Healthy Recipes Drinks Healthy Chocolate Drink Recipes Healthy Hot Chocolate & Cocoa Recipes Healthy Hot Cacao 5.0 (1) 1 Review If you're looking for a warm, chocolaty treat that's also nutritious, try this healthy hot chocolate made with cacao powder. It's made from the same cacao beans as cocoa, but without roasting them before grinding. While proponents say skipping the heat processing preserves more nutrients, cacao and cocoa powders offer similar health benefits, including being rich in antioxidants, which may help improve cholesterol and lower blood pressure. They also contain minerals like iron and magnesium, and give you a bit of fiber, which helps to promote a healthy digestive system. Unlike many hot chocolate recipes, which are high in sugar, this flavorful treat is made with only a little bit of agave syrup for sweetness (you can also sub in honey, maple syrup or regular sugar if you don't have agave on hand). In addition to being wholesome and delicious, this recipe is very easy to make—and whips up in less than 5 minutes! By Andrea Mathis, M.A., RDN, LD Andrea Mathis, M.A., RDN, LD Andrea is an Alabama-based registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of the healthy food blogs, Beautiful Eats & Things, and Little Eats & Things and author of The Complete Book of Smoothies. Andrea has worked in several healthcare settings including clinical, public health and long-term care. Andrea believes in achieving optimal health by incorporating healthier eating habits into your lifestyle and making healthy eating fun! When she's not running after her two boys, she enjoys creating content to encourage self-love and promote body positivity. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 19, 2024 Tested by EatingWell Test Kitchen Tested by EatingWell Test Kitchen The EatingWell Test Kitchen is comprised of a group of culinary professionals who develop and test our recipes. Our recipes go through a rigorous process, which includes testing by trained recipe testers, using different equipment (e.g., gas and electric stoves) and a variety of tools and techniques to make sure that it will really work when you make it at home. Testers shop major supermarkets to research availability of ingredients. Finally, a Registered Dietitian reviews each recipe to ensure that we deliver food that's not only delicious, but adheres to our nutrition guidelines as well. Learn more about our food philosophy and nutrition parameters. Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Rate PRINT Share Active Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Servings: 2 Nutrition Profile: Nut-Free Soy-Free Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 2 cups reduced-fat milk or unsweetened nondairy milk (see Tip) 2 tablespoons cacao powder ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon agave syrup ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Whipped cream or nondairy whipped cream (optional) Shaved dark chocolate (optional) Directions Combine milk, cacao powder and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat; whisk to break up any clumps. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture is smooth and steaming, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in agave and vanilla. Pour into two mugs. Top with whipped cream and shaved dark chocolate, if desired. Andrea Mathis Tips Tip: Substitute unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk or coconut milk, if desired. Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, January 2021 Rate It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 170 Calories 6g Fat 23g Carbs 9g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 2 Serving Size 1 cup Calories 170 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 23g 8% Dietary Fiber 2g 7% Total Sugars 19g Protein 9g 18% Total Fat 6g 8% Saturated Fat 4g 20% Cholesterol 20mg 7% Vitamin A 481IU 10% Sodium 116mg 5% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved