When I was a kid, I loved hot chocolate. But have you taken a look at some of those pre-packaged hot chocolates lately? They come in at a whopping 23 grams of added sugar!!
So now with Fall in full swing, I decided to make an upgraded, healthy hot chocolate that satisfies those cozy cravings while containing zero grams of added sugar AND 18 grams of complete protein!
In fact, this recipe tastes so much like the real deal that I had my niece and nephew test it out... they couldn't even tell the difference.
My zero sugar hot chocolate can be made with a variety of different milks, depending on what your body (and taste buds) prefer. I personally prefer using whole milk, as it helps boost the protein content by an additional 8 grams and it tastes the most similar to a traditional hot chocolate. If you're carb sensitive, you might want to skip the whole milk option, as it does contain some natural sugar in the form of lactose.
However, you can also use unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, hemp seed milk, cashew milk - any nut or seed milk that you prefer! I recommend not using oat milk. Oat milk is usually high in starches and made with inflammatory oils, so it's best to skip this option.
The sweetness in this healthy hot chocolate recipe comes from the zero sugar sweetener used in Autumn's Protein Powder ~ monk fruit extract. Monk fruit is my zero sugar sweetener of choice because it adds a hint of sweetness without the weird after taste that stevia can cause and without the bloating that sugar alcohols can cause.
And because we're using my zero sugar protein powder in this recipe, we're getting the added perks of an additional 10 grams of complete protein! So if you're having difficulties hitting all of your protein needs, this is a delicious way to help boost your intake 😋
Whip this up tonight for some zero sugar goodness!
Zero Sugar Hot Chocolate
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 cup milk of choice (whole milk, unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk)
1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder OR cacao powder
1. Add all ingredients in a small pot over medium-low heat. Whisk to combine.
Note: Make sure to not allow the milk to get too hot, as milk can curdle at higher temperatures. If your stove top heats quickly or runs on the warm side, keep the temperature at the low setting.
2. Heat for 2-3 minutes, whisking occasionally, until your protein powder and cocoa are entirely dissolved and the hot chocolate is warm.
3. Optional to serve with a small dollop of homemade zero sugar whipped cream.
Note: If you are carb sensitive, I recommend opting for almond milk or coconut milk. However, if choosing one of these options instead of whole milk, keep in mind that the total protein content will be 10 grams instead of 18 grams.
Head over HERE to grab Autumn's Protein Powder today!!
❤️ Autumn
Autumn Elle Nutrition
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.