Naturally Sweet Hot Chocolate
This 3-ingredient healthy hot chocolate is naturally sweetened and absolutely delicious.
What inspired me to make this quick paleo hot cocoa? Well, yesterday I decided to go to the grocery store in the pouring rain. Most of you probably make a mental note of where you park when you walk into a grocery store – especially in the rain. Not me. By the time I finally got back home, I was sopping wet – from my head down to my toes. I took a hot shower but I still felt cold; I decided that I needed something warm to sip on. I searched my pantry/fridge for ingredients and this paleo hot chocolate concoction is what I came up with. It was exactly what I needed. I drank it snuggled under a blanket and sipped it slowly while watching an episode of modern family on my dvr.
Now, for the three ingredients. The first: medjool dates. Whenever dates are in season, I try to keep them around because they’re the perfect sweetener for so many things. If you soak them overnight, they become soft and mushy – perfect for smoothies. I tend to keep a few soaked dates in my fridge for when I have a date puree emergency. What, you don’t have those? Well let me tell you – soaked dates are pretty handy to keep around.
So, I combined 5-6 (okay, definitely 6) dates, 1 cup of almond milk and 1 tablespoon of organic raw cacao in my nutribullet and blended it all together until it looked nice and frothy. Then I warmed up the chocolate milk and poured it into a mug. It was soo good and the fact that it took me a total of maybe five minutes made the drink that much sweeter.
Ingredients
- 1 cup homemade almond milk
- 5-6 medjool dates soaked overnight (I keep them in my fridge) and pit removed
- 1 tablespoon Organic Raw Cacao
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Warm up the chocolate mixture (either in a saucepan on the stovetop or in a microwave) and serve.
Dede says
I stay sugar and fructose free, but your recipe sounded so good, so I decided to tweak for my needs: I had leftover coconut cream, so I put about 2 oz. in a blender, added in 8 oz. of water with 1 TBLSP. cacao powder and Kal brand white stevia powder (2 tiny scoops) and some sea salt, then after blended, I warmed up on the stove. So good! p.s. Love your recipes that I’ve tried and I’ve tried many, especially in love with the Paleo Butter Chicken and Brazilian Fish Stew Moqueca! Amazing!
My Heart Beets says
Dede, I’m glad you were able to make this work for you! Hopefully your substitutions will help other readers who are also sugar-free 🙂 Glad to have you as a reader!
Linn Odegard says
Hey! First of all I just want to say great website! I’ve already tried a lot of your recipies, and I still have a lot I’m planning to try. My boyfriend actually told me about it. I’m paleo and he is Indian, so we have found a middle ground on this website:) I have a question about this recipe: is there any spice that would be good to add? That could kinda give it a little kick?
My Heart Beets says
Hi Linn, that’s great to hear! You can try cayenne, kashmiri chili powder or ancho chile powder. Maybe even combine one of those spices with a sweet spice like cinnamon, vanilla bean, nutmeg, etc. The possibilities are endless – try experimenting with different spices to see what you like best 🙂 Let me know what you try!
Desiree says
I accidentally left my dates soaking for 4 days lol:) It still came out great though and super thick. As I am craving chocolate its totally doing the job hehe. Yummers thanks for sharing!
My Heart Beets says
Desiree, that’s okay I let mine soak a little longer sometimes too. So glad you liked the recipe!
Cori Livingstone says
I don’t like dates, there is something about them I truly dislike. I tried fresh, soaked, dried & just can not eat them. I do applaude you for all of your wonderful fresh recipes. Keep all the wonderful information flowing. A
My Heart Beets says
Hi Cori – you can use any sweetener you’d like. I’ve made this with maple syrup and honey 🙂
Gloroa says
I just made this for the first time today. After driving home in really bad icy conditions here in jersey! It was just what I needed it
And it was my first time trying the dates!
My Heart Beets says
I’m so glad you liked it!
Pauline says
ok, at the risk of sounding totally stupid I have this question. Soak the dates overnight in what? The almond milk?
My Heart Beets says
Hi Pauline, no problem – soak the dates overnight in water 🙂
Shana says
How long can the dates stay soaking in the fridge for? How long are they good for that way?
My Heart Beets says
Hi Shana, I use them within a couple days and just soak more dates as needed. I’m not sure how long they’d last in the fridge – I tend to play it safe so I’m not sure I’d want to find out 🙂
Pauline says
Ok, sorry for the question. I did a web search and found my answer.
Thank you.
joannabanana21 says
ahh i love seeing another date addict. nothing is better than medjool dates!!! i think they would be in my top 3 foods to live off of for the rest of my life!! stuffing them with coconut butter is my favorite but hot chocolate sounds amazing. if only the ice skating rink sold it like this instead of the “gods knows what’s in there” stuff they sell.
Paula says
Sounds great, my book arrived Against all Grains yesterday, time to make a change and go Paleo! Cute about the soaking wet rain you ran into, this is something I would do! I love your attitude and zest for life!
My Heart Beets says
Paula, thank you so much for the sweet comment! And, that’s wonderful – happy to hear you’re going paleo! Please let me know if you notice any changes on the diet!