’s the perfect amount of sweetness for children or those who are working on health goals, however!
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Easy Hot Cocoa Recipe for Kids
If you haven’t made hot chocolate from scratch before, I’ve got great news: it’s not complicated! In fact, this healthy hot chocolate is so simple to make that it’s almost as quick as the store-bought packets!
In my home, a warm mug of hot cocoa is pretty much a necessity this time of year. Especially forkids, because hot cocoa is a very good motivator to stay outside longer.
You know when they want to come in after 10 minutes, and you’ve spent 15 minutes bundling them up? Just offer them hot cocoa if they stay outside a little longer. It works (almost) every time.
Ingredients
I have to be careful about what I feed my kids (and myself) because we all have food sensitivities. That means we can’t buy the store-bought hot cocoa packets, which are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and other ingredients I can’t pronounce.
So this year, when my children started asking for hot cocoa, I decided to create our own healthy hot cocoa recipe. I’ve come up with a few variations, but this particular version is a favorite with my kids.
In fact, they’ve told me it tastes just as good, if not better, than the old “store stuff.” (Score!)
Here are the four simple ingredients in this homemade hot cocoa recipe:
Cocoa powder – I use cacao powder myself,but you can use baking cocoa too. Cacao powder is more bitter, so you may need to increase the sweetener slightly if you go this route.
Okay, let’s walk through how to whip up a batch of hot chocolate in just minutes.
Grab a small saucepan, and use it to heat the almond milk. Next, whisk in the cocoa powder, honey, and vanilla extract.
Make sure to whisk it well, so there are no lumps.
Alternatively, you can carefully pour it into a blender (or use an immersion blender). Just don’t burn yourself! Blend or whisk until it’s nice and frothy, then pour into a mug and serve.
See how simple that is?
Variations + More Hot Chocolate Recipes
Peppermint hot chocolate: Add a few drops of peppermint extract while you are whisking.
Creamy hot chocolate: Top with a dollop of your favorite whipped cream (use a non-dairy one if you want to keep this recipe dairy-free).
Peanut butter hot chocolate: Yes, I have an entire recipe showing you how you can make a peanut butter hot chocolate!
Want even more ideas? Check out this post with the
So, you can make your hot chocolate healthy by opting for cocoa powder, or a natural, high cocoa percentage drinking chocolate. Although cocoa powder isn't incredibly low in calories, health isn't just measured by this – keeping a healthy, happy body is far more important than calorie counting.
Pop, coffee, energy or sport drinks, fruit punches, hot chocolate, sweetened milks and tea are not recommended for children even if water is added. These drinks are high in sugar and/or caffeine and are not suitable for toddlers or children of any age.
The abundant antioxidants in cocoa, primarily flavonoids, contribute to cardiovascular well-being, enhancing blood flow and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These compounds also show the potential to fortify cognitive function and lift mood, offering a holistic approach to health.
Many studies support that consuming chocolate at least once a week helps stimulate your children's brain response. And what is this due to? Chocolate contains flavonoid, a substance that improves blood flow and stimulates neuronal activity while regulating blood sugar levels. Stronger teeth.
While hot chocolate can provide some benefits, such as antioxidants and mood-boosting properties, it is also high in calories, sugar, and saturated fat. Consuming excessive amounts of hot chocolate can lead to weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and increased risk of heart disease.
4. Hot chocolate. A small hot chocolate from a high street coffee shop can contain nearly five teaspoons (20g) of sugar. These extra calories can cause weight gain, increasing your risk of heart disease.
Although there is no clear standard age to give children chocolate for the first time, most families wait until their child is 3 years old. When giving chocolate to your child, it is best to give it to them within other sweets (such as chocolate chip cookies) and not on its own to avoid overeating.
Too much sugar, especially close to bedtime, will give your child a rush of energy that will make them more alert. Caffeine is in more things than you would think! It can be found in drinks such as hot chocolate, energy drinks, canned fizzy drinks (including diet drinks), tea and coffee.
Eating chocolate before bed can potentially have an impact on sleep due to the caffeine and other substances it contains. Here are some effects to consider: Caffeine Content: Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contains a moderate amount of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can interfere with sleep.
Anxiety: The caffeine in cocoa might make anxiety disorders worse when consumed in large amounts. Bleeding disorders: Cocoa can slow blood clotting. Consuming a lot of cocoa might increase the risk of bleeding and bruising in people with bleeding disorders. Heart conditions: Cocoa contains caffeine.
Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.
While both Coca-Cola and hot chocolate may be enjoyable treats, when it comes to health, hot chocolate is the better choice. This is because hot chocolate is typically made with milk, which provides calcium and other essential nutrients, while Coca-Cola is high in sugar and offers little nutritional value.
To its credit, chocolate milk has the same nutrients as regular, nonflavored milk. Whether flavored or plain, milk is a valuable source of protein, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium, which are especially important in bone health and growth in children. Chocolate milk, like regular milk, is part of the dairy food group.
Dark chocolate is ideal; a high percentage of cocoa is the recommended option, but there is a risk that children will not enjoy the taste. Then milk chocolate, which is sweeter and smoother, is also fine, as long as it contains a high percentage of cocoa, as for example in the recipe for Venezuela 47% Milk Chocolate.
Christopher Cocoa Super Kids Cocoa Health and Nutrition Drink, No Sugar Vegan, 100g x 2 (For Kids and Adults). Add one spoon to hot milk. Add sugar as per taste. Add ice and blend for cold.
While not a typical weight loss aid, hot chocolate can fit into a weight loss plan if consumed in moderation, made with low-calorie ingredients, and used as an occasional treat to satisfy sweet cravings. Opting for low-fat or plant-based milk and minimizing added sugars can help reduce its calorie impact.
If you have a major sweet tooth, hot cocoa might be the better option.But if you're someone who enjoys richer flavors, hot chocolate is the better choice. Although hot cocoa is the sweeter drink, both hot chocolate and hot cocoa are full of sugar, so neither is really healthier than the other.
One cup of hot chocolate made from a powdered mix provides 6 grams of fat, 9 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fiber, and some minerals. It's still much more nutritious than black coffee or tea, which contain no calories at all.
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myself,but you can use baking cocoa
myself,but you can use baking cocoa
too. Cacao powder is more bitter, so you may need to increase the sweetener slightly if you go this route.
