The Healthy Easy Hot Cocoa Recipe for Kids

It doesn’t have to be complicated to make homemade hot cocoa. In fact, my easy hot cocoa recipe for kids is so simple to make, it’s almost as quick as the store bought packets! And this recipe is healthy too; there’s no refined-sugar and has simple wholesome ingredients you can feel good about giving your kids (and yourself!)

In fact, this version is dairy-free and Paleo-friendly too. (I bet the kids won’t even notice!)

A warm mug of hot cocoa is pretty much a necessity this time of year. Especially for kids. Because hot cocoa is a very good motivator to stay outside longer. You know when they want to come in after 10 minutes and you’ve spent 15 minutes bundling them up? Just offer them hot cocoa if they stay outside a little longer. It works (almost) every time.

I have to be careful about what I feed my kids (and myself) because we all have food sensitivities. That means we can’t buy the store bought hot cocoa packets, which are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and other ingredients I can’t pronounce.

So this year, when my children started asking for hot cocoa, I decided to create our own homemade hot cocoa recipe. I’ve come up with a few variations, but this particular version is a favorite with my kids. In fact, they’ve told me it tastes just as good, if not better, than the old “store stuff.” (Score!)

There’s four simple ingredients in this homemade hot cocoa recipe – almond milk, cocoa powder, honey, and vanilla extract. So simple and so good!

I use cacao powder myself, but you can use baking cocoa too. Cacao powder is more bitter, so you may need to increase the sweetener slightly if you go this route. 

Now when my kids come in from playing out in the cold snow, it’s no problem to whip up a batch or two of this easy hot cocoa recipe!

5.0 from 7 reviews

The Healthy Easy Hot Cocoa Recipe for Kids

 

Save Print

Prep time

2 mins

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

7 mins

 

Author: Erika Bragdon

Serves: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond milk (or your milk of choice)
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup*
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Warm the almond milk in a small saucepan, then whisk in the cocoa powder, honey, and vanilla extract. Whisk well to remove any lumps from the cocoa.
2. Optional: place in your blender (make sure the cocoa isn't too hot - you don't want to get burned) and blend until frothy.
3. Serve warm.

Notes

*add more or less honey, depending on how sweet your kids like it

3.5.3208

The post The Healthy Easy Hot Cocoa Recipe for Kids appeared first on Living Well Mom.