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.
Unsweetened almond milk (or any unsweetened dairy-free milk of choice, like oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk)Unsweetened cocoa powder (or cacao powder, which is raw chocolate powder)
The moderate consumption of cocoa in children helps to promote positive emotions and provides energy. This energy helps them stay active, learn better, and increase their creativity.
Of course, the chocolate we give our children must be of high quality and not contain too much sugar and saturated fat. Dark chocolate is ideal; a high percentage of cocoa is the recommended option, but there is a risk that children will not enjoy the taste.
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.
Enjoying a mug of hot chocolate daily is typically considered safe, provided it's consumed as part of a balanced, varied diet and lifestyle. However, the safety of drinking hot chocolate every day largely depends on the composition of the hot chocolate and one's individual health circ*mstances and dietary restrictions.
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.
Generally, drinking hot chocolate before bed is safe for most people. The only consideration would be that if it has a high caffeine and sugar content, it may affect your daughter's sleep. In some people, it may also cause lactose intolerance and allergies.
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.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Cocoa might make the symptoms of GERD worse. Glaucoma: Cocoa contains caffeine. The caffeine in cocoa increases pressure in the eye and should be used cautiously in people with glaucoma. High blood pressure: Cocoa contains caffeine.
To its credit, chocolate milk has the same nutrients as regular, nonflavored milk. Whether flavored or plain, milk is a valuable source of protein, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium, which are especially important in bone health and growth in children. Chocolate milk, like regular milk, is part of the dairy food group.
The seeds form in long, cucumber-shaped fruits called pods. When the pods are ripe, workers cut them from the tree and remove the seeds. The seeds sit for several days before being dried, either by the Sun or in an oven. The dry seeds, called cocoa beans, are then shipped to processing plants or chocolate factories.
Made from ground up cocoa seeds mixed with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers, the Mayans were drinking chocolate as early as 500 BC. They would pour the drink back and forth from a cup to a pot until a thick foam developed. The drink was then enjoyed cold. 3.
Generally, drinking hot chocolate before bed is safe for most people. The only consideration would be that if it has a high caffeine and sugar content, it may affect your daughter's sleep. In some people, it may also cause lactose intolerance and allergies.
I make hot cocoa in a crock pot and serve it up with a ladle. That would get messy with kids so I think you should go with an insulated jug. You could also have the cups ready with 3 tbs of mix in it and then just pour in hot water for each kid.
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.
Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive 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.
