HEALTHY HOT CHOCOLATE

Yesterday’s weather was quite out of the ordinary for a mid August day. Chilly and rainy?! Definitely not my favorite thing to wake up to.

A chill in the air always leaves me wanting s warm and cozy drink. I came up with this recipe so you can still enjoy the comfort of cozy hot chocolate, but not have the guilt of all the sugar!

This recipe is crazy simple! Try it out and let me know what you think!

Healthy Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 Cup Milk (I used whole, unpasteurized milk because we get it fresh from my husband’s parent’s farm! But use whatever you prefer. Coconut, almond, etc. would work perfect with this recipe.)

1 1/2 tsp. Raw Honey

2 1/2 tsp Raw Cacao Powder

1/8 tsp. Nutmeg

Directions:

In a saucepan over medium heat, bring milk to a simmer. Once the milk is simmering, reduce the heat to low and sift in the raw cacao powder. Whisk until it is mixed well. Add the honey and nutmeg. Whisk again until all the ingredients are fully incorporated. Sip and enjoy!

One of my favorite parts about this recipe is, not only is this hot chocolate a better alternative to the regular, it contains a SUPER FOOD! Raw Cacao is incredibly good for your body. Continue reading to learn some of the health benefits!

CACAO HEALTH BENEFITS

Cacao comes from South America. People have been using this super food for centuries!

Cacao is the world’s most antioxidant-rich food. It has more than any berry, red wine or dark chocolate bar! Antioxidants are super good for fighting disease and sickness. They also help your body become stronger in order to fight off the affects of harmful chemicals that we are exposed to every day.

Cacao, in it’s raw form carries Magnesium, Carotene and essential fatty acids. It also causes your body to release endorphins that keep your mind sharp and help you stay focused. We could all use some more of that, right?! In addition, Cacao is very beneficial to your heart, as it helps to improve its function.

Also, in case you were wondering, YES, cacao is where chocolate comes from. However, when cacao is heated, fermented and has other ingredients added to it, such as high fructose corn syrup, sugar and dairy, the health benefits described above basically disappear. Raw and natural is always best, and in this case it is essential if you want to receive the full benefits that this little power house has to offer!

WHERE TO BUY:

Cacao is easy to find. I buy mine at my local health food store. You can also find a large selection on amazon!

Thanks again for reading! Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more healthy and simple recipes!

Makayla Smucker