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!
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
According to the CDC, whole fruits are the only type of sweetener a young toddler should have. These hot cocoas fit the bill for children young and old! We took our hot cocoas up a notch with a touch of vanilla extract and pinch of cinnamon.
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.
Wait until after 12 months, and ideally, closer to 24 months of age. Cacao and chocolate products often contain caffeine, which is best minimized in an infant's diet. Babies under 12 months of age should not be given cacao or chocolate drinks—or any drink other than breast milk, formula, or small amounts of water.
Antioxidant Powerhouse: Hot chocolate made with real cocoa or dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants, such as flavonoids, which help protect the body against oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.
These extra calories can cause weight gain, increasing your risk of heart disease. If it's made with full-fat milk and topped with whipped cream, this will add more calories, and it will be high in saturated fat, which could affect your cholesterol levels.
Mood-boosting effects: Drinking hot chocolate has been shown to increase levels of serotonin and endorphins in the brain, which can improve mood and reduce stress. A healthier option: Compared to coffee, hot chocolate contains less fat and calories and is a good source of antioxidants.
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.
Christopher Cocoa Super Kids Cocoa Health and Nutrition Drink, No Sugar Vegan, 100g x 2 (For Kids and Adults). Add one spoon to hot milk. Add sugar as per taste. Add ice and blend for cold.
It can be served hot or iced, and since it brews just like coffee, you won't need to go out and buy any special equipment to enjoy a cup of this. Brewed cacao is even healthy and safe for kids to drink.
Too much sugar, especially close to bedtime, will give your child a rush of energy that will make them more alert. Caffeine is in more things than you would think! It can be found in drinks such as hot chocolate, energy drinks, canned fizzy drinks (including diet drinks), tea and coffee.
Drinking hot chocolate milk at night can potentially help improve sleep quality, thanks to the soothing psychological effects of consuming a warm drink and the tryptophan content in cocoa. Plus, milk contains calcium and vitamin D, nutrients important for overall health, including the regulation of sleep.
For a sore throat, either warm or very cold liquids are soothing: warm tea, hot chocolate, ice pops, and cold juice. You might want to skip any citrus juices, since they're acidic and can hurt some children's throats.
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.
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.
When Can Babies Have Chocolate? The AAP does not recommend that children under the age of 2 have foods containing caffeine or added sugar—both of which are found in chocolate. 4 So while food allergies are not a reason to delay giving your young child chocolate, the added sugar and caffeine are.
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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