Sugar-Free Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe with Mix Option
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Warm up with a keto hot chocolate recipe and indulge guilt-free! Made with rich cocao powder and a low-carb sweetener, it’s the perfect treat for something sweet and cozy on a cold night. However, don’t stop at one cup but follow the directions for a homemade low-carb hot chocolate mix and stock up!
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Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe
A cup of keto hot chocolate is a delicious and healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth. This is my favorite sugar-free hot chocolate recipe, and I’m sure it will become your favorite too! It can warm you up and delight your taste buds without the extra carbs or added sugar.
If you tried store-bought keto hot chocolate mixes and were disappointed, you’re in the right place. This recipe is easy, delicious, and just what you need when the chocolate craving strikes.
Of course, the commercial brands like Nesquik that many of us grew up on aren’t even in the running here. Even the “no sugar added” options are chock full of strange chemical ingredients best to avoid at all costs.
Not all hot chocolate is keto because many recipes use milk and sugar. But this recipe is both dairy-free and sugar-free, in addition to being low-carb and keto-approved.
I’ll show you how to make a dry mix too. It’s sure to be a homemade staple you’ll want to have in your keto pantry, so you can be ready for any cold night when only hot chocolate makes sense. Or bless a friend or family member by gifting it in a jar with a pretty label and bow.
This keto hot chocolate recipe is on my list of alternatives to coffee in the morning because it’s one of many caffeine-free drinks you can enjoy while eating keto breakfast recipes.
A delicious cup of nutrient-dense homemade healthy hot chocolate is a great way to start the day. Make this easy recipe today!
How to Make Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate
Gather a few simple ingredients, combine them in a small pot, and warm up to the desired temperature for the ultimate treat on a cold winter day.
Ingredients
- Cacao powder – I use cacao powder over cocoa powder, but either will work in this recipe. Make sure that whatever chocolate powder you use says sugar-free or unsweetened on the label.
- Dairy-free milk – I like keto hot chocolate with unsweetened almond milk because it’s an accessible dairy-free option. However, you can substitute it with another nut, seed, or coconut-based option.
- Sweetener – Although practically any keto sweetener will work for this recipe, I suggest a powdered option of erythritol, monk fruit, or stevia. These sweeteners dissolve well in hot water and are sweet, like sugar. Using sugar alternatives makes this an ideal sugar-free hot chocolate for diabetics.
- Vanilla extract – Vanilla not only adds a rich note to your cup but also enhances the flavors of the chocolate as well.
Substitutions and Variations
Once you have the basics, there are many ways you can modify with different add-ins.
Check out these delicious ideas:
- Add a pinch of gourmet salt
- Mix up to one tablespoon of collagen powder per serving for a creamy finish.
- Maca powder goes really well with chocolate; mix in half of a teaspoon per serving.
- If you love bulletproof tea or coffee, apply the same principles to hot chocolate by adding one teaspoon or more coconut oil or MCT oil per serving.
- Spice it up with 1/16 teaspoon of turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, or cayenne powder per mug of keto hot chocolate.
- Go big with garnish, and add whipped cream (whipped coconut cream for dairy-free) and chocolate shavings or cacao paste.
A great thing about this recipe is that with slight modifications, you can tailor it to suit your diet best and fit your lifestyle. When using dairy-free milk, this recipe, as written in the recipe card, is already naturally gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free.
Check out these easy ways to modify the recipe and adjust for particular dietary needs:
- Paleo diet – Swap out the low-carb sweetener and use sucanat or coconut sugar.
- GAPS – Use raw honey instead of the sugar-free sweetener and use coconut milk without guar gum.
Directions
Follow along and you can’t mess it up!
Step 1: Whisk
Whisk the cacao powder and your favorite sweetener in a small saucepan. Break apart all lumps and ensure it’s well combined.
Step 2: Heat
Pour in the dairy-free milk and add vanilla extract. Mix well to combine and warm over medium heat on the stove top. Once warm to your liking, serve immediately.
If you love cocoa with marshmallows, serve with these sugar-free keto marshmallows!
Keto Hot Chocolate Mix
Can’t stop at just one mug of delicious hot chocolate? We don’t blame you. Follow these tips for adapting this homemade hot chocolate into the best sugar-free hot chocolate mix. So you can make a cup of rich hot chocolate whenever the sweet tooth craving hits!
Make the dry hot chocolate powder in bulk and store it in an airtight container on your pantry shelf or share it with friends. This DIY mix is one of many edible gifts for keto dieters that you can give during the holidays. Who wouldn’t love it?
How to Make a Low-Carb Hot Chocolate Mix
First, you can double (for eight servings) or triple (for 12 servings) the recipe by combining the cocoa powder, sweetener, and vanilla extract in a blender for 30 to 60 seconds.
Then, transfer the hot cocoa mix to an airtight jar like a mason jar, or divide it into several smaller jars and wrap each with a festive ribbon. Lastly, make a cute tag that explains how to make a homemade sugar-free hot chocolate recipe!
All a person needs to do is mix two tablespoons of the dry powder into three-quarters to one cup of hot milk and stir well. They can choose their favorite milk, whether nut, seed, regular, or raw milk. They have the flexibility to make this suitable for them.
