Satisfy Your Chocolate Cravings with This Easy Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe
How to Make Keto Hot Chocolate?
👩🍳 All you need are four simple ingredients for this delicious keto hot chocolate recipe. Just mix sugar-free chocolate, your favorite low-carb milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, and a sugar substitute.
Winter may be over, but the craving for a warm cup of hot chocolate never goes away. However, if you are adhering to a keto diet, you may think that you have to give up enjoying hot chocolate in order to maintain ketosis. Fortunately, there’s a remedy – a fantastic keto hot chocolate recipe that only requires four basic ingredients!
You can easily make this indulgent keto hot chocolate recipe using unsweetened milk, sugar-free chocolate, cocoa powder, and a sweetener of your choice. It’s not only low in carbs and high in healthy fats but also very simple to prepare.
The key to making great hot chocolate is to use high-quality ingredients. By using unsweetened milk, you can achieve a creamy texture without adding any unnecessary sugar or carbohydrates. Adding high-quality chocolate enhances the flavor and satisfies your chocolate cravings, while cocoa powder provides an extra chocolatey taste. You can also adjust the sweetness to your preference by choosing your desired sweetener.
If you want a keto-friendly breakfast beverage or a warm drink for a cold day, try this keto hot chocolate recipe. It’s quick and easy, and you can enjoy it without feeling guilty. The hot chocolate is velvety smooth, so take your time and savor every sip.
Table of Contents
- Is Hot Chocolate Keto?
- Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe
- How to Make Ahead Keto Hot Chocolate Mix
- How to Serve Keto Hot Chocolate
- Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe Tips and Variations
- How to Store and Reheat Keto Hot Chocolate
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Words
Is Hot Chocolate Keto?
Traditional hot chocolate is not suitable for those who follow a keto diet due to its high sugar and carb content from using milk. But, you can still drink hot chocolate even on a keto diet by choosing a keto-friendly recipe.
To make keto hot chocolate, you can use low-carb milk substitutes like unsweetened almond or coconut milk and keto-approved sweeteners such as erythritol and monk fruit instead of sugar. Additionally, you can use high-quality chocolate and cocoa powder to enhance the flavor and richness without increasing the carb content.
If you love hot chocolate but follow a keto diet, this free hot chocolate recipe is perfect for you! It’s easy to make, customizable, delicious, and completely keto-friendly.
Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe
To prepare this warm and comforting drink, only four ingredients are required. It contains no sugar or artificial sweeteners, yet remains just as sweet as ever.
Ingredients
Cocoa Powder: You can use unsweetened cocoa powder for baking. To enhance the flavor, try using dark cocoa powder. To avoid bitterness, consider Dutch-processed cocoa or substitute it with raw cacao powder.
Sweetener of choice: You can use granulated allulose for this recipe. Alternatively, you can also use a brown sugar substitute such as monk fruit, erythritol, or any keto-approved sugar replacement.
Milk of choice: For a low-carb hot chocolate, it’s recommended to use unsweetened almond milk, which has the lowest amount of carbs compared to other alternatives such as hemp or coconut milk. While you can use keto chocolate milk for a stronger chocolate flavor, keep in mind that it may have a slightly higher carb count and an aftertaste. Almond milk does not have a strong flavor, making it the best choice for a low-carb option.
Sugar-free Chocolate: For the perfect low-carb hot chocolate, use real chocolate in the mixture! Add your favorite low-carb chocolate bar or sugar-free chocolate chips into the hot liquid to naturally melt them and create a richer chocolate flavor and thicker texture.
Heavy Whipping Cream: This ingredient is what gives the hot beverage its creamy texture. If you prefer a dairy-free option, consider using full-fat canned coconut milk as a substitute.
Vanilla Extract: This is optional, but you’ll definitely taste the difference in flavor so make sure to use a higher-quality vanilla.
You’ll need the following ingredients to make one mug of hot chocolate:
- 1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
- 1 tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1-2 tablespoons Sweetener
- 1 ½ tablespoons Sugar-free Chocolate Chips or 90% chocolate
Instructions
- First, put all the ingredients except the chocolate into a small saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and allow it to come to a boil. Once it boils, take the pan off the heat.
- Let the mixture sit for several minutes before whisking it together and then add the chocolate chips.
- After pouring the hot chocolate into mugs, you can enhance the flavor with vanilla extract, cinnamon, and/or whipped cream. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes:
Microwave option: To prepare, warm the almond milk in the microwave for 1 minute. Then, add the remaining ingredients and stir everything. Finally, heat it again for 45 seconds, stir once more and your drink is ready to be enjoyed!
The texture of almond milk hot chocolate is lighter compared to that of cow milk hot chocolate, although it is low in carbs and calories. To make it creamier without adding too many carbs, you can use a mixture of 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk. This will result in a richer hot chocolate.
Nutrition Information
One serving of keto hot chocolate has the following nutritional content:
- Calories: 79.3kcal
- Carbohydrates: 8.2 grams
- Fiber: 3.9 grams
- Net Carbs: 4.3 grams
- Protein: 3.2 grams
- Fat: 6.5 grams
How to Make Ahead Keto Hot Chocolate Mix
You also have the option to make ahead a sugar-free hot chocolate mix.
