Using unsweetened almond milk and a splash of cream keeps carbs low while still tasting rich. Monk fruit or erythritol sweetener replaces sugar; add to taste.
Ingredients
You’ll need: Small saucepan, Whisk
Method
Whisk the cocoa and sweetener with a splash of almond milk into a paste.
Add the rest of the almond milk, the cream and the chopped unsweetened chocolate.
Warm over medium-low, whisking, until the chocolate melts and it’s steaming. Don’t boil.
Stir in the vanilla and salt; taste and adjust the sweetener.
Tips
Sweeteners vary in strength: start with 1 tablespoon.
Top with unsweetened whipped cream.
Nutrition per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 245
- Protein
- 6g
- Carbs
- 17g
- Sugar
- 2g
- Fiber
- 5g
- Fat
- 23g
- Caffeine
- 29mg
Estimated from standard USDA values for the ingredients listed; brands vary.
Variations
Dairy-free: Replace the cream with canned coconut milk.
Mocha: Add a shot of espresso.
Nutrition at a glance
One serving has about 245 calories, 2 g sugar, 6 g protein and about 29 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 this keto?
It’s low in net carbs: mostly from cocoa and milk. Check your sweetener and almond milk labels.
Made this one?
Reader twists and tips
Made Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate (Keto-Friendly)? Tell us what you changed and how it came out. The first good one goes right here.
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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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