It’s an easy, fun, and delicious way to treat your family and friends!
Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa Recipe FAQ
I’m sure you’ll have some questions if you’re new to avoiding sugar, so let me answer some common queries about this keto-friendly hot chocolate.
When making hot chocolate, I prefer raw cacao powder over cocoa powder. The former is a fermented raw chocolate powder with more nutrient density and stronger chocolate flavor caused by the difference in sourcing and processing. (1, 2, 3) That said, unsweetened cocoa powder is a yummy, albeit more mellow, option and can work in this recipe.
You can have hot chocolate on a keto diet with slight modifications. In fact, homemade keto hot chocolate is just the thing when a craving for sweets strikes. This recipe makes it easy to stick to low-carb ingredients and avoid sugar. If you are considering using a store-bought mix instead, read the ingredient list before buying to ensure no added sugar or carbs.
There is only 1g net carb per serving of this dairy-free, sugar-free hot chocolate! Add in 3g of fiber, and you’ll note a sum of 4g of total carbohydrates, which makes this creamy keto drink suitable for those who are on a low-carb diet.
More Keto Chocolate Recipes
Add this hot chocolate drink to your list of keto Christmas dinner recipes. You can’t go wrong with serving a hot drink like this or eggnog after the meal. They are such crowd-pleasers!
But if you’re looking for more delicious recipes where chocolate shines, you will love keto chocolate ice cream. Pair it with keto chocolate cake for the ultimate treat for the chocolate lovers in your life.
Spanish hot chocolate is also delicious! To keep it keto, just swap the starch for xantham gum, starting with a few pinches at a time until thickened to your liking.
If you’re looking for a single serving of a sweet treat, you will love keto peppermint patties or keto magic cookies. And if you want something a little more satiating, you can’t beat this 10-minute chocolate pudding.
Homemade Sugar-free Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cacao powder or cocoa powder
- ¼ cup Keto sugar substitute
- 3 cups dairy-free milk almond, hemp, or coconut
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whisk the cocoa powder and sweetener in a saucepan. Break apart all lumps.
- Pour in the dairy-free milk of your choice and add vanilla extract. Mix well to combine over medium heat. Once hot, serve immediately.
Notes
- A pinch of salt
- Up to 1 tablespoon collagen powder
- ½ teaspoon maca powder
- 1 teaspoon or more coconut oil
- 1/16 teaspoon each of turmeric and ginger
- 1/16 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/16 teaspoon cayenne powder
Nutrition & Macros
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
Originally published Feb 1, 2017.
Thanks for all your recipes, Jessica. Our family is so grateful for your blog and cookbooks. We were keto until I got pregnant, when I decided to include whole food carbs again. Now my daughter is two and we are experimenting with carnivory with some fruit for her.
Do you give Monkfruit sweetener with erythritol to your kids? Do you approve of it as a ‘whole food’ sweetener?
Malaika, This is a great question. I prefer raw honey, sugar cane crystals, and maple syrup as whole food sweeteners for our children. They always have access to fresh seasonal fruit too.
I swapped cocoa powder for cacao. So comforting on a chilly day, and the fact that it’s keto-friendly is a major win!
Excellent point, Michelle – easy to switch if you prefer cacao. Thanks for the comment.
LOVE THIS! I made it this morning to go with my daughter’s breakfast. I added a bit of coconut oil. SO GOOD!
I’ve always loved hot cocoa even if it’s sunny where I’m from haha. Thanks for sharing this healthy option! I enjoyed the cup I made earlier.
Happy to hear the recipe is approved in the cold and the heat 😉 Thanks, Lanie.
I have a total sweet tooth and always need *something* after dinner. This hot chocolate is perfect and there’s zero guilt about drinking it!
Zero guilt is great. Happy to hear you enjoyed the treat, Tammy.
This was perfect for our backyard camping last night since we were craving some hot chocolate, we really enjoyed it and for me personally, I like the aroma and taste of vanilla the most which perfectly blends with the chocolatey taste of cacao! Thank you for sharing 🙂
That vanilla addition really makes it something more 🙂 Thanks for the comments, Ana.
Absolutely loved your Sugar-Free Keto Hot Chocolate recipe! ☕️🍫 It’s become my cozy night go-to, satisfying my sweet tooth guilt-free. The homemade hot chocolate mix is genius—thanks for sharing this delightful treat that’s now a staple in my keto pantry! 🌟 #KetoDelight #HotChocolateMagic
Satisfying those sweet cravings is such an important goal for the keto diet, happy to hear this recipe worked for you.
Collagen!! What a beautiful idea!!! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
The collagen makes this hot chocolate extra creamy. Enjoy!
I love the collagen boost in this hot cocoa. Really makes me feel like I’m getting a little extra nutrition in my sweet treat!
No guilt in this recipe 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Alex!
You have mentioned that this might be converted into a hard copy, is that still in the works?
I’m assuming you are asking about a hard copy of the Ketogenic Edge Cookbook, in that case… we are exploring that possibility but there is no time frame yet.