A little trick gives this healthy hot chocolate recipe a thick and luscious texture WITHOUT the need for extra sugar or fat!
How do you take your hot chocolate? Thick? With marshmallows? And whipped cream?!
I have seen and sampled many hot chocolate recipes, and while they were delicious, most were fat-laden and sugar heavy.
This recipe is different in that, where others use chopped chocolate and cream to achieve a thick consistency, I employ something a bit healthier....tapioca!
With no added sugar or fat, I consider it to be the ideal ingredient for this drink's irresistible viscosity.
Tips for making your hot chocolate lower in sugar
The sweetness in this recipe comes from a combination of natural sugar and stevia.
I find that stevia on its own is a bit too off-putting. When paired with another source of sweetness, however, it generates the perfect taste while still lowering the carbs (and candida effects).
I also enjoy using a combination of carob and cocoa, but feel free to use all cocoa, if you desire. Carob, however, adds a natural sweetness, which allows you to use less sugar in recipes.
While adding salt to hot chocolate may seem odd, do not omit it! The small pinch really brings out all of the flavors.
Finally, a few sprinkles of cinnamon in the hot chocolate can lend a 'sweeter' taste, as cinnamon is typically used in desserts.
More hot chocolate recipes
Recipe notes
Add in a dash or two of cinnamon for more flavor.
Thick and Healthy Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk of your choice
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 4 teaspoons tapioca starch
- 2 Tablespoons sweetener coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc.
- pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- stevia to taste, if desired
Instructions
- In a saucepan, whisk 1 1/2 cups of milk with the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt until smooth.
- Place the saucepan on the stove, and turn the heat to medium high.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup of milk and the tapioca starch.
- Heat the cocoa mix until steaming.
- Whisk in the tapioca slurry and keep stirring until thick (3-5 minutes).
- Once thickened, remove pan from heat.
- Stir in vanilla and stevia.
- Serve hot with marshmallows and/or whipped cream!
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
freshlifefindings
Yum! This looks so rich and good. I love that you call it Dochi from your daughter's words, so cute. My husband loves hot chocolate so we will definitely try this healthier version soon!
Lauren
Thank you! Let me know how you like it!
Katie
Wow, this is so rich! It's really delicious. I took advantage of the unseasonably cooler weather where I live and felt very "indulgent" with my healthy hot chocolate tonight. I'll definitely be making this a lot more this winter. I've never had such thick hot chocolate. Thanks for another great recipe! I've enjoyed many of them so far 🙂
Lauren
That's awesome Katie! This is one of our favorite wintertime treats! 🙂
foodie
Delicious, creamy, and hardly any sugar! Thanks🙂!