When I was growing up in Vermont, nothing said “winter” like a snow day and a steaming cup of hot cocoa. But as I’ve become more health conscious over the years, the thought of having lots of sugar and milk with a little cocoa powder is no longer as appealing. While cocoa powder has been shown to have powerful antioxidants and a long list of health benefits (For more information about the health benefits of cocoa powder watch this video), unfortunately adding milk has been shown to suppress the health benefits of cocoa powder. And we all know refined sugar isn’t something we need to add to our diet!
So here’s what I’ve come up with instead. A truly healthy, deeply chocolatey, slightly sweet, hot chocolate that you can enjoy with a smile, knowing that you are giving yourself a treat that is actually treating yourself well.
There are only three ingredients, but all of them have been well thought out. Be sure not to use dutch cocoa powder also known as alkaline cocoa powder. Alkalized cocoa powder has dramatically reduced antioxidant levels. For more information take a look at this study. For the sweetener, I used date molasses which is lower in sugar than other natural sweeteners and retains some of the healthful benefits of dates.
Healthy Hot Cocoa
Serving size 1
Ingredients:
1 Cup Unsweetened Soymilk (or other non-dairy milk)
1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder (unsweetened and non-alkaline)
2 Teaspoons Date Molasses
Directions:
1. Over a medium low flame warm up the soymilk.
2. When the soymilk starts to steam add the cocoa
powder and date molasses and whisk all the
ingredients together until well blended.
3. Pour carefully into a mug and enjoy!