This is hot chocolate the way it started: real cacao, warm milk, and a little natural sweetness. No powder mixes, no refined sugar. Made with ceremonial cacao paste, it is rich, a little bittersweet, and ready in about five minutes. It is our cold-weather favorite, and it is easy to make it your own.
Healthy hot chocolate with ceremonial cacao
Makes: 1 mug · Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 21g ceremonial cacao (about 4 coins, or chopped from a block)
- 1 cup (8 oz) milk of your choice: whole, oat, almond or coconut all work
- 1–2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- A small pinch of sea salt
- Optional: a pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
- Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it is steamy, but do not let it boil.
- Add the cacao and whisk until it has fully melted and the drink is smooth. For a frothy cup, pour everything into a blender for 20 seconds, or use a milk frother.
- Stir in the maple syrup or honey, the vanilla and the salt. Taste, and add a little more sweetener if you like it sweeter.
- Pour into your favorite mug, add a pinch of cinnamon if you like, and sip slowly.
Tips for the best cup
- Chop it small. If you are using a block, finely chopped cacao melts faster and more evenly.
- Do not skip the salt. A tiny pinch makes the cacao taste rounder and a little sweeter.
- Start with less sweetener. Ceremonial cacao is naturally bitter. Add a little at a time until it tastes right to you.
- Want it thicker? Use less milk, or add a spoonful of almond butter.
Easy variations
- Orange: add a strip of orange zest while the milk warms.
- Warm spice: a pinch of cinnamon and a tiny pinch of cayenne, inspired by traditional recipes.
- Cardamom: a pinch of ground cardamom for a floral note.
- Iced: melt the cacao in a little hot milk, then pour over ice and top with cold milk.
Is it okay to have every day?
Ceremonial cacao contains caffeine and theobromine, so the size of the cup matters. This recipe uses our everyday amount of 21g. If you are new to cacao, use 10–15g, and if you are drinking it in the evening, make a smaller cup earlier. Read our dosage guide and the best time to drink ceremonial cacao. If you are pregnant, take medication, or are sensitive to stimulants, see our safety guide and check with your healthcare provider.
Where to get the cacao
We make this with High-Amazon Basin ceremonial cacao, which gives a deep, bold, earthy cup. Prefer something fruitier or softer? Browse the ceremonial cacao collection. More ideas are in ceremonial cacao recipes and the best recipe for a healthy cacao drink.
Keep reading: all our cacao recipes · the ceremonial cacao gift guide
This article is educational and isn't medical advice. If you have a health condition or take medication, please talk with your healthcare provider before working with ceremonial cacao.
