This honey-sweetened hot cocoa is a delightful confection for all of the senses. Perfectly sweet and beautifully frothy, every sip is a tasty treat.
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Hello, my friends!
I’m super excited to share today’s recipe with you. This honey-sweetened hot cocoa is a game changer. Maybe you are looking for ways to cut out processed sugar in your diet and not miss out on all the deliciousness of a mug of hot cocoa on a cold day.
Maybe not, but that’s exactly how this recipe came about. Once or twice a year I like to take a month to avoid processed sugar. I find it really helps my overall health. I’m actually almost half-way through a no-sugar-for-a-month goal right now. Let me be clear that I rarely avoid all treats. I strive for balance by simply avoiding treats that are made with processed sugar. We do a lot of honey-sweetened treats year round anyway, but I’ve found the extra intensity of focus is helpful for me after holidays or times when the sugar addiction has crept in.
So when you’re craving hot chocolate and are not eating processed sugar…well necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes.
Honey-sweetened hot cocoa to the rescue!
What you need to make it:
- Milk – we use whole cow’s milk, but I expect that this recipe will work with any type of milk that you enjoy drinking.
- Cocoa Powder – I normally use unsweetened cocoa powder, but have tried Dutch processed and it is delicious. I typically use slightly less if I am using Dutch processed.
- Raw Honey – we use honey from our very own beehives we harvested this summer. I add it in after I’ve microwaved the milk so as to keep as many of the benefits of raw honey as possible.
- Vanilla Extract – I have professed my love of clear Mexican vanilla (aff. link) before. It is delicious in this hot cocoa.
- Heavy Whipping Cream – it doesn’t take much, and yes it is a little indulgent, but it is so good.
How to make this delicious honey-sweetened hot cocoa
Add milk to a large wide-mouth mug. I use a wide-mouth 16-ounce mug or sometimes a wide-mouth pint jar.
Heat the milk in the microwave until hot.
Then add the rest of ingredients.
Use an immersion blender to blend hot cocoa a minute or two until frothy. Depending on the power of your immersion blender (aff. link) you may need a larger mug than I use. I’ve found with my mug I can pulse for a few seconds on low and the liquid will reach the top of the mug but won’t usually spill unless I stop paying attention.
You guess you could just use a larger mug to start with and avoid the drama of an almost spill cup of hot cocoa every time but where’s the fun in that?
What if I don’t have an immersion blender?
I will say that stirring the hot cocoa with a spoon or whisk may sound like an easier option, but the immersion blender really mixes everything in good and adds the most delicious froth on top. The froth is always my favorite part of hot cocoa. It’s what turns hot cocoa from an obligatory somewhat palatable drink into a gourmet treat.
I haven’t tried it, but I’m guessing you could achieve similar results with a regular blender or a beater of an electric mixer.
What if I want to make more than 1 serving?
I’ve written the recipe so it makes just one serving because that’s the way I usually make it (for myself actually…in case you are wondering).
If you want to make it for more than one person, you may find it is easier to warm it up on the stove instead of individual mugs. It will work great too and you could blend it right in the pan before adding the cocoa to individual mugs.
Oh the possibilities!
Okay, my friends it’s time to wrap this up.
But before I do I just want to point out a few of the possibilities for this delicious honey-sweetened hot cocoa. You could try using different extracts (mint or coconut would be delicious). Top it with some whipped cream (always a good idea).
Or how about dropping in a few dark chocolate chips for an even richer experience? You know I wouldn’t say no to that.
Enjoy, my friends!
Honey-Sweetened Hot Cocoa
This honey-sweetened hot cocoa is a delightful confection for all of the senses. Perfectly sweet and beautifully frothy, every sip is a tasty treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (see note)
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (see note)
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream (optional)
Instructions
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Put milk in large mug (see note). Heat milk in microwave (in a small saucepan on the stove) for about 1 minute 30 seconds or until very hot. Since microwaves vary in power, you may to adjust the time by 30-seconds to a minute.
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Remove mug and add 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa and 1 tablespoon raw honey (more or less to taste – I use a slightly heaping tablespoon of each). Add vanilla extract and heavy cream, if using.
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Use immersion blender on low to pulse hot cocoa for 1 to 2 minutes or until frothy and honey and cocoa are dissolved (see note).
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Let cool to taste and then enjoy!
Recipe Notes
1. I use whole cow’s milk but feel free to use other types of milk as you wish.
2. I’ve used both Dutch processed and unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe. If you are going with dutch processed you may want to start with a scant tablespoon at first and add more if needed. It tends to have a stronger flavor.
3. The heavy whipping cream is optional, but I highly recommend it. It adds a lovely layer of froth on top that makes this hot cocoa absolutely divine.
4. I use a wide-mouth 16-ounce mug or sometimes a wide-mouth pint jar. Depending on the power of your immersion blender you may need a larger mug than I use. I’ve found with my mug I can pulse for a few seconds on low and the liquid will reach the top of the mug but won’t usually spill unless I stop paying attention. You guess you could just use a larger mug to start with and avoid the drama of an almost spill cup of hot cocoa every time but where’s the fun in that?
5. This recipe could easily be multiplied and made in a saucepan for more than 1 serving.
6. For variations you could try using different extracts (mint or coconut would be delicious).
Recipe Source: Heather @ The Cook’s Treat
All images and text ©The Cook’s Treat
Disclaimer: post contains affiliate links for items on Amazon.
