When it gets cold, the one thing you want to reach for is a warming hot chocolate, or latte. But often these can be very calorific and if you are intolerant to dairy, or avoiding dairy, then you may want some alternatives.
Here are some that I like to enjoy, and something you can easily make at home for the whole family, or just indulge in yourself.
I don’t like using processed sugar in any of my recipes, so I have used natural alternatives instead, which work really well.
Extra Creamy Rich Hot Chocolate
This is an extra creamy hot chocolate without the cream. I used tinned coconut milk rather than the pouring kind as this tends to be a lot creamier. This is a very rich hot chocolate but packed with lots of great vitamins and minerals from the coconut milk, such as vitamins C, E, B Vits, iron, selenium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Ingredients (Makes 1 cup)
1 cup of tinned Coconut Milk
3 fresh dates (pitted)
1 dessertspoonful of cocoa powder
Method
• Shake the tin of the coconut milk and empty and whisk if necessary to ensure that the creamy coconut is mixed evenly.
• Pour 1 cup of the coconut milk into a blender with the cocoa powder and dates, and blend for a few pulses until smooth
• Heat over a low heat in a pan and serve warm…nothing else needed
Cinnamon, Honey, Vanilla Cup
If you would prefer a lighter, milkier drink then this is a good one to try. With a lovely cinnamon and nutmeg flavour, with a hint of honey, this will warm you up for those cold winter evenings. Cinnamon is also great for balancing your blood sugar, so will help stop you getting cravings in between meals.
Ingredients
1 cup of almond milk
½ teaspoon of vanilla essence
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon of honey
a little freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
• Place all the ingredients in a saucepan other than the nutmeg and warm over a low heat.
• Serve with a little of the grated nutmeg on top
Chilli Chocolate Spiced Hot Chocolate
This hot chocolate will keep you extra warm this winter, with anti- inflammatory turmeric and dried chillies and healthy flavonoid rich cocoa as well, this definitely scores points as a healthier version compared to traditional hot chocolate.
Ingredients (Makes 1 cup)
1 cup of almond or oat milk
1 dessertspoonful of cocoa
2 squares of dark chocolate
½ teaspoon of ground turmeric
small pinch of dried chilli’s
1 teaspoon grated dark chocolate (optional)
1 teaspoon of honey
Method
• Place all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Warm over a low heat and serve and enjoy, sprinkle with a little more dark chocolate if desired.
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