Are you trying to enjoy the holiday flavors and commit to cleaner way of eating?  Here is a compromise that provides a rich chocolaty drink with about a third to half less sugar than regular commercial powdered mixes and no artificial ingredients.  It's a super easy recipe that takes very little time to prepare.

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Ingredients:

1 cup of milk (plant or animal) per your preference

• 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar

• 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Nutmeg or cinnamon

Mini marshmallows and whipped cream as desired.

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Directions:

  

1. Prepare cocoa mix by whisking together cocoa powder and powdered sugar in small mixing bowl until blended well.  Set aside.

2. Warm milk in saucepan, stirring frequently, on medium-low heat until steaming but not boiling.  Once steaming, turn off heat.

3. Add in ½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and stir.

4. Add in cocoa and powdered sugar mixture and whisk until blended well.

5. Pour hot chocolate in a mug and top with a few mini marshmallows and nutmeg.  If you can spare the calories add a little whipped cream!!!

 

Note: Freeze the marshmallows and add directly to hot chocolate mixture.  It adds just the right amount of cooling to your cup.

Now compare to regular hot chocolate mixes.  It's about a 3:1 ratio of ingredients.

Typical hot chocolate mix ingredients: 

• Sugar

• Corn Syrup

• Modified Whey

• Cocoa (Processed With Alkali)

• Hydrogenated Coconut Oil

• Nonfat Milk, Calcium Carbonate

• Salt

• Dipotassium Phosphate

• Mono- and Diglycerides

• Carrageenan

• Acesulfame Potassium

• Sucralose

• Artificial Flavor

Milk, Mocha Sauce [Water, Sugar, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Vanillin], Whipped Cream [Cream (Cream, Milk, Mono And Diglycerides, Carrageenan), Vanilla Syrup (Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid)].

 

 

Which one would you rather have in your holiday cup?

Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday!!

D.P. Nutrition

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