Mexican Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon and chile warms the belly on cold days. Choose a plant-based milk if you are vegan. If lactose is a concern, opt for a lactose-free dairy variety, such as creamy ultra-filtered milk, which has extra calcium and protein and fewer carbohydrates.
Ingredients
- 2 cups 2% milk Choose a plant milk -- try almond or oat milk -- if you are a vegan.
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 Tablespoon sugar, use 2 Tablespoons if not using stevia or monkfruit
- 1 Tablespoon granulated stevia, or monkfruit (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon Choose Ceylon cinnamon for a milder taste. Vietnamese cinnamon is more assertive.
- dash chile powder
- smidgen cayenne You can omit this or increase it if you like hot spices.
Toppings
- Whipped topping Any whipped topping tastes great. Coconut whip in the tub or aerosol can is a delicious vegan-friendly whip.
- Chocolate shavings
- Chocolate sprinkles
- Nutmeg, grated
- Marshmallows A traditional choice, but my least because they are very sweet and add many grams of sugar.
Instructions Start Cooking
- Wash hands for 20 seconds before starting, lathering with soap and rinsing with running water.
- Pour ½ cup of milk into a small saucepan. Add the cocoa powder, brown sugar, stevia or monkfruit sweetener (if using), cinnamon, vanilla, chili powder, and cayenne. Gently whisk over low heat until sugar has melted and all ingredients are smooth.
- Slowly whisk in the remaining 1½ cups of milk. Turn the heat up to medium-low and warm the mixture for 5 to 8 minutes until hot but not boiling.
- Remove from heat and pour or ladle into two mugs. Top as desired with whipped topping, chocolate shavings, and/or nutmeg. Insert a cinnamon stick into each mug, and enjoy!
Notes
- I often use half sugar with half granulated stevia or monkfruit to save calories and carbs. Feel free to double the amount of sugar in the recipe and omit the stevia/monkfruit or to leave out the sugar and double up on sweetener.
- The nutrition facts are for regular 2% dairy milk. Ultra-filtered 2% milk will slightly increase the protein and calcium, while unsweetened almond milk will lower the calorie count.
- The nutrition facts also don't include toppings. Whip from aerosol cans only adds a small amount of fat and sugar. Chocolate shavings will add a few more calories and sugar, but beware of marshmallows, a traditional hot chocolate topping stuffed with sugar and calories!
Nutrition
Serving: 8ozCalories: 157kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 9gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 112mgPotassium: 411mgFiber: 2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 243IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 297mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition Facts
Mexican Hot Chocolate
Serving Size
8 oz
Amount per Serving
Calories
157
% Daily Value*
Fat
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
0.2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
2
g
Cholesterol
19
mg
6
%
Sodium
112
mg
5
%
Potassium
411
mg
12
%
Carbohydrates
28
g
9
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
18
g
20
%
Protein
9
g
18
%
Vitamin A
243
IU
5
%
Vitamin C
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
297
mg
30
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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