You’ll need 3/4 cup of your preferred sugar substitute, 6 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, and a cup of heavy cream powder (or coconut milk powder). Combine everything in a small jar. Shake well and break up any lumps with a whisk or fork.
To prepare a mug of hot chocolate, combine 1/2 cup of keto hot cocoa mix with approximately 1 cup of boiling water, then stir.
How to Serve Keto Hot Chocolate
This hot chocolate recipe is a great keto option for breakfast if you prefer not to have your usual bulletproof coffee. It is low-carb, sugar-free, and considered one of the best keto hot drink recipes.
This homemade hot chocolate is a tasty substitute for black coffee or tea. It contains only 4 grams of net carbs, leaving room for more breakfast food. Additionally, it can also satisfy afternoon chocolate cravings.
If you prefer a simple low-carb gluten-free hot chocolate, you can enjoy it without any toppings in a mug. However, if you want a more indulgent and satisfying experience, you can add a generous amount of unsweetened whipped cream. Opt for coconut whipped cream if you want a dairy-free alternative.
To enhance the chocolate flavor, try adding grated sugar-free dark chocolate, a few drops of vanilla extract, or a pinch of cinnamon to the drink. You can also add one or two keto marshmallows for added smoothness. Finally, drizzle some sugar-free caramel sauce or keto chocolate syrup on top of the cream. Pairing the drink with a keto donut or cookies also makes for a perfect combination.
Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe Tips and Variations
To make a richer hot chocolate, you can use half the amount of milk and replace it with heavy cream. Wait for several minutes after adding the chocolate chips to the hot liquid, as it will melt them naturally and help create a creamier taste.
To prepare this beverage in the microwave, use a large bowl and microwave everything in 30-second intervals.
Though you’re free to customize this recipe as you like, it may be best to steer clear of erythritol or monk fruit sweeteners, as they won’t give you as smooth a texture as allulose or other brown sugar substitutes. If you don’t have any other sweeteners, it would be best to use a liquid sweetener such as sugar-free maple syrup or a simple keto syrup.
You can change the flavor of a hot beverage by making some simple adjustments. You can try the following variations in flavor:
- To make Mexican keto hot chocolate, simply add 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder and/or 1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne to the ingredients before simmering for a spicier flavor.
- To make pumpkin spice hot chocolate, add 1-2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree and 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the mixture before simmering.
- To add peppermint flavor, use 1-2 drops of peppermint extract.
- To make a mocha, add 1 tablespoon of either instant coffee or decaf coffee.
- For a slightly nutty flavor, add 1-2 drops of hazelnut extract to the mixture.
- To make salted caramel hot chocolate, pour caramel syrup with a pinch of salt into your drink while it’s still hot.
- If you prefer white chocolate flavors, add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar-free white chocolate chips.
How to Store and Reheat Keto Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is most delicious when fresh from the stovetop, but it can also be refrigerated for a few days and reheated. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, covered in an airtight container, for a maximum of 5 days.
To reheat hot chocolate, you can use a microwave or a small saucepan on the stove. If using the microwave, heat it in 30-second intervals until it’s warm. If using a saucepan, reheat it until it’s hot. Once heated, add marshmallows and/or whipped cream as desired, and enjoy.
The sugar-free hot chocolate mix can be stored easily for future use. Simply keep it in a mason jar or an airtight container in the pantry for a maximum of 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate Have Carbs?
Compared to traditional hot chocolate, the sugar-free variant has a much lower carb content depending on the particular recipe and ingredients used. For instance, this keto hot chocolate recipe has only about 4 grams of net carbs per serving.
Can I Use Cocoa Powder on Keto?
Yes, you can use cocoa powder for a low-carb and keto-friendly hot chocolate recipe. This recipe uses unsweetened cocoa powder and a sugar-free sweetener to fit into your keto diet. Some cocoa powder brands contain added sugar to reduce costs, so make sure to choose packaging that says “unsweetened” to avoid consuming carbs in the form of sugar.
Final Words
Creating a delicious keto hot chocolate doesn’t have to be hard. You only need four basic ingredients – almond milk, chocolate, cocoa powder, and a keto-friendly sweetener. By using these ingredients, you can enjoy a cup of velvety smooth hot chocolate that will satisfy your cravings while remaining compliant with your low-carb, high-fat diet.
To make a keto-friendly hot chocolate, use unsweetened plant-based milk and a low-carb sweetener. This way, you won’t consume any unnecessary carbohydrates or added sugars. Make sure to use high-quality chocolate and cocoa powder for a rich chocolate taste. Enjoy this guilt-free treat any time of day.
If you want a warm and comforting drink for a chilly winter evening or a delicious and indulgent treat, try making this keto hot chocolate recipe. It’s simple to prepare and allows you to enjoy something sweet without breaking your keto diet.
Anytime you’re craving Starbucks, feel free to try out this keto hot chocolate recipe. It’s a guilt-free way to enjoy a comforting and warm cup of hot chocolate without worrying about your carb intake. Give it a go and see for yourself!