Description
Cozy, gut-friendly hot chocolate made with almond milk, cocoa powder, and collagen peptides. A healthy and customizable treat for any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey, or your preferred sweetener)
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional, for a little kick!)
- 1 tablespoon collagen peptides (for gut health and protein)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
- Optional toppings: whipped cream (dairy-free if needed), chocolate shavings, marshmallows
Instructions
- Combine the Base Ingredients: In a small saucepan, pour in the almond milk. Add the cocoa powder, maple syrup (or your chosen sweetener), coconut oil, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne pepper (if using), collagen peptides, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt.
- Whisk it Up: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Using a whisk, continuously stir the mixture to ensure the cocoa powder dissolves completely and the ingredients are well combined.
- Heat and Simmer: Continue heating the mixture, stirring constantly, until it begins to gently simmer. Be careful not to let it boil! Simmering helps to meld all the flavors together.
- Adjust Sweetness (if needed): Taste the hot chocolate and adjust the sweetness to your liking. If you prefer it sweeter, add a little more maple syrup or honey, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired level of sweetness.
- Froth it Up (Optional): For an extra luxurious touch, you can use a milk frother to create a foamy top. If you don’t have a milk frother, you can also use an immersion blender or even a regular blender (carefully!) to create a frothy texture. Just be cautious when blending hot liquids.
- Serve and Enjoy: Pour the hot chocolate into your favorite mug. Add any desired toppings, such as whipped cream (dairy-free if needed), chocolate shavings, or marshmallows.
Notes
- Milk Options: Substitute almond milk with oat, soy, coconut, or dairy milk.
- Sweetener Alternatives: Use agave, stevia, or monk fruit sweetener.
- Spice it Up: Add nutmeg, cardamom, or star anise.
- Chocolate Intensity: Increase cocoa powder for a richer flavor.
- Mocha: Add a shot of espresso or strong coffee.
- Peppermint: Add peppermint extract and garnish with crushed candy cane.
- Vegan: Use plant-based milk, maple syrup/agave, and dairy-free whipped cream.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently.
- Clumpy Cocoa Powder: Sift cocoa powder and whisk thoroughly.
- Not Sweet Enough: Add more sweetener.
- Too Thick: Add more milk.
- Too Thin: Simmer longer.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes