The first time I made this homemade hot chocolate my husband looked and me and said that basically I had ruined his future. I was completely confused and asked why? He told me that he had never tasted a hot chocolate that tasted that amazing before. This basically ruined his chance of ever ordering one anywhere again. Bless his soul 🥰. To this day, this is probably the best compliment he has given me for my recipe testing. He also has not had another hot chocolate since. Then again, this recipe is on repeat in our house.
This is what we have when there is no dessert in the house 😂. Or what we drink in front of the fire after a long hike. To prepare you though: This will not be like the hot chocolates you have tasted before. This one is velvety, deep, dark and spicy. It is very much “grown-up” whilst still being sweet and just leaving you completely satisfied in your chocolate adventures. Oh, did I also mention that it has a very limited amount of ingredients and comes together in less than 10 minutes? I do not think it needs more convincing than that…
Why is this Homemade Hot Chocolate good for you?
Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder is made from crushing the cocoa bean and removing the fatty parts. It is high in polyphenols, which contain antioxidants that help manage weight, decrease inflammation, and can increase your blood flow. Cocoa has also been shown to decrease blood pressure. It contains a compound called “flavanols”, which increases nitric oxide in your body, which in turn can help manage said blood pressure. The nitric oxide also helps with decreasing your bad cholesterol levels and makes the blood a bit thinner. This effect has been linked to a lower risk of both stroke and heart disease. Extensive processing, unfortunately, diminishes most of these benefits cocoa has to offer. I am referring to your milk chocolate bar here – not this recipe 😉.
Maca Powder
I did not know about this product until a couple of years ago. It since has become a staple in my diet as I love it! Maca comes from Peruvia and is grown in the Andes mountains. Maca can energize and increase performance. It can also improve your mood and lower your blood pressure levels. It may increase your libido and your fertility – particularly in men but also women. For anyone who wonders what it tastes like: It adds a caramel-like flavor, which is quite interesting and definitely enhances this homemade hot chocolate in an awesome way! Due to its stimulating properties be careful towards nighttime if you are super sensitive so that it does not affect your sleep.
Ginger
We have spoken about ginger and its many, medicinal properties on the blog before. Ginger has great anti-inflammatory effects, whilst at the same time helping against muscle aches, soreness, and being a natural solution against nausea. If that is not enough for you, ginger has been shown to drastically lower blood sugar levels, whilst at the same time lowering the risk for heart disease, in people with diabetes. More research needs to go into this topic, but the first signs are really promising – and one more reason to grab that ginger as and when you can 😉.
How to adjust this recipe to your dietary requirements?
This recipe contains only really good-for-you ingredients. It is naturally vegan. To ensure this is fully paleo, use a paleo chocolate. If you would like to make this recipe nut-free, simply use nut-free non-dairy milk.
And this is it for this week 🤗. Please let me know how you get on with the recipe and whether you liked it. You can also “play” a bit with the ratio of the spices, which will make for a new experience every time. Please leave a comment below or tag me under @life_and_lemons_foodblog with the #lifeandlemonsfoodblog when you are making this recipe. I cannot wait to hear what you think!
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Course: Drinks, DessertCuisine: Vegan, paleoDifficulty: Easy1
servings5
minutes5
minutesThis dark, indulgent, deep velvety homemade hot chocolate is an absolute treat and will leave you feeling like you have just been hugged.
Ingredients
1 cup (250 ml.) nut milk of choice
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp maca powder*
¼ tsp ginger
½ tsp of liquid vanilla
Dash of cayenne
Dash of cardamom (optional)
Pinch of salt
10 – 20 gr of dark chocolate
How to
- In a small pan combine all of the ingredients except for the dark chocolate
- With a whisk stir until all ingredients are combined. Bring to a quick boil and then let simmer for a bit so that the maca thickens the hot chocolate and makes it super rich and creamy. Continue to stir throughout this process. Add the dark chocolate and let melt. Serve in a cup and ENJOY – preferably in front of an oven fire on a cold winter day.
Notes
- * For the same consistency but no maca powder on hand swap in arrowroot starch.
