Healthy Hot Chocolate (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

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Thick, creamy, and healthy: is that really possible? Let me show you how to make a healthy hot chocolate you can drink every day without feeling guilty!

How can you put together the words healthy + hot chocolate in the same sentence?

I swear it’s possible! With my magic hot chocolate mix.

Last year, I was craving a thick, creamy, and rich hot chocolate. Just like the Italian hot chocolate I used to drink in Milan when I was little, and my grandma and I went Christmas shopping.

A hot chocolate made with wholesome ingredients but also incredibly indulgent and satisfying.

So I started experimenting.

I wanted to find something so good, that anyone drinking it wouldn’t really think about the word healthy. I wanted people to think it was just extraordinarily delicious.

So here it is!

And it’s naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

My healthy hot chocolate ingredients

You’ll need only 4 simple ingredients to make this hot chocolate:

• unsweetened cocoa powder
• oat milk
• pure maple syrup
• oat flour: my secret ingredient

Unsweetened cocoa powder

You need to make sure you use a high-quality cocoa powder. Read the label and pick a cocoa powder that is 100% cocoa. No sugar, no flavorings. Just pure cocoa. Like this one.

After all, chocolate is the star of this recipe, and using a great cocoa powder is indispensable.

Oat milk

I like to use oat milk in this recipe because that’s what I normally drink every day. But almond milk, or soya milk work just as well.

Pure maple syrup

Maple syrup gives this hot chocolate a naturally sweet taste. You can substitute with raw can sugar if you prefer.

Oat flour

This is my secret ingredient! It’s what makes my healthy hot chocolate thick and creamy, without using any saturated fat (like the one you find in cocoa butter or coconut milk, used in many vegan hot chocolate recipes).

Why oat flour?

Oat flour is nutritious and unrefined, as it’s made with just oats. It acts as a thickening agent. Plus it has a fairly neutral taste which is perfect to let the chocolate flavor shine.

Where do I find oat flour?

You can find gluten-free oat flour online here! Or you can make your own, as I did for this recipe.

How can I make my own oat flour?

Simply add some oats (old fashion oats, also known as rolled oats are what you need) to a food processor or a blender.

Blend for a few minutes, and scrape down the sides of the food processor from time to time.

Keep blending until you reach a fluffy, flour-like consistency. Otherwise, your hot chocolate won’t be smooth and you will get some grittier and chunkier bits in it.

How to make this healthy hot chocolate

Honestly!

Making this healthy hot chocolate takes less than 10 minutes. 

You simply need to add all the ingredients to a small pot and place over medium heat. For the first minute, use a whisk to combine well and avoid forming lumps.

Then switch to a wooden spoon or a spatula. This will help you to stop the chocolate from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning.

The last thing you want is the taste of burned chocolate!

Keep stirring until the chocolate starts to simmer.

To get the best thick and creamy consistency, let the chocolate rest a couple of minutes before pouring it into 2 mugs.

All that is left to do is to top it with coconut whipped cream and some chocolate nibs if you really want to indulge.

Or simply drink it plain. Which is what I normally do!

Homemade hot chocolate mix

And now I am going to share my tip to get this chocolate ready even faster!

You can simply prepare your healthy hot chocolate mix ahead of time, and put it in a pretty jar.

As soon as you crave some rich and creamy hot chocolate, you can simply add 2 tablespoons of the mix into a pot, add 1 cup of plant-based milk, one tablespoon of maple syrup and you are ready to go!

This homemade chocolate mix is perfect as a delicious Christmas gift for anyone. Especially your vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-intolerant friends. They are going to love it!

Alternative ways to flavor this vegan hot chocolate

I love my hot chocolate simple!

But if you want to spice it up a bit, you can add additional flavors.

Here are some of my favorite ideas:

• Vanilla Hot Chocolate Mix: Add a pinch of vanilla bean or vanilla powder to the mix.
• Cinnamon Hot Chocolate Mix: Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract to the ingredients.
• Mocha Hot chocolate: Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee to the mix, to get a kick of caffeine.
• Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate: This is if you really want to indulge…Add 2 teaspoons of peanut butter into the pan!
• Spicy Hot Chocolate: One of my favorites, to warm me up in the winter and boost my immune system. Add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric, plus 1/4 teaspoon of ginger powder and a pinch of black pepper. Delicious!

And you know what else I love?

To pair this hot chocolate with my favorite cookies:

• Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies (No Sugar)
• Vegan Chocolate Amaretti Cookies
• The Healthy Best Breakfast Cookies

Is hot chocolate healthy?

Hot chocolate can be healthy if prepared in the right way.

Cocoa powder is nutritious, rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A and K. Plus it contains antioxidants and flavonoids, which can help to reduce inflammation and boost the immune system.

But remember: all these health benefits are true for pure cocoa powder.

If you add dark chocolate to this recipe, you’ll get added fats from cocoa butter.

This doesn’t mean you can’t eat chocolate from time to time. But if you want to drink the healthiest possible hot chocolate, opt for one made with just cocoa powder.

Have you tried to make this healthy vegan hot chocolate?

Let me know in the comments!

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