Simple Homemade Hot Chocolate

The perfect beverage to keep you warm & cozy during the winter ❄️

Growing up we would go skiing every year, sadly this year we've had to cancel our trip due to the pandemic. However, this doesn't mean we can't enjoy the hot chocolate we would indulge in after our day on the slopes!

After a killer day on the mountain we would unwind by going to the base of the mountain, buy a cup of hot chocolate and a marshmallow treat or a chocolate chip cookie, and relax. Even if we went skiing this year, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy the hot chocolate offered at the base, since they are made with dairy milk. Instead we are going to adopt a new tradition where we go back to our lodge and whip up this delicious recipe. We can't wait to make these during our next ski trip and enjoy it with our family & friends!

Although we can't ski this year, the weather is still appropriate for this delicious treat. As it gets chillier in New York, this super simple homemade hot chocolate recipe is sure to warm you up. It is creamy, sweet, and rich. What separates this from your typical pack of instant hot chocolate, is the use of Dutch-processed cocoa powder and, super food, cacao powder. This recipe is also 100% compassionate, eliminating the use of dairy milk without compromising on flavor and using ethically sourced chocolate.

Ethical Chocolate

The chocolate industry is hidden with dark secrets. In addition, transparency issues from chocolate companies make it hard for consumers to understand what is really going on. While most companies are claiming to commit to sustainable and ethical cocoa farming, what they say may not always be reflected in their action.

According to the US Department of Labor, in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana estimates found that 1.56 million children are engaged in hazardous work on cocoa farms. These two countries produce nearly 60% of the world’s cocoa each year! And in 2019, a Washington Post article exposed the sad truth in the chocolate industry. After 20 years of pledging to end child labor in the chocolate supply chain, big companies like Hershey, Mars, and Nestle were still unable to guarantee their chocolate is made without child labor.

It's important to look for companies who are transparent about their supply chain and are able to prove that they aren't engaged in unethical behavior. Luckily, Green America has made it easier to see which companies are ethical and which are not, with a chocolate scorecard. We encourage you to use this the next time you buy chocolate. Click here for the score card.

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Serving Size: 2 people

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 15 mins

Description:

The perfect beverage to keep you warm & cozy during the winter ❄️

Ingredients:

2 cups plant milk (we recommend using a creamy type, we used Sproud pea milk, but oat milk and soy milk are also great)

2 tbsp Dutch Processed cocoa powder

2 tbsp cacao powder

4 tbsp hot water

1 tbsp coffee

1 tsp vanilla extract

pinch of salt

maple syrup (to taste)

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Coconut whipped cream

1 can of coconut milk (refrigerated overnight)

2 tablespoons maple syrup or any sweetener of choice (optional)

Instructions:

Hot chocolate

1. Mix Dutch Processed cocoa, cacao powder, salt, water, coffee, and vanilla in a small bowl. This mixture should resemble melted chocolate.

2. Bring the plant milk to a light boil, then add the chocolate mixture.

3. Constantly mix until chocolate mixture is fully incorporated

4. Add in chocolate chips and maple syrup, adjust according to taste

5. Pour into your cup and enjoy with your favorite toppings!

Coconut whipped cream

1. Take your coconut milk out of the fridge, make sure to not shake or tip the can.

2. Open your can of coconut milk, and scoop out the top layer. In the fridge, the coconut cream and coconut water separate and the water settles to the bottom. We don't need the coconut water for this recipe and you can save it to drink or use in other recipes.

3. Put the coconut cream into a medium bowl, using an electric mix or your hand, whisk the cream and break up the coconut cream clumps. Whisk for 2-4 minutes or until the cream becomes light and fluffy with stiff peaks.

4. Add in your maple syrup or sweetener of choice, mix till incorporated. Taste to see if the cream is sweet enough for your preference (this is an optional step, you can keep the cream unsweetened)

5. Top the whipped cream to your hot chocolate or any other desserts, if you aren't using it immediately you can transfer the cream to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.