Are you hunting for a hot chocolate drink that’s not junk and tastes good? This is it! Kristan has created the perfect recipe for you to try so you can stop scouring the shelves for low sugar options.
This homemade hot chocolate uses natural, wholefood ingredients to achieve a rich, velvety texture and deep chocolate flavour. Unlike traditional hot chocolate mixes, it contains no refined sugars, additives or preservatives.
Kristan found that premade hot chocolate mixes are high in sugar and other ingredients making such mixes a ‘fake food’. She set out to find an alternative wholefood recipe that could also be dairy-free.
The first recipe the Kershaw family tried was the Quirky Cooking Dairy Free Hot Chocolate. This was a great introduction to using wholefood ingredients while excluding dairy. They also tried the Thermobexta “Smilo” powder instead of Milo.
After a time, Kristan wanted to find an option lower in sugar than the Smilo recipe. She also found the combination of ingredients in the Quirky Cooking option didn’t meet the family’s changing needs – especially once dairy was permissible again and Kristan wanted to add more butter into the family’s routine!
Kristan’s homemade hot chocolate recipe was borne and it has evolved over the years. It now contains different quantities of ingredients and ultimately gives a more balanced flavour. Visitors who may not be used to the different flavours from real food ingredients (to the manufactured options) may also enjoy this recipe.
The family now make one batch to use over a couple of days (initially drunk hot, or cold as leftovers), but the essence is still the same!
It’s a fantastic dessert alternative and a great way to smuggle some extra nutrients into your family’s diet!
Looking for a Healthier Twist on Hot Chocolate?
This healthy, hot chocolate recipe with dairy-free options is a creamy, nourishing alternative to traditional store-bought products. Made with real, wholefood ingredients, it’s a treat you can feel good about enjoying.
Supporting Balance believes this is the best healthy hot chocolate around! Packed with nutrient-rich ingredients, it delivers a dense, velvety drink that’s rich in retinol (vitamin A from the butter) without any additives, preservatives, artificial colours, or processed sugars.
Dairy-free option? No problem! Simply swap the butter for your favourite dairy-free alternative or leave it out entirely for a lighter version that still packs plenty of creamy goodness.
Who is this Recipe for?
This healthy hot chocolate recipe is perfect for anyone craving a delicious treat without the long list of additives, sugars, and synthetic ingredients often found in store-bought options. Three common store-bought hot chocolate products you may wish to find alternatives for include Milo, Nesquik and Ovaltine. These are typically loaded with processed sugars and artificial additives or fortifications.
This homemade hot chocolate recipe replaces the commercial powdered products. It does not replicate the sugar-laden commercial options. The exciting part is that your tastebuds will be delighted by the rich, real chocolate flavours and the nourishing goodness of wholefood ingredients! It’s a treat that not only satisfies your cravings but also fuels your body with nutrients such as copper, magnesium, potassium and even some B vitamins!
To understand why a healthy hot chocolate recipe can support optimal health, please read our blog about what’s really in your hot chocolates (coming soon – we will link you to it here!).
Homemade Healthy Hot Chocolate
- 60g (2.1 oz) organic cashews
- 30g (1.1 oz) organic Medjool dates (about 2 large dates)
- 40g (1.4 oz) organic cacao butter
- 20g (0.7 oz) organic cacao powder*
- 30-40g (1.1-1.4 oz) grass-fed (ideally organic) butter (optional: replace with a dairy-free alternative if needed)
- ~1800g water** (approx. 8 US cups or 2 quarts)
Organic cocoa has a less intense flavour than cacao but it may be more palatable as you wean yourself from the sweeter flavour of highly processed chocolate powders.. You may find it preferable as a stepping stone to the more nutrient dense, but much stronger flavoured, cacao. With time, as your tastebuds adjust to less sugar, you will find it easier to switch to cacao powder.
If you’d like to learn about the difference between cacao vs cocoa powders, you can read more here.
** The water can be pre-heated to 65ºC (149ºF) if you have a kettle with temperature control and are using the Thermomix method. If using an alternative method, it is recommended to use room temperature water for blending to reduce the chance of injury from hot liquid sprays.
Thermomix Method for Healthy Homemade Hot Chocolate
- Add cashews, cacao butter, butter and dates to your Thermomix bowl.
- Chop for approximately 10 seconds on speed 7–8, until the cashews are finely ground. Adjust time if needed.
- Add the cacao powder and water.
- Slowly increase to speed 9 and blend for 1 minute.
- Cook for 5 minutes at 65°C on speed 6. This creates a hot chocolate that’s creamy, frothy, and at the perfect sipping temperature.
Note: If starting with room temperature water, a creamier texture may be achieved by cooking for 6 minutes.
Alternative Method
- Add cashews, cacao butter, butter and dates to a powerful blender and chop to combine.
- Add approximately 500g of the water and blend until smooth.
- The time required for this may vary – it could require 2 minutes or longer. Split into 1-2 minute bursts so you don’t overwork your blender.
- Add the cacao powder and blend briefly to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a saucepan on the stove with the remaining water. Heat gently over medium heat to no hotter than a gentle simmer until the mixture is hot and creamy, stirring regularly.
- The mixture does not need to boil; avoid overheating to a temperature above a gentle simmer to maintain the nutrients in the final product. It’s also more pleasant to drink when not boiling hot.
- Pour into mugs and enjoy your homemade, additive-free hot chocolate drink. Refrigerate any leftovers for up to two days.
A different approach to using cashews in these recipes would be to use an alternative premade milk such as nut or oat milk, instead of the nuts and water.
At Step 1 in either method, combine the cacao butter, butter and dates into a paste, then add the milk at the appropriate step instead of water, and follow the remaining steps as outlined.
No matter which recipe you use, serve warm and enjoy! Store leftovers in the fridge for the next day and mix well before serving them cold or warm.
Want to Learn More?
If you’d like to learn more about cost effective yet nourishing ways to take care of your health? Take a look at this free webinar replay.
Click here for more recipes like this one which offer quick and easy recipes to nourish your family, which are full of flavour and nutrients.
The team at Supporting Balance are here to guide you along your journey to better health and we would love to support you. Connect with us by joining our newsletter or booking a consultation with one of the team.