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!
this idea now...
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
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.
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.
Let your kids experiment with flavored whipped creams, colored marshmallows, sprinkles or drizzle chocolate or caramel sauce on top. BONUS TIP: Don't leave Mommy out… She can dress up hers too with some Godiva Liqueur!
Hot chocolate can be a comforting and delicious treat, but it is important to remember that, like other sugary foods, it is also high in calories, sugar, and fat. If consumed in moderation, hot chocolate can be part of a healthy diet as it provides some essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, and magnesium.
One envelope of Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate flavour has 23g of added sugar in it, which is nearly 6 teaspoons. That's about the maximum amount of added sugar recommended by Public Health England for kids ages 7-10 for the entire day and more than is suggested for 4-6 year olds.
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.
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.
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.
Regular, moderate consumption of cocoa-rich hot chocolate can support cardiovascular health by improving blood flow, reducing blood pressure, and decreasing levels of 'bad' LDL cholesterol. However, choosing high-quality cocoa, like the ones we use in our creations, is vital to reap the optimum benefits.
You could bring a beaker/sippy cup to put some of the hot chocolate in. You could even do this with a tablespoon or a dessert spoon. Warn them that it's hot, hold it steady with both your hands and their hands, slowly help them drink it and take it back from them carefully once they've had their fill.
Ordering a kid's hot chocolate at Starbucks is a simple and cost-effective way to enjoy a delicious, warm beverage and still allows for your favorite customizations. Whether you're looking to save money at Starbucks or simply prefer a smaller, milder treat, the coffee siren has you covered.
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.
A 2013 study published in the journal Neurology found a correlation between drinking hot chocolate and boosted memory, suggesting that drinking two cups a day could help stave off Alzheimer's. "As different areas of the brain need more energy to complete their tasks, they also need greater blood flow.
Conclusion. While hot chocolate may be cozy and comforting during the cold winter months, unfortunately, it's not doing any favors for our teeth! Hot chocolate contains dark pigments that can stick to the enamel on our teeth and cause staining over time if not removed properly with good oral hygiene habits.
The cocoa content in hot chocolate contains tryptophan, which contributes to the production of sleep-promoting serotonin and melatonin, and the act of drinking a warm beverage can have a soothing psychological effect that helps prepare your body for sleep.
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 tea and coffee aren't recommended for young children, you can treat your toddler to a homemade hot chocolate once in a while. Heat up some milk and add in one or two cubes of good quality chocolate to give the milk a sweet flavour.
Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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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.
