This thick hot carob is a delicious and caffeine-free alternative to hot chocolate! Lightly sweetened with a combination of honey and stevia, and made thicker with arrowroot.
I’ve always been a sucker for carob, though it never ‘took off’ with the mainstream foodies.
Carob is often compared to chocolate, and while the two look similar, they really don’t taste much alike. Carob is naturally sweet, while cocoa is bitter.
Because carob is sweeter, it requires less added sweetener when used in treats.
I make this hot carob as an alternative to hot chocolate, and I have to tell you, I may like carob better! It’s a nice change, and it helps you avoid the stimulating buzz of cocoa. That can be something to consider if you crave hot chocolate at night, for instance.
I like my chocolate or hot carob nice and thick, and I accomplish that by adding in a slurry of arrowroot and water. It adds a little body and mouthfeel to the drink, making it much more luscious.
Carob is pretty cheap, so I hope you consider giving this yummy hot carob a go!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Milk of your choice
- Carob powder
- Sea salt – Just a pinch to bring out the flavors!
- Honey – Or maple syrup
- Arrowroot
- Vanilla extract
- Stevia – For extra sweetness (or you can add more honey)
Recipe notes
Be sure to follow step six and pull the pan off as soon as the mixture has thickened. If you continue to heat it, the thickness will ‘break’ and leave the mixture watery.
Give my Lower Sugar Marshmallows a try to compliment your hot carob!
If you’re not into carob, try our Favorite Hot Chocolate!
Hot Carob (A Caffeine-Free Alternative To Cocoa!)
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk of your choice
- 2 Tablespoons carob powder
- dash sea salt
- 4 teaspoons honey
- 1 Tablespoon arrowroot
- 1 Tablespoon water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- stevia, to taste
Instructions
- Blend or whisk your milk, carob, salt, and honey.
- Pour mixture into a saucepan and heat until lightly steaming.
- In a small bowl, mix the arrowroot with the water until well combined.
- Add the arrowroot slurry into the saucepan.
- Continue stirring until the mixture is thickened.
- Once thickened, remove the pan from the heat and add in the vanilla and stevia.
- Serve with marshmallows and whipped cream or as desired!
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!
thanks for the recipe. I have some carob powder in the cabinet and perhaps it’s fate will be this delicious looking recipe. Merry Christmas to you! Wishing you a holiday season of joy.
Thank you, Laura, to you as well! I hope you enjoy the recipe if you try it! 🙂
I subbed maple syrup for honey and cornstarch for the arrowroot. Thanks, this was really good and exactly what my husband and I needed after shoveling snow. 🙂
This looks so good! What a great way to enjoy a treat while staying healthy!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
I will make this as soon as I have confirmation from you that….you do really mean one tablespoon each of arrowroot and water? It sounds like a lot of arrowroot to dissolve in a tablespoon of water.
Other than that I am all set…I bought arrowroot today and always have the other ingredients to hand.
Thank you for a beautiful and inspiring blog.
Helen
Hi Helen,
Yes, it is one tablespoon. It makes this nice and thick! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Thank you very much. X
Great recipe! Definitely a healthier and tastier alternative to hot cocoa in my opinion.
Thank you, June! Merry Christmas!