If you’re like me, you crave hot chocolate around this time of year. Especially around the holidays and when the snow starts sticking to the ground, a great cup of hot chocolate puts a smile on everyone’s faces and can be a wonderful way to warm up from the inside out.
Each year from December to April we take several ski trips up to the mountains (this year Miss Z will take her first ever ski lessons!), and in the kitchen of our cozy mountain cabin I perfect my healthy hot chocolate recipe. One year before Z, Real Fit Daddy and I lost power in a blizzard, so he lit a fire, and I made hot chocolate in a pot over the flames in our fireplace.
Are you ready to enjoy the health benefits of something truly wonderful for you and your family? This year I’ll be switching out our raw cow’s milk and raw cream for homemade almond milk, since we found out Miss Z (and Real Fit Daddy) are dairy intolerant. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy this heart warming recipe for a classic winter treat.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 4 cups milk (we have used whole, raw milk – this year we will use homemade almond milk)
- 1/2 cup raw cream (optional) – for rich dairy-friendly cocoa
- 1/2 cup water (optional) – for light, thin cocoa
- 1/8 tsp freshly ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ½ cup coconut palm sugar
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- a tiny dash of sea salt
How to Prepare:
- Heat milk in pan on low.
- Slowly stir in cocoa powder until mixed fully – this will take one to two minutes of slow gentle steady stirring.
- Add sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract and cloves.
- Continue stirring until milk is hot to touch. Do not let milk boil – it will destroy health benefits of raw milk and change the flavor of both raw milk and almond milk.
- Pour into cups. Add tiny dash of sea salt. Serve warm.
