Most hot cocoa mixes have 20-25 g of sugar per packet. Unsweetened cocoa plus a little maple, vanilla and cinnamon gives you a mug that tastes indulgent with far less.
Ingredients
You’ll need: Small saucepan, Whisk
Method
Whisk the cocoa, maple and cinnamon with a splash of milk into a paste.
Add the remaining milk. Warm over medium-low heat, whisking, until steaming: about 3-5 minutes. Don’t let it boil.
Stir in the vanilla and salt.
Tips
Vanilla and a pinch of salt make it taste sweeter than it is.
Unsweetened soy milk adds about 7 g protein.
Nutrition per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 140
- Protein
- 9g
- Carbs
- 20g
- Sugar
- 9g
- Fiber
- 5g
- Fat
- 5g
- Caffeine
- 24mg
Estimated from standard USDA values for the ingredients listed; brands vary.
Variations
Sugar-free: Use a monk fruit or stevia sweetener to taste.
Nutrition at a glance
One serving has about 140 calories, 9 g sugar, 9 g protein and about 24 mg caffeine. Values are estimates from USDA data for the exact amounts listed; your chocolate brand and milk change them: check your version with our chocolate drink calorie calculator.
Storing and reheating
Leftover hot chocolate keeps in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, whisking well: the chocolate settles as it cools. A skin on top is normal; whisk it back in.
Choosing your chocolate
For drinks made with cocoa powder, Dutch-process gives a darker, smoother, mellower cup and natural cocoa a brighter, fruitier one. For melted chocolate, use a bar you’d enjoy eating: chips contain stabilizers that resist melting. See our cocoa and hot chocolate mix reviews and cocoa powder guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is hot chocolate healthy?
Cocoa itself is low in sugar and a source of fiber and minerals; it’s the added sugar in mixes that adds up.
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Gear for this recipe
A top pick in America’s Test Kitchen’s cocoa tasting for complex, layered chocolate flavor. Comes in natural and Dutch-process versions.
- Type
- Cocoa powder
- Size
- 8 oz
- Cost
- about $1 per oz
- Make with
- Make from scratch
A higher-fat Dutch-process cocoa that gives hot chocolate a dark color, smooth flavor and fuller body.
- Type
- Cocoa powder
- Size
- 8 oz
- Cost
- about $1.60 per oz
- Make with
- Make from scratch
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